PhD Studentship: Determining the Dietary Accumulation and Toxicity of Nanoplastics and Co-contaminants (Zinc Oxide Nanomaterials) in Fish

DoS: Dr Matthew Banton ([email protected] )

2nd Supervisor: Dr Chiara Boschetti ([email protected] )

third Supervisor: Professor Mathew Upton ([email protected] )

Functions are invited for a three-year PhD studentship. The studentship will begin on 1 October 2024.

Venture Description

Nematodes, rotifers and tardigrades are microscopic animals with some very uncommon organic traits which permit a few of them to outlive excessive stresses, together with full desiccation (anhydrobiosis), radiations and excessive temperatures. To outlive, they use a number of molecular mechanisms, together with DNA safety and restore, antioxidants and different protecting molecules. These fascinating animals have additionally developed to reside in environments teeming with micro-organisms, however the interplay between these two kinds of organism is just not totally understood. This mission will examine the innate immune response of micrometazoans throughout bacterial an infection, together with an exploration of the function of antimicrobial peptides, small peptides that particularly goal and inhibit bacterial development. The mission may even examine the microbiome of micrometazoans: members of the steady microbiome may secrete antimicrobial compounds to control the expansion of different competing micro organism, offering an extra supply of antimicrobial candidates. These matters will likely be investigated utilizing each lab-based and bioinformatics approaches and antimicrobial discovery pipelines.

That is an thrilling exploratory mission that can contain the event of novel strategies and requires each bioinformatics and lab abilities. The appointed candidate will likely be required to work independently and present initiative through the PhD. Fascinating abilities embrace earlier expertise working with micro-metazoans akin to nematodes, rotifers and/or tardigrades, microbiology, molecular biology and different lab abilities (together with, however not restricted to, PCR, RT-qPCR, western blotting and microscopy), antimicrobial discovery and characterisation, expertise in bioinformatics and/or coding.

Eligibility

Candidates ought to have a primary or higher second class honours diploma in an acceptable topic or a related Masters qualification.

In case your first language is just not English, you will want to fulfill the minimal English necessities for the programme, IELTS Educational rating of 6.5 (with at least 5.5 in every element check space) or equal.

The studentship is supported for 3 years and consists of full residence tuition charges plus a stipend of £18,110 every year 2023/24 fee (2024/25 fee TBC). The studentship will solely totally fund these candidates who’re eligible for House charges with related {qualifications}. Candidates usually required to cowl Worldwide charges must cowl the distinction between the House and the Worldwide tuition price charges (roughly £13,244 every year 2024/25 fee).

NB: The studentship is supported for 3 years of the four-year registration interval. The fourth 12 months is a self-funded ‘writing-up’ 12 months.

In the event you want to talk about this mission additional informally, please contact Dr Matthew Banton, [email protected] .

To use for this place please click on the Apply button above.

Please clearly state the title of the studentship that you’re making use of for on the highest of your private assertion.

Please see right here for a listing of supporting paperwork to add together with your software.

For extra info on the admissions course of usually, please go to our Methods to Apply for a Analysis Diploma webpage or contact the Doctoral Faculty .

The deadline for functions on twenty second April 2024. We remorse that we could not be capable of reply to all functions.