PhD projects starting in September 2022

Advancing the frontiers of bioscience discovery projects – Promoting creative, curiosity-driven frontier bioscience to address fundamental questions in biology

 

PROJECT TITLE MAIN / ROTHAMSTED  HOST INSTITUTION KEYWORDS
A combined experimental and in silico modelling study of pigment pattern formation in zebrafish Prof Robert Kelsh University of Bath Pattern formation, zebrafish, mathematical modelling, pigmentation, growth
Ancestral functions of genes regulated by imprinting in mammals Prof Andrew Ward University of Bath Developmental biology, epigenetics, evolution, growth, imprinting
Behavioural & biological analysis of dissociable aspects of reward processing Prof Dominic M. Dwyer Cardiff University Cognitive, Behaviour, Hedonic, Reward Dysfunction, Neuroscience
Cutting edge novel technologies to investigate lysosomal channels and transporters important in recovery post-autophagy Dr Emyr Lloyd-Evans Cardiff University Electrophysiology, Lysosome, Ion channels, Transporters, Autophagy
Determining the regulatory control of prokaryotic antiviral defence systems Dr Tiffany Taylor University of Bath Evolution, CRISPR, AMR, bacteria, phage
Developing a new bio-imaging tool for correlative light electron microscopy Prof Paola Borri Cardiff University Bioimaging, biophysics, optical microscopy, electron microscopy, nanoparticles
Evolution of social gene complexes Prof Jason Wolf University of Bath Genomics, evolution, social behaviour, genomic imprinting, cooperation
Modelling the effect of ageing in silico and on Drosophila and mouse clock neurons Prof James Hodge University of Bristol Drosophila, electrophysiology, computational modelling, circadian rhythms, ageing
Molecular characterisation, modelling and prediction of organelle membrane dynamics in health and disease Prof Michael Schrader University of Exeter (Streatham/St Luke’s) Molecular Cell Biology, Biophysics, Mathematic Modelling, Membrane Dynamics, Organelles
Predicting the outcome of coinfection using a model of TB in mice Dr Joanne Lello Cardiff University Coinfection, immune response, One Health, TB, pathogens
Protein Choreography of the Molecular Compass Dr Jonathan Phillips University of Exeter (Streatham/St Luke’s) Structural proteomics, Molecular dynamics, Quantum biology, Structural biology
Single molecule dynamics of enzyme catalysis for thermoadaptation and design Prof Adrian Mulholland University of Bristol Enzyme design, protein dynamics, simulation, biophysics, nanosensors
The mechanistic basis of the ‘positive-inside rule’ for membrane protein topology Prof Ian Collinson University of Bristol Membrane protein insertion, Biochemical and Bioinformatic analysis, Protein structure prediction, Membrane biogenesis, Sec machinery
The molecular mechanisms of RNA Polymerase II termination Dr Alan Cheung University of Bristol Gene Expression RNA Polymerase II Transcription Cryo Electron Microscopy Termination
The origins of individual differences in learning and behaviour: Computational models and in vivo experimentation Prof Robert Honey Cardiff University Psychology, Behavioural Neuroscience, Computational models
The role of cell competition in the elimination of aberrantly specified cells Dr Fisun Hamaratoglu Cardiff University Homeostasis, cell biology, development, signalling, cancer
U-RHYTHM: developing a novel technology for the investigation of tissue-level thyroid and sex hormone dynamics in humans Prof Stafford Lightman University of Bristol Neuroendocrine rhythms, physical chemistry, healthy aging, human studies, wearable technology

Bioscience for an integrated understanding of health projects – Improving animal and human health and wellbeing across the lifecourse.
PROJECT TITLE MAIN / ROTHAMSTED  HOST INSTITUTION KEYWORDS
Aging before birth: identifying prenatal influences of lifestyle on telomeres and the epigenetic clock Prof Rosalind John Cardiff University Fetal programming, Telomeres, Epigenetic clock, Maternal diet and nutrition, Healthy aging
Mechanism of Linoleic Acid protection against SARS-CoV-2 viral replication in human cells Prof Paul Verkade University of Bristol Coronavirus, ultrastructural studies, correlative light and electron microscopy, cryo electron tomography, membrane remodelling
Probing the molecular activation of complement component C5 using a novel antibody toolbox Prof Jean van den Elsen University of Bath Innate immunity, Complement, Inflammation, Protein structure

Bioscience for sustainable agriculture and food projects – Delivering more productive, healthy, resilient and sustainable agriculture and food systems
PROJECT TITLE MAIN / ROTHAMSTED HOST INSTITUTION KEYWORDS
Effects of perturbing polyamine metabolism on development and stress responses in Arabidopsis thaliana Prof Hilary Rogers Cardiff University Polyamines, plant hormones, plant development, stress responses, Arabidopsis thaliana
How can we engineer more robust plants? Smart genetic screens and advanced imaging strategies to understand the cellular basis of plant growth under normal and stress conditions Dr Angharad Jones Cardiff University Climate change, abiotic stress, sustainability, genetic screening, cell biology
Interaction of insecticidal toxin proteins with target membranes Prof Colin Berry Cardiff University Insecticidal protein, Lipid membranes, Electrophysiology, Biochemistry, Optical microscopy
Quantifying the evolution of multi-fungicide resistance and its effects on pathogen fitness and virulence *CASE Prof Ivana Gudelj University of Exeter (Streatham/St Luke’s) Resistance evolution, disease virulence, fitness cost, plant pathogens, sustainable agriculture
Plastics in the Environment: Enhancing carbon sequestration and crop production Dr Martin Blackwell Rothamsted Research (North Wyke) – apply through University of Bristol Plastic, soil quality, carbon sequestration, environmental sustainability, crop production

*subject to meeting the academic and residence criteria.

*CASE indicates CASE DTP studentships. As part of the programme, you will be required to undertake a placement with the CASE partner for a minimum of 3 months.