A 3-year PhD studentship is available to join the Kudla group at the MRC Human Genetics Unit, University of Edinburgh. The project is funded by GENEART Thermo Fisher, a leading provider of synthetic biology products, and it will include a work placement at the GENEART facilities in Regensburg, Germany. You will use modern gene synthesis and high-throughput screening techniques to understand the impact of codon usage (also known as dialect of the genetic code) on gene expression. The project is based on our long-standing interest in coding sequence optimization (Kudla et al., 2009; Mordstein et al., 2020), and on recent findings that the effects of codon usage are context-dependent: for example, a different codon optimization strategy is required when the genetic material is supplied to the cells as DNA (for gene therapy), and as mRNA ( for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, see https://twitter.com/kudlalab/status/1375025354453233665 ). Ultimately, the goal of this work is to understand the mechanisms through which changes of codon usage influence gene expression, and to develop new methods for the delivery of genetic material into cells for research, biotechnology and medical purposes.
Applicants should hold at least an upper second-class University degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject and comply with English language requirements ( https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/postgraduate/applying/your-application/entry-requirements/english-requirements ).
Applications are open until the 5th of July, 2021. To apply, please use the link below:
https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/postgraduate/degrees/index.php?r=site/view&edition=2021&id=838
When applying, please list Dr Grzegorz Kudla as the proposed supervisor for this project.
Please contact Dr Grzegorz Kudla if you have any questions about the project, or would like to discuss it in more detail.
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