Prof Skirmantas Kriaucionis, Dr Benjamin Schuster-Boeckler
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
Concerted collaboration between transcription factors and chromatin is important for accurate transcription. Significance of it can be illustrated by frequent mutations in transcription factors (P53, MYC and others) and chromatin proteins (TET2, MLL, H3.3 and others) in cancer, where gene expression is deregulated and cells acquire range of phenotypes detrimental to the whole organism. We aim to understand how epigenetic DNA modifications affect chromatin, transcription and function of different cell types ranging from stem cells to terminally differentiated neurons.
Recent methodological advances improved measurements of transcription and DNA modifications in each individual cell in the population. These measurements allow better understanding of transcription dynamics, however the interpretation of the data requires sophisticated computational approaches. The aim of this project is to reveal the impact of DNA modifications on the regulation of transcription in individual cells. How do cells switch genes on and off? How can cells encode fast and slow transcriptional transitions? What are the mediators of regional chromatin effects? The focus will be on developing computational approaches capable of interrogating the newly generated and publicly available single cell datasets.
To apply in the first instance please email with a CV (this must include your achieved or predicted grade at degree level) , supporting statement and the names of two referees. The studentship will commence in October 2017.
Funding Notes
Applicants are expected to be predicted or to have achieved a first-class or an upper second class undergraduate degree (or equivalent international qualifications) as a minimum in a relevant discipline. English language requirements are set by the University of Oxford.
The Studentship is funded for 4 years with an annual bursary of £18,000 as well as funding for University and College fees at the EU/home rate.