Structural studies of the molecular machinery controlling cell growth

Applications are invited for a fully funded 3 year PhD Studentship in the Section of Structural Biology within the Department of Medicine at Imperial College London and will be supervised directly by Dr Christopher Aylett. The project will be to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the control of cell growth.

When cells decide whether or not to grow, they take into account a large number of considerations concerning their environment; nutrient availability, energy availability, the composition of the external medium, the disposition of other cells or cellular matrices, and many more. Incorrect interpretation of these environmental signals can result in tumours in eukaryotes and colony death in prokaryotes, however the means by which such signals are weighted and integrated by cells remain poorly understood at a molecular level.

The student will receive training to become proficient in molecular biology techniques, recombinant expression, biochemical interrogation through in vitro activity assays, X-ray crystallography, electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM), structural biology computing, and other biophysical techniques, as and when they become necessary.

The Imperial College Centre for Structural Biology provides both a well-developed crystallography platform (including liquid handling robotics, an initial screen with more than 1500 conditions, and an in-house beam line), and an extensive cryo-EM facility (equipped with tungsten filament instruments for negatively stained work, a FEG equipped FEI F20 equipped with a direct electron detector, and in receipt of BAG access to the eBIC at Diamond, and direct Krios access in future at the Crick Institute through the LonCEM consortium), in which structural studies will be pursued.

More information on Dr. Aylett’s research may be found here:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/department-of-medicine/research/experimental-medicine/structural-biology/
http://www.imperial.ac.uk/collegedirectory/index.asp?PeopleID=60010

The Section represents a unique environment in which to study medically relevant biology, lying at the juncture of scientific and medical research within Imperial College. The Department provides a well-developed teaching and support network for PhD students, and the research project will be pursued at the vibrant South Kensington Campus in central London.

Applicants must have or expect to have obtained at least a 2:1 from a UK University or the overseas equivalent in a relevant area of biochemistry, genetics, biotechnology or cell biology. A Masters degree is preferable but not essential. We are looking for highly motivated applicants with excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills, basic knowledge of UNIX computing, and enthusiasm for exposure to a diversity of scientific projects.

Applicants are requested to send a full CV and personal statement (detailing why you are interested in the research project).