Dr M Ahmed, Dr J M Dickenson, Dr C Polytarchou
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
About the Project
Skin morphogenesis occurs under stringent control of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions and result in a formation of the epidermis and a number of different skin appendages (including, the hair follicle, HF). Skin serves as an important source of adult stem cells (SCs) required for formation and regeneration of the skin and HF during post-natal life and has the regenerative capacity apparent during successive rounds of HF cycles. Therefore, making it a highly tractable model system to explore the genetic circuits of self-renewal, maintenance and differentiation underlying tissue development, regeneration of adult epithelia. MicroRNAs and their targets represent remarkably diverse regulatory networks, playing a key role in the tight regulation of gene expression programs, while mis-regulation can lead to tumourigenesis. Their role in skin development is not well understood and needs to be further explored.
This program will specifically focus on defining the role of MicroRNAs-mediated regulation of skin SCs which underlie; i) skin and HF development and regeneration and ii) wound repair. This will lead to the identification of the molecular regulators of skin and HF-SCs required for skin homeostasis and wound healing.
This project will build on the work of Dr. Mohammed Ahmed, supported by additional supervisors with complementary specialist expertise, all having published in high quality journals. The Ahmed group is within the world-leading REF2014 Biomedical Sciences Research Centre and has experience of a range of molecular cell biology techniques, including mammalian cell culture, in situ hybridization expression analysis, immunofluorescence, real time QPCR and Western blot analysis. The Ahmed lab is situated in the School of Science and Technology, which encourages multidisciplinary research and has a diverse and supportive postgraduate community.
Specific qualifications/subject areas required of the applicants for this project:
Applicants should hold, or be expected to hold, an UK Master’s degree (or UK equivalent according to NARIC) with a minimum of a commendation, and/or a UK 1stClass / 2.1 Bachelor’s Honour’s Degree (or UK equivalent according to NARIC) in Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or a related Biosciences subject.
Panel members who will perform shortlisting
Chair: Professor Ellen Billett, [Email Address Removed]
Panel member 1: Dr Elisabetta Verderio-Edwards. [Email Address Removed]
Panel member 2: Dr Mohammed Ahmed. [Email Address Removed]
Interviews are likely to take place on the following dates: 08/01/2018 to 19/01/2018
This studentship competition is open to applicants who wish to study for a PhD on a full-time basis only. The studentship will pay UK/EU fees (currently set at £4,195 for 2017/18 and are revised annually) and provide a maintenance stipend linked to the RCUK rate (this is revised annually and is currently set at £14,553 for the academic year 2017/18) for up to three years. Applications from non-EU students are welcome, but a successful non-EU candidate would be responsible for paying the difference between non-EU and UK/EU fees. (Fees for 2017/18 are £12,900 for non-EU students and £4,195 for UK/EU students). The studentships will be expected to commence in October 2018.