PhD Studentship in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma

The MRC-Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma is a partnership between the Medical Research Council, Asthma UK, Imperial College London, King’s College London and partner NHS Trusts to advance our understanding of the pathogenesis of asthma. The Centre provides an outstanding opportunity for high-calibre PhD students to train in areas of basic and clinical science that have direct relevance to the development of novel approaches for the prevention and treatment of asthma.

Applications are now invited for a 3-yr PhD studentship to commence in October 2018. The successful candidate will be able to choose from a broad range of PhD projects based at King’s College London covering the various interests of the Centre. Examples of some of the projects offered are listed below, full list of available projects will be presented to the successful candidate later in the process.

• Airway mucin regulation in patients with near-fatal asthma exacerbations requiring admission to the Intensive Care Unit – Dr. Jackson
• Does signalling via the aryl hydrocarbon receptor mediate the detrimental effects of urban air pollution on innate and adaptive immunity in asthma? – Prof. Kelly
• Epigenome editing to model the impact of altered epigenetic landscapes in asthma – Dr. Lavender
• First ever determination of the function of IgD antibodies; function in asthma – Prof. Gould
• Investigating the effects of alpha 1 antitrypsin in modulating Th17 and neutrophil function in severe asthma – Prof. Hawrylowicz
• Platelets are important during initial sensitization towards allergen: how do these cells help bridge the innate and adaptive immune response? – Prof. Page
• Role of IL-25/IL-25 Receptor pathway in pathogenesis of human eosinophilic airway inflammation – Dr. Till
• Using combined single cell transcriptomics and genomic analysis to investigate B cell germinal centre development in allergic disease - Dr. Fear
• Vitamin D in the prevention of asthma: studies on early life immunity – Prof. Hawrylowicz

King’s College London provides excellent opportunities for research students' training. All students benefit from a full programme of training in research and transferable skills organised through the Graduate School.

The advertised studentship is predominantly restricted to home or EU candidates based on the nature of the funding. Students from outside the EU area would be required to pay substantially higher tuition fees that would not be covered by these studentship awards..

How to Apply

Applicants must be in receipt of, or due to receive Master UK Degree or equivalent in an appropriate subject (Merit and above).

To apply, send your CV, names of two referees and a one page personal statement to Jana Pierron at j.pierron@ic.ac.uk

Closing date for the full application is 17th May 2018. All successful applicants will be contacted and invited for interviews on 13th June 2018. Please assume that your application has not been successful if you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date.

Please note that all candidates must fulfil College admissions criteria.