The Development of an Acidosis biosensor

Requirements:

The candidate should have a first class or upper second class honours degree, or a master’s degree (or equivalent qualification), in chemisty or biology.

Evidence of good spoken and written English is essential. The candidate should have an IELTS score of 7 or above, if the first language is not English. This position is open to all qualified candidates irrespective of nationality.

Degree:

The student will be awarded a PhD degree from the University of Liverpool (UK) upon successful completion of the program.

Project Description:

Hingut Acidosis is a common and ever-present danger to the equine population, with the potential to develop into debilitating and potentially life-threatening diseases. The detection of lactate producing bacteria (LAB), which are the sole contributors to Hingut Acidosis, is essential for an early diagnosis and possible prevention of such diseases. This project will develop a highly sensitive yet simple method for LAB detection utilising capture probe hybridisation in conjunction with Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy. Capture probes designed specifically to compliment a chosen DNA sequence will be able to bind specifically to the target DNA, the ensemble will produce a rapid low-cost test for Hingut Acidosis which offers immense potential in this veterinary market.

Currently, no clinical tests are available for the diagnosis of hindgut acidosis. In essence this project proposes a method of detection which aims to diagnose acute acidosis before lactate levels increase and induce symptoms associated.

For more information about doctoral scholarship and PhD programme at Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University (XJTLU), please visit

https://www.xjtlu.edu.cn/en/admissions/global/entry-requirements/

https://www.xjtlu.edu.cn/en/admissions/global/fees-and-scholarship

How to Apply:

Interested applicants are advised to email [Email Address Removed] (XJTLU principal supervisor’s email address) the following documents for initial review and assessment (please put the project title in the subject line).

• CV
• Two formal reference letters
• Personal statement outlining your interest in the position
• Certificates of English language qualifications (IELTS or equivalent)
• Full academic transcripts in both Chinese and English (for international students, only the English version is required)
• Verified certificates of education qualifications in both Chinese and English (for international students, only the English version is required)
• PDF copy of Master Degree dissertation (or an equivalent writing sample) and examiners reports available