This is a competition-funded 3.5 year PhD opportunity to investigate host:virus interactions during infection with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), an important human pathogen that is the leading infectious cause of birth defects and causes considerable morbidity in the immune-compromised. During infection viruses commandeer host cell gene expression machinery to facilitate viral protein production. Understanding precisely how they depend on and manipulate such pathways can reveal new opportunities for therapeutic interventions. Furthermore, mechanisms viruses use to influence host processes can reveal previously unanticipated facets of cell biology.
The Burgess research group is interested in how viruses interact with host processes that regulate mRNA modification, decay and translation. This project will build on our previous work that identified a host mRNA decay pathway as essential for efficient replication of HCMV. The project objectives are to characterize changes to mRNA decay dynamics that occur during infection and define the importance in mRNA decay of a viral protein with unknown function. To execute this research, the successful applicant will gain experience in a wide range of techniques in molecular biology and virology as well as transcriptomic (RNA-Seq) analysis.
Experience in virology will be an advantage, however any motivated individuals with an interest in RNA regulation and the molecular biology of virus infection are encouraged to apply.
References:
Burgess HM, Vink EI, Mohr I. Minding the message: tactics controlling RNA decay, modification, and translation in virus-infected cells. Genes Dev. 2022;36(3-4):108-132. doi:10.1101/gad.349276.121
Principle Supervisor – Hannah Burgess [Email Address Removed]
The student will be primarily supervised by Dr Burgess, an early career academic with extensive experience developing research projects at the intersection of RNA regulation and infection in multiple virus infections including herpesviruses. The Burgess group was established at Surrey in January 2022. Professor Gill Elliott provides additional expertise in herpesvirus protein characterization, protein:protein interactions, and extensive experience in supervising and mentoring PhD students through to successful completion, publication and the next steps in their research careers. The student will be based in the Burgess lab which neighbours the Elliott lab, providing a collegial and collaborative research environment among the PhD students and postdocs of both groups.
Entry requirements
Open to UK and international students with the project starting in October 2023. Note that a maximum of 30% of the studentships will be offered to international students.
You will need to meet the minimum entry requirements for our PhD programme https://www.surrey.ac.uk/postgraduate/biosciences-and-medicine-phd#entry.
How to apply
Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the relevant principal supervisor(s) to discuss the project(s) before submitting their application.
Applications should be submitted via the [https://www.surrey.ac.uk/postgraduate/biosciences-and-medicine-phd programme page (N.B. Please select the October 2023 start date when applying).
You may opt to apply for a single project or for 2 of these Faculty-funded studentship projects
When completing your application, in place of a research proposal, please provide a brief motivational document (1 page maximum) which specifies:
- the reference numbers(s) for the project or two projects you are applying for
- the project title(s) and principal supervisor name(s)
- if applying for two projects, please also indicate your order of preference for the projects
- an explanation of your motivations for wanting to study for a PhD
- an explanation of your reasons for selecting the project(s) you have chosen
Additionally, to complete a full application, you MUST also email a copy of your CV and 1-page motivational document directly to the relevant project principal supervisor of each project you apply for. Due to short turnaround times for applicant shortlisting, failure to do this may mean that your application is not considered.
Please note that online interviews for shortlisted applicants are expected to take place during the week commencing 30th January.