Genetic regulation of stem cell differentiation in vivo by single-cell sequencing of planarian cells

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Department of Biological and Medical Sciences

This is a competitive 3 year Full Time PhD project

Research title - Genetic regulation of stem cell differentiation in vivo by single-cell sequencing of planarian cells

Director of Studies and main supervisor: Dr Jordi Solana ([Email Address Removed])


Eligibility: Home UK/EU applicants only ---- (who must be permanently resident in UK/EU)

Start Date: September 2018

Value p.a.: Bursary of £14777 for Academic Year 2018/19 & fees


Description of project:

Single-cell sequencing methods will revolutionize the functional and comparative study of stem cells. The flatworm Schmidtea mediterranea is a very promising model for in vivo stem cell biology thanks to its large number of stem cells that continuously differentiate to all adult cell types and that enable its amazing regenerative capacities. We have previously used single-cell transcriptomics to reconstruct the differentiation lineage tree of planarian stem cells. However, the mechanisms that orchestrate this differentiation in vivo are not well understood. There is strong evidence that these mechanisms are conserved at least in part from planarians to humans. The use of model organisms such as planarians will therefore be key to study the fundamental biology of stem cells and their evolution. We will use RNAi-mediated gene knockdown in combination with single-cell transcriptomics. Whole worm systemic RNAi is a powerful and scalable tool to knockdown gene expression in planarians. Subsequently, single-cell sequencing will allow profiling stem cells, progenitors as well as fully differentiated cells and studying the effects of the knockdown at the single-cell level. This will allow elucidating the effect of several transcriptional, posttranscriptional and epigenetic regulators in the self-maintenance and differentiation output of planarian stem cells.

The project will offer training in both experimental wet-lab and computational skills including microinjection techniques, cell dissociation, FACS, single-cell library generation, next-generation sequencing as well as single-cell sequencing computational analysis.


For further details on the research project only please contact main supervisor:
Dr Jordi Solana, [Email Address Removed]

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.

How to apply:

To apply, please click ’Apply’ button, which would download the application form. Please complete the form and email it to [Email Address Removed].

With application enclose a CV and scanned copy of your degree certificates and transcripts. Please also provide up to date details of two referees on the application form. Research Administrator would request references from these referees at a later stage. Additionally if appropriate, an IELTS Academic test certificate from 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]