Self-funded PhD- Understanding Cell Biology through Imaging

We study the trafficking and interaction of molecules and structures inside cells. Extracellular signals need to be processed in a correct manner for a cell to function properly. In many cases the signals are internalised via endocytosis and then processed in a specific manner, e.g. by sorting it to a specific destination. My lab not only tries to understand these basic sorting mechanisms but also tries to exploit our understanding of these routes to deliver cargo to specific destinations in the cell. This cargo can be endogenous receptors but also viruses (Hodgson et al., 2018) and synthetic carriers (Fletcher et al., 2013).

The visualisation of these intracellular events both at the light and electron microscopical level is key and as such the lab makes extensive use and develops technology in the area of live cell imaging, Correlative Light Electron Microscopy (CLEM) and 3-dimensional electron tomography (e.g. Verkade, 2008, Brown et al., 2012, Olmos et al., 2015). One of the exciting developments in this is the emergence of “Structural Cell Biology”, the use of Cryo Electron Microscopy to place molecular structures in its cellular context (Paul et al., 2020)

Below are some of the topics that we are currently working on:

1. To study the very early steps of endocytosis we are using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) and aim to combine those with our CLEM approach.

2. The formation of tubular extensions from endosomes and lysosomes (Brown et al., 2012).

3. Development of CLEM probes for use in intracellular transport studies.

4. Targeting and delivery of molecules to specific destinations in cells, either through tagging molecules or encapsulating them.

5. Building and visualisation of new structures inside cells (Synthetic Biology), in collaboration with Prof. Dek Woolfson.

How to apply 

Before applying, please read carefully the information on the prospectus Biochemistry | Study at Bristol | University of Bristol and make sure you

have all the documents listed in the Entry Requirements – Admissions Statement and English Language Requirements.  

To apply, follow the link Start your application | Study at Bristol | University of Bristol and select the programme "Biochemistry (PhD)”.

If you have questions about the project, please contact Prof. P Verkade at P.Verkade@bristol.ac.uk

Professor Paul Verkade - Our People (bristol.ac.uk)

If you require assistance with your application, please email fls-pgenquiries@bristol.ac.uk