Prof T K Smith
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
Description:
In this project, the student will establish a parasite viability assay to drive the phenotype-directed discovery of unnatural products that inhibit the growth of the protozoan Crithidia fasiculata. The resulting unnatural products will be characterised through determination of dose-dependent activity against Crithidia and related pathogenic parasites; Leishmania spp, Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi. In addition, bioimaging approaches will be used to characterised the phenotypic effects of unnatural products on, for example, cell morphology and cell cycle arrest. Analogues of the unnatural products will be exploited in combination with genetic manipulations to investigate the role of their cognate target proteins within a native cellular context.
Overall project goal:
To exploit antiprotozoan unnatural products as chemical tools to elucidate the role of their cognate target proteins within the cellular context of the parasite Crithidia fasiculata.
Specific objectives:
1. Establish assays that enable the phenotype-directed discovery of antiprotozoan unnatural products.
2. Characterise the biological function of the resulting antiprotozoan unnatural products.
3. Exploit derivatives of unnatural products as chemical tools to determine the role of cognate target proteins in a native cellular context.
Training:
This multidisciplinary project will involve training in cutting-edge chemical biology, including phenotypic screening, genetics and cell biology. The student will work closely with the researcher in Leeds, developing sought-after skills in collaborative interdisciplinary research.
This project would ideally suit an applicant with a degree in Biology/Biochemistry and a strong interest in working at the chemistry-biology interface.
Informal enquiries are very strongly encouraged prior to application and should be made to Professor T. K. Smith ([Email Address Removed])
Funding Notes
This PhD will provide 4 years funding for UK or EU students. Students from outside those areas will be considered, but should be aware of the need to obtain additional funding to cover the difference between ‘home’ and ‘overseas’ fees.
Informal inquiries to the primary supervisor are very strongly encouraged.
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