Internal clocks time behavior and physiology, including the gut microbiome, in a circadian (~24 h) manner. Mismatch between internal and external time, e.g. during shift work, disrupts the internal clock and promotes the development of obesity. There is increasing evidence that changes in the gut microbiota is associated with many diseases and obesity. Consequently, we are interested to investigate the relationship between circadian disruption and microbiota dysbiosis in metabolic diseases. To detect microbiota rhythms in individuals might be a promising strategy to foresee the risk of future metabolic disorders. Thus, we want to compare the gut microbiota of participants with different shift working patterns and aim to investigate if the gut microbiota among obese people is different from health people. Importantly we will do this in a highly innovative way, by tracking microbiota rhythms before and during simulated shift work and in lean and obese individuals. In this way we can test if and how there is a loss of rhythms in microbiota in individuals. This will be tested in stool samples already collected and sequenced from participants at risk to develop metabolic diseases, such as obese and shift worker (in vivo study). Intriguingly, we want to understand if these rhythms patterns arise from the community of microbes itself or from being hosted in a living individual. To do this we will use a novel method that is capable of testing microbial rhythmicity from human stool samples (in vitro study). In addition, we will use mathematics and data to simulate how microbial communities change in time (in silico study). Mathematical reasoning will elucidate the origin of observed patterns, inform the experimental work and vice-versa. You will be part of our Chronobiology and Modelling research teams (Kiessling, Lo Iacono) at the University of Surrey. You will have many training opportunities (human sample preparation, in vitro study design; 16S rRNA sequencing analysis; post-sequencing data processing, mathematical modelling and Bayesian inference). You will also have the opportunity to attend/present at UK and international conferences to expand your knowledge and network. You will interact with our two groups to gain valuable experience collaborating with a multidisciplinary team. The project is opened either to students from life-science willing to learn sophisticated mathematical modelling or students with a background in physics/engineering/mathematics interested in developing their biology-lab skills.
Principle Supervisor - Dr. Silke Kiessling
Dr. Silke Kiessling, is an early career academic/researcher and was newly recruited in March 2022 as Lecturer in Chronobiology at the University of Surrey, and thus with over 15 years of experience working with animal models on circadian disruption and associated diseases and the circadian regulation of the gut microbiota in mice and humans. Relevant to this proposal, she has developed a protocol for circadian microbiota analysis and extensive experience microbiota culture from stool. She will be the principle supervisor and responsible for training of the PGR for all practical aspects of the project, directly overseeing the in vitro work, processing and circadian analysis. [Email Address Removed]
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.
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