Protein Biochemistry and Drug Delivery - Building a Multimodular Delivery Platform for Targeting Cancer Cells at Cardiff University on FindAPhD.com

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Dr Y Tsai, Prof Arwyn Jones No more applications being accepted

About the Project

Funding from the Life Sciences Research Network Wales is available for a three-year PhD position starting in October 2016. The project aims to develop a novel multimodular targeting platform for cancer therapy. This is a collaborative project between the groups of
Dr Yu-Hsuan Tsai (Chemistry) http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/people/view/38515-tsai-yuhsuan and
Prof Arwyn Jones (Pharmacy) http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/people/view/90846-jones-arwyn-tomos

The project objectives are based on our recent findings showing that cancer cells can be targeted by receptor clustering on the plasma membrane (Moody et al., doi:10.1038/mt.2015.178) http://www.nature.com/mt/journal/v23/n12/full/mt2015178a.html
to enhance the internalisation of therapeutic cargo.

The student will be involved in designing and characterising a modular platform composed of different segments to deliver a therapeutic entity into the cytosol of cancer cells. These components are (i) a targeting entity for receptor clustering and promotion of endocytosis, (ii) an endosomal escape segment for delivery of the cargo to the cytosol, (iii) a therapeutic entity and (iv) cleavable linkers to free the therapeutic from the drug delivery vector once it is inside the cytosol. Training will be provided in organic synthesis, protein chemistry, biochemistry, cancer cell culture, and live and fixed cell confocal microscopy.

Start date: 1 October 2016

Academic criteria: Applicants should have, or expect to obtain, a good honours degree (at least 2:1) or equivalent in chemistry or a life science discipline. First-hand experience in organic synthesis, protein chemistry, mammalian cell culture or other relevant areas is highly desirable. A self-starter with good interpersonal skills and a team player with a drive to succeed, you will be highly motivated relishing the opportunity to take a leading role in establishing this exciting research program.

The deadline for applications is 31 August 2016.

Cardiff University reserves the right to close applications early should sufficient applications be received.

Funding Notes

This studentship consists of full UK/EU tuition fees at UK/EU rate, as well as a Doctoral Stipend matching UK Research Council National Minimum £14,298 p.a. for 2016/17.

One studentship is available.

Residency: Full awards (fees plus maintenance stipend) are open to UK Nationals and EU students without further restrictions.

The studentship is very generously funded by National Research Network.http://www.lsrnw.ac.uk/

References

Informal enquiries may be directed to Dr Yu-Hsuan Tsai (TsaiY5@cardiff.ac.uk) or Prof Arwyn Jones (JonesAT@cardiff.ac.uk). Applications will be evaluated on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Consideration is automatic on applying for PhD in Chemistry, with a start date of October 2016 via Cardiff University's Online Application Service (link below). In the research proposal section of your application, please specify the project title and supervisors of this project. In the funding section, please select "I will be applying for a scholarship / grant" and specify that you are applying for advertised funding from the NRN.

Where will I study?

Cardiff University

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Protein Biochemistry and Drug Delivery - Building a Multimodular Delivery Platform for Targeting Cancer Cells

Cardiff University Cardiff School of Chemistry