Translational genomics- improving diagnostic return on genomic data in respiratory diseases.

Lead Institute / Faculty: Faculty of Medicine (CES) / National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Southampton Biomedical Research Centre

Main Supervisor: Professor Dr Diana Baralle

Other members of the supervisory team: Prof John Holloway and Prof Jane Lucas

Duration of the award: 3 years, full time

Project description:
During this program the fellow will not only develop a strong knowledge of rare respiratory disorders and how to use genomics for better diagnosis and stratification, but also of the use of bioinformatics, clinical informatics and data science in medicine. The laboratory skills learnt will include ‘wet lab.’ assessment of sequence variants found in genomics, plus the use of RNA and transcriptomics. They will learn how to use the data generated to maximum potential, uplifting our diagnostic rates. Dependent on experience, the fellow will be supported to attend any relevant training courses and present at conferences useful to themselves and the project. These may include: statistics, bioinformatics, RNA seq.
A weekly individual lab meeting will set objectives and goals for the research. Also serving as training in research planning. A larger full team meeting will happen fortnightly. Senior post docs will be available in the lab on a day to day basis with open access to the supervisors.
The studentship will be supported within the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at Southampton General Hospital. The NIHR BRC is hosted through a partnership of the University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton, providing an excellent opportunity to deliver research which is of benefit to patients ‘from bench to bedside’. As a NIHR BRC Student the doctoral researcher will have access to a number of benefits in addition to the University of Southampton and Faculty of Medicine opportunities; training support includes a mentorship scheme, a multidisciplinary research environment aimed to foster collaborations amongst future research leaders, opportunity to apply for funding to attend courses and conferences, opportunities to attend national NIHR training events. There will also be the opportunity to spend up to three months in another institution to gain skills not available in Southampton through application for Mobility Funding.

Candidate requirements:
Candidates should have, or be expected to achieve, a first class honours or 2:1 degree qualification (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline. A relevant Master’s degree and/or experience in genetics or bioinformatics is desirable but not essential.

Please contact: Professor Baralle
T: +44 (0)23 8120 6162

F: +44 (0)23 8079 4346


E: [Email Address Removed]

Person Specification: See below
https://jobs.soton.ac.uk/Upload/vacancies/files/20771/Doctoral%20Researcher%20Person%20Specification_UoS_FoM_PhD.docx
The successful candidate is likely to have the following qualifications:
• A 1stor 2:1 degree in a relevant discipline and/or second degree with a related Masters
Administrative contact and how to apply:
Please complete the University’s online application form, which you can find at
https://studentrecords.soton.ac.uk/BNNRPROD/bzsksrch.P_Login?pos=7209&majr=7209&term=201920

You should enter Diana Baralle as your proposed supervisor. To support your application provide an academic CV (including contact details of two referees), official academic transcripts and a personal statement (outlining your suitability for the studentship, what you hope to achieve from the PhD and your research experience to date).

Closing date: 26/04/2019