Protein lipidation in cancer: new pathways and druggable targets

Supervisor: Prof Ed Tate, in collaboration with groups at Imperial College, the Institute of Cancer Research and the Francis Crick Institute.

We are seeking outstanding candidates to take up a 4-Year fully funded CR-UK PhD Studentship in cancer chemical biology, in the group of Prof Ed Tate (http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/people/e.tate), starting from October 2016. The importance of protein lipidation and lipid metabolism in cancer is well-recognised, but the full spectrum of dysregulation of lipid post-translational modifications (PTMs) in cancer remains largely unexplored. You will join a world-leading multidisciplinary team to create the first system-level view of how protein lipidation is altered in aggressive and drug resistant cancers, address the potential to target these pathways for intervention, and explore links with dysregulated lipid metabolism. You will apply novel approaches based on breakthrough technologies developed by our lab for quantitative protein lipidation profiling in cells and animals. Your research at the cancer biology/chemistry interface will be supported by close collaborations with cancer and systems biology groups at the Imperial CRUK Centre (https://www1.imperial.ac.uk/crukcentre/), The Institute of Cancer Research (http://www.icr.ac.uk/), and the Francis Crick Institute (http://www.crick.ac.uk/).

The successful candidate will receive training in all relevant aspects of the project, from chemical probe development to cell biology and proteomics, in the world-leading Department of Chemistry at Imperial College London, which from late 2017 will occupy state-of-the art new research facilities on the College’s new White City Campus. This will allow significant expansion of research activities, including in cell and molecular biology, and bring together Molecular Sciences research across the College.

Candidates may make unofficial enquiries by sending their CV and personal statement to Prof Tate ([Email Address Removed]), or apply online at https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/pg/apply/how-to-apply/. Applications will be considered from January 2016, and the studentship will be filled as soon as possible thereafter.