The BBSRC-funded South West Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (SWBio DTP) involves a partnership of world-renown universities, research institutes and industry across the South West and Wales.
This partnership represents a distinctive group of bioscientists, with established international, national and regional networks, and widely recognised research excellence.
We aim to provide students with outstanding interdisciplinary research training within the following themes, underpinned by transformative technologies:
These are growth areas of the biosciences and for which there will be considerable future demand.
The award:
This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the South West Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (SWBio DTP).
Programme Overview
You will be recruited to a broad, interdisciplinary project, supported by a multidisciplinary supervisory team, with many cross-institutional projects available. There are also opportunities to:
• apply your research in an industrial setting (DTP CASE studentships).
• undertake research jointly with our core and associate partners (Standard DTP studentships with an
associatepartner).
• work with other national/international researchers.
• undertake fieldwork.
Our structured training programme will ensure you are well equipped as a bioscience researcher, supporting careers into academia, industry and beyond.
Project Description
The cell contains numerous, distinct organelles which are specialised to carry out a particular role but are also part of wider networks or production lines which requires cooperation with other organelles. This cooperation is crucial in the generation of specialised lipids found in neuronal membranes, which are partly metabolised in one organelle, such as peroxisomes or mitochondria, before being transferred to another such as the endoplasmic reticulum for further processing.
This type of communication is also required for energy generation and activation of the cells recycling systems. The organelle contact site field is an exciting new research discipline and we still know relatively little about many fundamental aspects of this emerging area. However, its importance was recently underlined by numerous studies which observed alterations in organelle interactions in diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and metabolic disorders.
Recent research revealed that organelles interact at membrane contact sites, points where apposing organelle membranes are in close proximity. Contact sites can be formed when proteins on different organelle membranes interact and numerous “tethering” complexes have now been identified. The next wave of research will focus on how membrane contact sites are regulated, how metabolites such as lipids are transferred and how contact site dysfunction is linked to disease. A long term aim is to pursue the modulation of organelle contact sites as a potential therapeutic approach.
In this project, the student will investigate how interaction between three organelles, the endoplasmic reticulum, peroxisomes and mitochondria is regulated in mammalian cells. This will build on preliminary evidence that posttranslational modification of contact site proteins, which control organelle interactions, differentially regulates their function during the cell cycle. They will also develop and utilise novel probes to track lipid movement between organelles using both microscopy and biochemical approaches. They will receive training in mammalian cell culture, advanced microscopy and cell sorting techniques (using novel fluorescent reporters and electron microscopy) as well as in protein characterisation techniques including coimmunoprecipitation, protein purification and ubiquitination assays and be involved in lipid synthesis and analysis.
This project will benefit from the expertise of supervisors with experience in organelle contact sites, cell cycle, ubiquitin biology and lipid synthesis and from the cutting edge and supportive research environments at the Universities of Exeter and Bath. The PhD student will receive training by a cross disciplinary team, providing a well-rounded PhD training and an excellent basis for starting a research career.
Part Time and Flexible Study Options
Part time study options maybe available please discuss with the supervisor. For further information please see - https://www.swbio.ac.uk/project-adjustments-part-time-study-and-flexible-working/
Due to complexities and restrictions associated with visas for part-time studies, we are currently unable to accept part-time international students to the programme.
Entry Requirements
Applicants should have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in an appropriate area of science or technology. Applicants with a Lower Second Class degree will be considered if they also have Masters degree or have significant relevant non-academic experience.
In addition, due to the strong mathematical component of the taught course in the first year and the quantitative emphasis in our projects, quantitative/mathematical experience is needed. This can be demonstrated through one or more of the following:
- Undertaking units as part of your degree that have a significant quantitative/mathematical component*
- Maths or Physics A-level (grade B and above)
*Significant mathematical component examples include; maths, statistics, bioinformatics.
Applicants must ensure they highlight their quantitative/mathematical background within their application and to upload any supporting evidence.
To support accessibility to PhD training opportunities, these studentships are only available to applicants that have not previously obtained or about to obtain a PhD degree (or equivalent).
How to apply
The closing date for applications is midnight on Monday, 5 December 2022. Interviews will be held between 1st and 15th February 2023.
If you have any general enquiries about the application process please email [Email Address Removed].
Project-specific queries should be directed to the primary supervisor.
For further information and to submit an application please visit - https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/funding/award/?id=4570
Selection Process:
Please note, the studentship selection process will take place in two stages:
For further information please go to - https://www.swbio.ac.uk/programme/selection-process/
Continue with Facebook
