The University of Bath is inviting applications for this PhD opportunity commencing in October 2021. The successful student will be based at the Milner Centre for Evolution, a unique, cross-faculty research centre bridging biology, health and education.
Funding is available to candidates who qualify for ‘Home’ fee status only. Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the rules governing fee status have changed and, therefore, candidates from the EU/EEA are advised to check their eligibility before applying. Please see the Funding Eligibility section below.
Evolution is popularly believed to be a gradual process typified by slow morphological change. In fact the rate of change is highly variable, and can sometimes be very fast indeed. Pigment patterns are an excellent example of a rapidly evolving feature: they are biologically vital, yet can differ even amongst sister species. In this project, you will develop a biologically-realistic in silico model of pigment pattern formation in zebrafish Danio rerio: a model that already successfully simulates wild-type and mutant pigment patterns (Owen et al., 2020 eLife 52998). Other Danio species show diverse pigment patterns, which we hypothesise derive from evolutionary modification of a conserved pigment pattern formation process. We will explore the outputs of our in silico model during systematic modification of the model (mimicking potential evolutionary changes), and compare these to patterns in different fish species. Where the model outputs generate a pattern akin to that of a natural species, the underlying parameter changes will indicate which biological aspects of the pattern formation process might be altered in that species. Conversely, where an extant species’ pattern fails to be replicated by the model, that will indicate where extra evolutionary novelty may be utilised. By undertaking this project, you will therefore make important contributions to the understanding of a key problem in pattern formation and its evolution.
Candidate Requirements:
We require a First Class or good Upper Second Class Honours degree (or the equivalent). A master’s level qualification would also be advantageous.
Non-UK applicants must meet our English language entry requirement.
Enquiries and Applications:
Candidates are encouraged to discuss the project directly with Professor Robert Kelsh ([Email Address Removed]) before applying.
Formal applications should be made via the University of Bath’s online application form.
On the application form, quote ‘Evolution Education Trust’ in the Finance section and the supervisor’s name and project title in the ‘Your research interests’ section. If applying for more than one project, quote the projects in order of preference and upload a separate personal statement relevant to each one.
Your application must be complete when you submit it to us. Incomplete applications cannot be considered. Please ensure you have completed all fields on the application form and supplied the contact details of TWO referees willing to provide us with a reference when requested (one must be from your most recent place of study). Also, you should ensure that you have uploaded all the required documents. See our website for more information.
Interviews will take place on Monday 19 April 2021.
Funding Eligibility:
In order to be considered for a studentship, you must qualify as a ‘Home’ student. In determining ‘Home’ student status, we follow the UK government’s fee regulations which, when available, will be explained on the UKCISA website. Although the fee regulations for 2021/22 have not yet been published, we expect (subject to confirmation) the main categories of students generally eligible for ‘Home’ fee status will be:
- UK nationals (who have lived in the UK, EU, EEA or Switzerland continuously since September 2018)
- Irish nationals (who have lived in the UK or Ireland continuously since September 2018)
- EU/EEA applicants with settled status in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme (who have lived in the UK continuously since September 2018)
- EU/EEA applicants with pre-settled status in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme (who have lived in the UK, EU, EEA, Switzerland or Gibraltar continuously since September 2018)
- Applicants with indefinite leave to enter/remain in the UK (who have been resident in the UK continuously since September 2018)
EU/EEA citizens who live outside the UK are unlikely to be eligible for ‘Home’ fees and funding.
Additional information may be found on our fee status guidance webpage and on the GOV.UK website.