Understanding epigenetic mechanisms regulating drug resistance in human fungal pathogens

Candida albicans is the major human fungal pathogen responsible for millions of infections world-wide. Candidemia affects the weakest of the weak, such as low-birth weight infants and cancer chemotherapy patients. Unlike other pathogens, C. albicans can live asymptomatically in healthy people’s mouths and GI tracts. Upon changes in the immune status, however, C. albicans turns pathogenic with mortality rate approaching 50%. C. albicans drug-resistance strains are on the rise, striking immunocompromised patients who have undergone organ transplants, chemotherapy, or HIV treatments. There is an immediate and urgent need to understand mechanisms underlying drug-resistance in this pathogen.
A funded PhD position is available to join the lab of Dr Alessia Buscaino to study how epigenetics regulates drug resistance in C. albicans. The goal of the Buscaino lab is to understand how C. albicans switches from a harmless organism to a dangerous pathogen. Our focus is to understand how chromatin-based epigenetic mechanisms control this switch. We have recently discovered that chromatin structure regulates C. albicans gene expression and genome organisation [1–3]. We are now seeking an enthusiastic and talented PhD student to investigate whether chromatin regulation impacts on drug-resistance. To this end, you will employ a variety of state-the-art techniques, from genetics and molecular biology to proteomics and high-throughput sequencing.
You will join a vibrant and well-funded research group embedded in a community of world-leading researchers. Further information about the lab can be found at https://www.kentfungalgroup.com/dr-alessia-buscaino and informal enquiries are welcome to [Email Address Removed]

HOW TO APPLY:
Applications can be made using the online University application page where the project title should be entered as the proposed area of research and Dr Alessia Buscaino as supervisor. Please include a CV and a cover letter. Applications must be received by 6th April 2018.