Structural Biology PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

Obtaining insights into how a signalling hub protein Ras activates multiple effectors

Supervisors: Dr K Tanaka , Dr R Mahen

The RAS family of small GTPases act as signalling hubs regulating cell proliferation and differentiation. They are highly conserved from yeast to humans, highlighting their fundamental biological roles. Read more

23 May 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

Unlocking the Secrets of Genome Regulation through cryo-EM

Supervisors: Dr T Schalch, Dr AC Chaplin

Are you an ambitious spirit, ready to make breakthrough discoveries at the frontier of epigenetics? Dive deep into the fascinating world of eukaryotic genomes with us! . Read more

23 May 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

University of Leicester Department of Respiratory Sciences

Molecular level understanding of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis has evolved to survive and replicate inside macrophages. The project will investigate the molecular mechanisms underpinning adaptation to this specialised intracellular niche. Read more

Supervisors: Dr H O'Hare, Dr N Garton

23 May 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

Epigenetics of early human development: From molecular mechanisms to regenerative medicine

Supervisors: Dr Y Markaki, Dr T Schalch

Ever wondered how nature maintains balance of gene expression between sex chromosomes? Well, the 46th chromosome of XX females, the second X, has to be switched off. Read more

23 May 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

Understanding centrosome function in the human airway

Supervisors: Dr R Mahen, Prof EH Hollox

Breathing sustains our life and is also important for our quality of life. Inside the lung, billions of hair-like structures called cilia beat a million times a day to promote a process called mucociliary clearance. Read more

23 May 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

The University of Manchester Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

(MRC DTP CASE) Prediction of substrate binding geometry and strength in promiscuous enzymes: computational chemistry applicable to the design of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals

We are often taught about the power of enzymes to select particular substrates from the biological milieu and of their ability to perform highly selective reactions on those substrates. Read more

Supervisors: Dr A Leach, Dr S De Visser, Dr C Trujillo

13 May 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

Structural-guided PROTAC targeting of BMX to modulate apoptotic sensitivity in disease

Supervisors: Dr JF Fox, Dr JH Hodgkinson

What determines at the molecular level whether a cell lives or dies? Regulation of the cellular life–death switch is essential in healthy cells for normal foetal development and for the clearance of damaged cells. Read more

23 May 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

University of Leicester Department of Chemistry

Molecular Glues as Novel Tools for Tackling Big Challenges in Human Health

Background. The need for new medicines is greater than ever because of an ageing population and the complex clinical challenges brought about by drug resistance and/or side effects. Read more

Supervisors: Dr RD Doveston, Prof S Macip

23 May 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

Molecular characterization of Sam68-driven cytoskeletal reorganization

Supervisors: Dr C Dominguez, Prof A Fry

The cytoskeleton is a complex network of various fibres (microtubules, actin, …) that is essential for cells to maintain their shape and internal organization and for their migration. Read more

23 May 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

The University of Manchester Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

(MRC DTP CASE) An Integrative Structural Biology Platform for Drug Discovery

Solute carriers (SLCs) are the second largest class of membrane-embedded proteins with over 400 members organised into 66 families. Read more

Supervisors: Dr A Politis, Dr CP Pliotas

13 May 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

Alpha-synuclein amyloid in Parkinson's disease: using Nanoinjection as a tool to study alpha-synuclein amyloid toxicity inside neurons

Supervisors: Dr E W Hewitt, Prof S E Radford, Dr P Actis

Intraneuronal inclusions known as Lewy bodies are a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease. Amyloid fibrils formed by the misfolding of alpha-synuclein are the principal component of Lewy Bodies. Read more

Open Day(s) Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Control and inhibition of virus replication

Supervisor: Dr A.K Tuplin

The Tuplin laboratory utilises a range of cutting-edge approaches to investigate how arboviruses - specifically Chikungunya, Dengue and Zika viruses - control replication and translation of their genomes through interactions between RNA structures, host cell proteins and non-coding RNA, and the potential of such RNA elements/interactions as novel therapeutic targets. Read more

Open Day(s) Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Delivery and misdelivery of outer membrane proteins to the BAM complex using cryoEM

Supervisors: Prof N A Ranson, Prof S E Radford

The BAM complex folds membrane proteins into the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, proteins whose functions are essential for bacterial viability, pathogenicity and virulence. Read more

Open Day(s) Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Design and Folding of beta barrel membrane proteins

Supervisors: Prof S E Radford, Prof D B Brockwell

The cell walls of Gram negative bacteria are packed with b-barrel outer membrane proteins (OMPs) whose function are essential for bacterial growth and virulence. Read more

Open Day(s) Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only