Prof J Quinn
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
Candida albicans is a major fungal pathogen of humans causing over 400,000 deaths per annum. Systemic Candida infections are difficult to treat as current anti-fungal drugs are limited and cause undesirable side-effects. It is important to understand how C. albicans and other eukaryotic pathogens, such as parasitic protozoans, respond to stresses encountered within the human host, because such responses are intimately linked with the virulence of these neglected pathogens. In this project you will exploit exciting new findings from the supervisory team on stress-signalling mechanisms in C. albicans to extend and exploit this knowledge to develop novel therapeutic strategies to attenuate fungal/protozoan virulence. You will join a well-funded multidisciplinary team, and receive state-of-the-art training in stress-signalling networks, structural biology, and infection modelling, to drive forward the development of improved therapeutic strategies for diverse eukaryotic pathogens.
For further information see the website: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/camb
To apply
Please complete the online application form and attach a full CV and covering letter. Informal enquiries may be made to [Email Address Removed]
Funding Notes
This is a 4 year BBSRC studentship under the Newcastle-Liverpool-Durham DTP. The successful applicant will receive research costs, tuition fees and stipend (£14,777 for 2018-19). The PhD will start in October 2019. Applicants should have, or be expecting to receive, a 2.1 Hons degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject. EU candidates must have been resident in the UK for 3 years in order to receive full support. There are 2 stages to the application process.
References
Day AM, Smith DA, Ikeh MA, Haider M, Herrero-de-Dios CM, Brown AJ, Morgan BA, Erwig LP, MacCallum DM, Quinn J. (2017) Blocking two-component signalling enhances Candida albicans virulence and reveals adaptive mechanisms that counteract sustained SAPK activation. PLoS Pathog. 13:e1006131.