The University of Derby has an opportunity for a full-time postgraduate research studentship.
Qualification type: MPhil/PhD
Location: Derby, UK
Funding amount: £16,062 - stipend per annum for a maximum of 3 years + UK home tuition fees (£4,596)
Hours: Full time
Closes: Friday 24 June 2022
Interview: 4 – 15 July 2022
Start date: September/October 2022
The successful applicant will receive a maintenance stipend (based on the minimum stipend defined by UKRI, currently £16,062 for the academic year 2022/23) and home MPhil/PhD tuition fees (£4,596) for a maximum of three years.
International students will be responsible for paying the difference between international and UK tuition fees* - a difference of approximately £10,000 per annum.
Costs associated with practical work, field work, subject specific training, conferences etc. will not be covered by this studentship opportunity, but please discuss with supervisors whether any additional provision is available.
Please note, if your application is successful and you are assessed as Overseas for fees purposes, you will need to pay the difference between the Home fees and the EU/Overseas fees.
The intended intake period is 26 September – 7 October 2022
The successful applicant will be expected to complete their MPhil/PhD within 3 - 4 years on the MPhil/PhD route, contribute to the College REF submission and get involved in the wider research activities of the College.
Applicants will become part of a friendly and welcoming team and will be supported and managed by their supervisors.
The vacancy details are as follows:
Project Title: Investigating genetic and epigenetic biomarkers of weight loss after a tier 4 weight loss treatment
Main Academic theme: Biomedical and Clinical Sciences
College: Science and Engineering
Purpose and Objectives of the project:
The purpose of this project is to investigate the key novel molecules involved in metabolic recovery following bariatric surgery and the main objectives of the project are as follows
1. Record and analyse the changes in body composition, anthropometrics, biochemical and immunological changes due to bariatric surgery.
2. Decipher the Genetic and Epigenetic markers associated with obese patients who respond to the weight loss surgical treatment.
3. Analyse the circulating epigenetic marker, microRNA (miRNA) before and after bariatric surgical treatment which are associated to weight loss.
Project Description:
Obesity plays an important role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Morbidly obese patients are at higher risk of T2DM, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, and cardiovascular disease. Bariatric surgery is tier 4 weight management programme and is shown to lead to rapid and prolonged improvement in insulin resistance in majority of the morbidly obese T2DM patients. The current project aims to decipher the genetic and epigenetic markers associated with obese patients who respond to the weight loss surgical treatment. In addition, the project will investigate for circulating epigenetic marker like microRNA (miRNA) which are associated to weight loss. The PhD student working in this project will have the opportunity to work and gain expertise in third generation sequencing technologies and genomics data analysis. The work will be carried out in the University of Derby’s £1.75 million research and innovation centre known as Facility for OMICS research in metabolism.
Project potential impact:
The incidence of Obesity and related maladies such as hypertension, dyslipidaemia and cardiovascular diseases is increasing for all age groups. Current strategies on weight loss treatments are given to all patients with BMI≥35Kg/m2 and the weight loss treatment successfully alters the insulin resistance and the risk to other metabolic diseases. However, the exact explanation on how these changes is altered are not clearly understood. The data obtained from this project establishes a biomarker which would help to decide if the patient would be suited for bariatric surgery. Performing bariatric surgery is an expensive procedure therefore this surgery needs to be performed on selected patients who will lose weight after the surgery and demonstrate good metabolic recovery. This biomarker-based patient selection strategy would be cost efficient for the NHS trusts and improve the patient experience. Therefore, the translational approach used in this study would improve, well-being of millions of patients suffering from obesity and related maladies.
To Apply
To apply for this studentship role and to find out more details, please visit the University of Derby’s studentship page: https://www.derby.ac.uk/research/degrees/applicants/studentship-opportunities/mphil-phd-studentship-investigating-genetic-and-epigenetic-biomarkers-of-weight-loss/
All applications are to be made via our online system.
For general enquiries, please email the University Research and Knowledge Exchange Office at [Email Address Removed] For other enquiries which are subject-specific please contact:
Contact Name for Enquiries: Dr Aparna Duggirala
Contact Email for Enquiries: [Email Address Removed]
Contact Name for Enquiries: Professor Gyanendra Tripathi
Contact Email for Enquiries: [Email Address Removed]
Closing dates for applications: 12.00 pm on Friday 24 June 2022.
Interviews: 4 – 15 July 2022.
If you have not been invited for an interview by the interview date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.
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