2013-04-29

PhD Studentships in the Florey Centre for Host-Pathogen Interactions - University of Sheffield

The Departments of Infection and Immunity and molecular biology and Biotechnology, together with key members of other University Departments, invite applications for the ‘Host-Pathogen Interactions’ doctoral training programme. The Florey Centre for Host-Pathogen Interactions’ is part of a prestigious Vice Chancellor-led strategic initiative, 2022 Futures, which provides a platform for ambitious research growth in areas that the University of Sheffield is recognised for internationally.

We are recruiting a cohort of six PhD studentships on a 3.5 year programme of integrated research and skills training, with cross-disciplinary supervision.

Successful candidates will be central to the growth of Florey Centre activities and will be part of a broader community associated with the 2022 Futures initiative.

The Florey Centre focuses on developing innovative approaches to tackle two major bacterial pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Sheffield has particular strengths across both clinical and fundamental bioscience disciplines in the study of these major hospital and community-acquired infections.

Projects will study bacterial pathogenesis and the basis of host susceptibility to infection, leading to novel approaches to prevent and to treat leading causes of medical ill health.

Sheffield has world-class facilities in disease models, including the MRC Centre for Developmental and Biomedical Genetics.

Underpinning technologies include new programmes in super-resolution microscopy for studies of bacterial structures and of host-pathogen interactions. In the next few years the power of genomics (with associated Bioinformatics) will increase, allowing host susceptibility to disease to be investigated using our deep sequencing facilities and the wealth of clinical samples available to us through one of the largest Regional Infectious Disease Units in the UK.

We aim to create a cohort of PhD students with interdisciplinary research skills.

This requires flexible individuals with a range of backgrounds who will learn from each other and gain a wide range of skills and enhanced scientific knowledge.

We welcome applications from students with first degrees in Biological, Chemical or Physical Sciences.

Studentships are available for UK, EU and overseas candidates and cover fees and a stipend for three and a half years.

Understanding bacterial pathogenesis

Deadline for applications: 17th May 2013

Entry date: 1st October 2013

How to apply: Applicants should have or expect to achieve an undergraduate honours degree at 2.1 or higher in a relevant field.

Complete the online application, including the following documents:

a CV (including reference details). We will NOT contact your referees; it is your responsibility to request references and ensure we receive them

degree transcripts if available.

The student cohort:

Students will receive training in core aspects of Microbiology and immunology that underpin the initiative, receiving hands-on interdisciplinary training in innovative techniques and methods. This will be followed by specific projects (associated with student background and initiative priorities). Projects may be undertaken in a wide range of areas including:

Use of zebrafish models to understand host-pathogen behaviours and interactions in vivo

Combined immune cell and in vivo screens of libraries of novel chemical entities with potential anti-microbial or host-modifying effects to identify new treatments

Identification and characterisation of novel bacterial virulence determinants

Manipulation of key anti-microbial factors in innate immune cells (macrophages and neutrophils) using in vitro and in in vivo models

Investigation of cross-talk between adaptive and innate immunity to bacterial infection using model systems

Analysis of linkage between cell metabolism and host defence

Application of novel microscopy approaches to understand bacterial behaviour and host-pathogen interactions

Bioinformatic approaches to the analysis of host:pathogen interaction

Proteomic and epigenetic analysis of the basis of susceptibility to host defence

Molecular characterisation of susceptibility to bacterial infection during viral infection or chronic lung disease

Development of novel vaccine approaches

Analysis and modelling of bacterial infection dynamics

Management

The Florey Centre is led by an interdisciplinary team with a wide range of skills and expertise:

Professor Moira Whyte – Neutrophil biology and lung infection and inflammation

Professor David Dockrell – Macrophage biology, in vivo models of infection and bacterial pneumonia

Professor Simon Foster – Host:pathogen interaction, vaccine development and bacterial Cell Biology

For informal enquiries and further information please contact Prof. Moira Whyte (m.k.whyte@sheffield.ac.uk) or Prof. David Dockrell (d.h.dockrell@sheffield.ac.uk)

Original Notification

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