Dr L Gathercole
No more applications being accepted
Competition Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Department of Biological and Medical Sciences
This is a competitive 3 year Full Time PhD project
Start date: September 2018
Bursary: Approximately £14500 pa for academic year 2018/19 & fees
Main supervisor: Dr Laura Gathercole
For informal enquires please contact Dr Laura Gathercole ([Email Address Removed])
Description of project:
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the hepatic manifestation of obesity and metabolic disease. Not only is NAFLD associated with a significant increase in liver and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, it significantly increases the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The rising global obesity epidemic has hastened the need to identify novel pathogenic mechanisms in the search for innovative and effective treatments.
We know that bile acid synthesis is disrupted in patients with NAFLD and, as bile acid signalling is cytoprotective, we hypothesise that this promotes hepatocellular injury and leads to carcinogenesis. Combining cell culture and in vivo models, state-of-the-art 3D live cell and electron microscopy, and molecular techniques this project will determine how alterations in bile acid metabolism impacts on key pathogenic processes in NAFLD, including mitochondrial function, mitophagy, apoptosis, and genomic stability.
Supervised by Dr Laura Gathercole (Oxford Brookes Bioimaging Unit) and Prof Jeremy Tomlinson (Oxford University) the student will be embedded within a research community that includes basic scientists, expert microscopists, and clinicians.
Key words: bile acids, cancer, liver, hepatology, endocrinology, bioimaging, cell physiology
How to apply:
UK/EU Applicants only - you need to be a permanent resident in UK/EU in order to be eligible. Please do not apply if you do not fit this criteria as your application would be rejected.
Applicants should be of the highest quality and capable of submitting a PhD thesis within 3 years. Applicants should have a first class or upper second class (minimum 2.1) honours degree from a Higher Education Institution in the UK or an acceptable equivalent qualification.
EU Applicants additional requirement for English language
A valid IELTS Academic test certificate minimum score level 6 in each of the four areas of reading, writing, listening and speaking with overall minimum score 7.0 issued since 12th January 2016 by an approved test centre.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/491093/2016-01-11_-Approved_Secure_English_Language_Tests_and_Test_Centres_-_Website.pdf
Exceptionally we are prepared to consider alternative acceptable evidence of English Language ability.
With application enclose a CV and scanned copy of your degree certificates and transcripts plus two signed academic references. Additionally if appropriate an IELTS Academic test certificate from an approved test centre.
Applications only accepted by e-mail [Email Address Removed]
Funding Notes
To apply, please click 'Apply' button, which would download the application form. Please complete the form and email it to [Email Address Removed].