Dr Eleanor Raffan, Dr G Yeo
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
Based at the University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories https://www.mrl.ims.cam.ac.uk/
Supervisors
Dr Eleanor Raffan http://www.mrl.ims.cam.ac.uk/research/early-career-investigators/eleanor-raffan/
Dr Giles Yeo https://www.mrl.ims.cam.ac.uk/research/principal-investigators/giles-yeo/
Project Description
This 4-year PhD (part of the BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership) will provide an excellent research training in metabolic science and genetics and provides a rare opportunity for a motivated science or veterinary graduate to combine work with pet dogs and bench science in a project whose aims encompass both fundamental neurobiology, genetics and animal behaviour and welfare.
Based at the world-leading Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science at the University of Cambridge, the wide range of training and researcher development activities available maximises competitiveness for future opportunities. During year 1 you will develop core research skills through training courses and mini-research projects in different laboratories as part of the BBSRC Doctoral Training Programme. In years 2-4, you will focus on the advertised project.
Project Information: Obesity is a global epidemic that poses a serious threat to human and companion animal health. The heritability of obesity is 40-70%, but only a small fraction of the genetic variation responsible is known.
Dogs are excellent models in which to investigate disease genetics because of the consequences of selective breeding. Studying dogs therefore has value not only for that species, but also because the results can contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms by which genes link to obesity in humans.
We have mapped obesity associated loci in Labradors and other breeds and identified specific variants as candidates for causation. Comparative genomics show loci involved are relevant to human obesity. We hypothesise dogs with high genetic obesity risk have differences in food related behaviour and/or energy expenditure compared to those with low genetic risk and will test that using previously validated measures of eating behaviour in volunteered pet dogs.
This is an opportunity to become involved in a project at the interface of genetics, obesity science, animal behaviour and veterinary medicine. Work is based at the Institute of Metabolic Science but experimental work will be carried out elsewhere, including at the Dept. Veterinary Medicine.
Candidates should have a strong background in the biomedical sciences (veterinary graduates are welcome) and experience and enthusiasm for working with dogs.
Funding Notes
This is a Targeted Studentship as part of the BBSRC Doctoral Training partnership. Support includes a BBSRC stipend (with supplement for students with a recognised veterinary degree), research costs and fees at either home/EU or overseas rates.
The closing date for applications is noon on Friday 7th December 2018 and Interviews will be held between 21st – 23rd January 2019.
Full details of the programme, including how to apply visit https://www.mrl.ims.cam.ac.uk/bbsrc-dtp-studentships/ and https://bbsrcdtp.lifesci.cam.ac.uk/available-studentships
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