Mechanisms that regulate mitochondrial transfer in health and disease

Imperial College Centre for Translational And Experimental Medicine
British Heart Foundation 4-Year MRes/PhD Studentships
Supervisors:Dr Pankaj K Bhavsar ([Email Address Removed]), Dr Tristan Rodriguez ([Email Address Removed]) and Dr Nick Jones ([Email Address Removed]). Assistant supervisor: Dr Charalambos Michaeloudes

Applications are invited for a BHF 4 year MRes/PhD studentship starting in October 2017 at the Imperial Centre for Translational and Experimental Medicine (ICTEM), Hammersmith Campus. The studentships are fully funded through a BHF training grant made to Prof Sian Harding and it will cover tuition fees (at the Home/EU rate) and a tax-free stipend starting from £22,278 per annum for a total of 4 years. In addition, there is a consumable allowance of £50,000 and £1000 travel award per studentship.

The Cardiovascular Sections of the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, have been united in the new state-of-the art Imperial College Centre for Translational and Experimental Medicine, where they collaborate with organisations such as the MRC Genetics and Genomics Unit. The present scheme takes advantage of new adjacencies with jointly supervised projects to explore novel areas in cardiovascular and stem cell science.
Project summary
The BHF 4-year MRes/PhD studentships at ICTEM typically comprises a 1-year MRes in Biomedical Research, followed by a 3-year PhD. During the MRes year, students undertake two laboratory projects which will prepare them for the Ph.D. Recent work suggests that cells can share their energy sources to promote growth and tissue repair. The overall aim will be to tackle the mechanisms underlying this sharing both in a developmental and disease context. Additionally, by comparing a developmental and a disease system, will allow the candidate to unravel the molecular pathways that control mitochondrial transfer, a key requirement for harnessing this mechanism for therapeutic purposes.

The successful candidate will be based at the Bhavsar lab at the Royal Brompton Campus for a period of their study. They will also join a cohort of Ph.D. students affiliated with the BHF Centres at Imperial, with particular interests in regenerative medicine and novel technologies. They will also link to the wider Imperial College through activities such as the Imperial Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Network.
Applicant Requirements
Applicants must hold, or expect to obtain, a first or upper second-class honours degree or equivalent in an appropriate subject from a recognised academic institution. Candidates must fulfil College admissions criteria and meet BHF residency requirements.
How to Apply
To apply, please email Jinata Subba ([Email Address Removed]) with the following documents.

- Your CV
- The names and addresses of at least two academic referees
- A personal statement of no more than 1,000 words explaining your interest in the project

Please assume that your application has not been successful if you have not heard from us within a month of the closing date.
Closing date for all applications: Friday, 13th January 2017
Interviews will be held in February 2017