PhD studentship - Institute of Cellular Medicine –Biomarker Identification and Ultra-Sensitive Assay Development for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

Number of awards:
1

Start date and duration:
September 2017 for 3 years.

Overview:
Are you interested in the wider implications of infectious diseases and diagnostics? The aim of this project is to develop agile and globally impactful Point-of-Need diagnostics for antimicrobial resistance.

The Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technologies research group, within which the successful applicant will be embedded, is involved in several major collaborative projects which address this research theme namely; i-sense (https://www.i-sense.org.uk/) and PERFORM (http://www.perform2020.eu/). i‑sense is tackling the detection of specific pathogens and AMR, while PERFORM is utilising a large patient cohort to identify specific biomarkers that will distinguish between bacterial and viral infections in febrile illness.

The student will fit into the wider research team developing Point-of-Need diagnostics and drive forward research based on protein biomarkers, or development of ultra-sensitive nucleic acid based molecular tests. Cross disciplinary interactions with clinicians, bio-informaticians and engineers are likely at Newcastle University, or partner universities from the wider multi-centre collaborative projects.

Sponsor:
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technologies, Institute of Cellular Medicine Studentship.

Name of supervisor(s):
Dr N Keegan (http://www.ncl.ac.uk/icm/people/profile/neilkeegan.html#research) and Professor C J McNeil (http://www.ncl.ac.uk/icm/people/profile/calummcneil.html#research), Institute of Cellular Medicine.

Eligibility Criteria:
You must have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 Honours degree in a Biomedical Sciences related area, but preferably a first class Honours degree. A further qualification such as an MSc or MRes may be advantageous.

This project is available to UK/EU and international applicants. If English is not your first language, you must have IELTS 7 with at least 6.5 in the written component, or equivalent.

How to apply:
You must apply through the University’s online postgraduate application system (http://www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply/). To do this please ‘Create a new account’. Only mandatory fields need to be completed. However, you will need to include the following information:
•insert the programme code 8300F in the programme of study section.
•select ‘PhD in the Faculty of Medical Sciences – Cellular Medicine’ as the programme of study.
•insert the studentship code CL092 in the studentship/partnership reference field.
•attach a covering letter and CV. The covering letter must state the title of the studentship, quote the studentship reference code CL092 and state how your interests and experience relate to the project. If you are an International student please state how you would top up the fees.
•attach degree transcripts and certificates and, if English is not your first language, a copy of your English language qualifications.