Supervisors:
Dr Natalie Pilakouta - University of Aberdeen, School of Biological Sciences - [Email Address Removed]
Dr Thomas Bodey - University of Aberdeen, School of Biological Sciences - [Email Address Removed]
Professor Michael Gordon Ritchie - University of St Andrews, School of Biology - [Email Address Removed]
Dr Jacob Moorad - University of Edinburgh, Institute of Evolutionary Biology - http://moorad.bio.ed.ac.uk/
Background
Parental care is beneficial for the offspring but energetically demanding for the parents. High investment in parental care may therefore come at a cost, such as a faster rate of ageing due to increased oxidative stress and telomere attrition. Yet, the underlying molecular mechanisms linking parental care to ageing remain understudied despite being highly relevant to human health. This PhD project will use an original invertebrate model system, the burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides, to address this research gap. Burying beetles have facultative biparental care, which means that in some broods both parents provide care, whereas in other broods, there is female-only care, male-only care, or no care. This flexible parental care system provides an excellent opportunity to experimentally test the physiological costs of being a parent.
Project aims
This PhD project will focus on three key aims to better understand the molecular mechanisms linking parental care to ageing:
(1) Investigate what factors drive variation in oxidative stress and telomere attrition among parents during care
For example, female burying beetles typically provide more care than males, but it is unclear whether females suffer increased physiological costs as a result. The student could also investigate whether old parents are more prone to oxidative stress and telomere attrition than young parents. The student will conduct a series of controlled laboratory experiments to address this aim.
(2) Identify ageing-related genes that are differentially expressed among parents
The student will use transcriptomic techniques to identify ageing-related genes and compare their expression among parents depending on their sex, age, and other relevant factors.
(3) Test whether supplementation with antioxidants can alleviate the physiological costs of parental care
Lastly, the student will investigate whether parents provided with food that has been supplemented with antioxidants experience lower levels of oxidative stress and telomere attrition than parents fed a non-supplemented diet. This work could provide important insights into possible management strategies to moderate the physiological costs of parental care in animal organisms.
Training
The PhD student will employ a wide range of techniques integrating animal behaviour, physiology, molecular biology, and evolutionary ecology. He or she will gain valuable skills in physiological assays, behavioural observations, animal husbandry, statistical modelling, and cutting-edge molecular biology techniques including transcriptomics (wet lab and bioinformatics). There will also be a focus on transferrable skills, such as project management, written communication, and oral communication.
It may be possible to undertake this project part-time, in discussion with the lead supervisor, however, please note that part-time study is unavailable to students who require a Student Visa to study within the UK.
Application Procedure:
Please visit this page for full application information: http://www.eastscotbiodtp.ac.uk/how-apply-0
Please send your completed EASTBIO application form, along with academic transcripts to Alison Innes at [Email Address Removed]
Two references should be provided by the deadline using the EASTBIO reference form.
Please advise your referees to return the reference form to [Email Address Removed]
Unfortunately, due to workload constraints, we cannot consider incomplete applications
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