Basal body duplication and inheritance: using 3D microscopy and molecular tools to study basal body inheritance in the African Trypanosome.

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

This is a competitive 3 year Full Time PhD project


Research project title: Basal body duplication and inheritance


Eligibility: Only open to UK/EU applicants (who must be permanently resident in UK/EU)


Closing date: 26th May 2017 00.00 GMT (midnight UK time)


Start date: 18th September 2017


Bursary: £14553 pa for academic year 2017/18 & fees


Main supervisor: Prof. Sue Vaughan


Requirements:

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.

EU Applicants additional requirement for English language:

A valid IELTS Academic test certificate minimum score level 6 in each of the four areas of reading, writing, listening and speaking with overall minimum score 7.0 issued since 23rd April 2015 by 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.



Description of project:

Cila and flagella are essential for motility and signalling in many eukaryotic organisms and there are several genetic human syndromes (e.g. Bardet-Biedel, Joubert) have been linked to malfunctions in cilia and flagella. Motility is essential for many protozoan parasites and contributes to their pathogenicity such as for Trypanosoma brucei which is the causative organism of African sleeping sickness. Flagella assemble from basal bodies and we use novel 3D microscopy techniques to study basal body duplication and flagella assembly in this parasite. In this project we will use cellular electron tomography and serial block face scanning electron microscopy (SBF-SEM) to study the role of genes involved in basal body inheritance. We will also use a combination of molecular tools including inducible knockdown by RNAi to study the function of novel genes that were identified from a tagging screen. This project will allow the student to use a wide range of cutting edge imaging and molecular techniques whilst researching an important biological question.


Formal Enquiries: Prof. Sue Vaughan, Group Leader - Trypanosome Cell Biology, +44 (0) 01865 483254 or [Email Address Removed]. Please visit https://www.vaughanlab.com/ for more information.


How to apply:

Download and complete an application from:

http://www.hls.brookes.ac.uk/images/research/phd-studentship-application-form-jan-14.doc

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]


PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU MUST NOT SUBMIT ANY APPLICATION,CV or QUERIES VIA FINDAPHD