The temporal association between muscle intra-myocellular lipid content and insulin sensitivity /substrate oxidation, during bed rest induced muscle unloading in healthy, young, male volunteers

We are pleased to be able to offer this exciting opportunity to work within the Arthritis Research UK Centre for Sport, Exercise and Osteoarthritis. This Centre is a unique collaboration of six Universities (Nottingham, Oxford, Loughborough, Leeds, Bath, and Southampton) and is led by Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust; working towards a better understanding of mechanisms relating sport, exercise, injury and osteoarthritis (OA). The investigating multidisciplinary team includes specialists in orthopaedics, sport and exercise medicine, physiotherapy, nutrition, sports science, skeletal muscle biology, and metabolic physiology.

Limb immobilisation and bed rest are widely accepted to induce physiological adaptation. Both reduce whole-body and muscle glucose uptake under insulin-clamp conditions. A number of human bed rest studies has been performed, ranging from 3–370 days duration. However, there are currently significant gaps in our understanding as to the rate and magnitude of these adaptations, and importantly the sites and mechanisms controlling these physiological changes. This PhD will use state-of-the-art microscopy methods and analytical techniques to probe the skeletal muscle-centric mechanisms involved in the physiological dysregulation seen after 1, 3 and 57 days of bedrest.

The first 12 months of PhD will require the student to be trained in a range of histological, biochemical and molecular biology analytical methods. This will include them spending some time in the laboratory of Dr Clara Prats (University of Copenhagen) where the student would be trained in quantification of intra-myocellular lipid content by a world leading authority.

This is an excellent research opportunity. Applicants must have a minimum of UK 2.1 honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject area and be highly numerate. A relevant Masters qualification is desirable but not essential. This project will require strong wet lab analytical skills and statistical analyses experience/ability would be an advantage. Applicants must hold a UK or EU passport and be able to work in Denmark for a proportion of the project.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Professor Paul Greenhaff ([Email Address Removed]).

Applications with a covering letter, a detailed CV, the names, addresses and contact details of two/three referees, should be sent via e-mail to [Email Address Removed]

The University of Nottingham is one of the world’s most respected research-intensive universities, ranked 8th in the UK for research power (REF 2014). Students studying in the School of Life Sciences will have the opportunity to thrive in a vibrant, multidisciplinary environment, with expert supervision from leaders in their field, state-of-the-art facilities and strong links with industry. Students are closely monitored in terms of their personal and professional progression throughout their study period and are assigned academic mentors in addition to their supervisory team. The School provides structured training as a fundamental part of postgraduate personal development and our training programme enables students to develop skills across the four domains of the Vitae Researcher Development Framework (RDF). During their studies, students will also have the opportunity to attend and present at conferences around the world. The School puts strong emphasis on the promotion of postgraduate research with a 2-day annual PhD research symposium attended by all students, plus academic staff and invited speakers.