Dr C Childs, Prof P Calder
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
Lead Institute / Faculty: Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton
Main Supervisor: Dr Caroline Childs
Other members of the supervisory team: Professor Philip Calder
Duration of the award: 3 years, full time.
Project description:
Prebiotics are dietary ingredients with potential to act as ‘functional foods’ - influencing health and/or mucosal and systemic immune function. Nutrients with widely reported prebiotic functions include fructo-oligosaccharides and galacto-oligosaccharides. This project will investigate the effect of 5 different galactose- based oligosaccharides (GOS) on the function of peripheral immune cells including Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells. The main objectives of the PhD project is to characterise the effects of these GOS on immune cells from healthy donors and those with inflammatory/auto-immune conditions, and to investigate the mechanisms responsible. This study will use cell cultures to study in vitro effects of GOS by laboratory methods including immunophenotyping by flow cytometry, assessing the intra-cellular production of individual immune signalling molecules, and multiplex immunoassays.
This 3 year PhD studentship is available within Human Development and Health Academic Unit within the Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton. This studentship is under the supervision of Dr Caroline Childs and Professor Phillip Calder, researchers who have made significant contributions to understanding the role of nutrients and dietary components in modulating immune function and inflammation. This sponsored research studentship will provide the successful applicant with the opportunity to work within the Nutrition and Metabolism group of the Institute of Developmental Sciences (http://www.southampton.ac.uk/medicine/research/ids/ids-nutrition-metabolism.page), and to develop further research skills in nutrition and immunology. Enthusiasm to work in an academic environment is highly desirable. The ideal candidate for this studentship will have a strong background in nutrition and an interest in immunology.
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Please contact: Dr Caroline Childs [Email Address Removed]
Person Specification: see below.
https://jobs.soton.ac.uk/Upload/vacancies/files/15790/03%20Doctoral%20Researcher%20Person%20Specification_UoS_FoM_PhD.docx
The successful candidate is likely to have the following qualifications:
• A 1st or 2:1 degree in a relevant discipline and/or second degree with a related Masters
Administrative contact and how to apply:
Please complete the University’s online application form, which you can find at
https://studentrecords.soton.ac.uk/BNNRPROD/bzsksrch.P_Login?pos=7209&majr=7209&term=201718
You should enter Dr Caroline Childs as your proposed supervisor. To support your application provide an academic CV (including contact details of two referees), official academic transcripts and a personal statement (outlining your suitability for the studentship, what you hope to achieve from the PhD and your research experience to date).
Informal enquiries relating to the project or candidate suitability should be directed to Dr Caroline Childs ([Email Address Removed]).
Closing date: 19 May 2017
Interview date: 26 May 2017
Funding Notes
The studentship is fully funded for 3 years by HOST Therabiomics Ltd and welcomes applicants from the UK and EU who have or expect to obtain a 1st or 2:1 degree in a relevant discipline and/or a related Masters. Funding will cover fees and a stipend (currently £14,553 at 2017/18 rates) per annum.
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