MRC PhD Research Studentship

Structural, mechanical and metabolic responses to functional overload of the “Muscle-Tendon Unit” in young and older individuals

School of Graduate Entry Medicine and Health within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Nottingham 

Applications are invited from highly motivated individuals for the above prestigious MRC studentship, based at the School of Graduate Entry Medicine and Health at the Royal Derby Hospital, Derby. The successful candidate will join the Metabolic, Clinical and Molecular Physiology Research group, which functions on two sites i.e. Derby and Biomedical Sciences in the Queen’s Medical Centre, under the direction of Professor Paul Greenhaff, Professor of Muscle Physiology.

(see:http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/biomedsci/world-leading-research/metabolic-physiology.aspx .

The group has recently been awarded prestigious MRC/ARUK centre status for excellence in “musculo-skeletal ageing research” in partnership with the University of Birmingham (~£2.5M funding) and is unique in its ability to undertake comprehensive physiological and metabolic investigations in humans.

This project will focus on the effect of age on the human muscle-tendon unit, including structural, metabolic and functional characteristics, and on the adaptability of this unit to acute and chronic loading interventions.  The study will be based on innovative ultrasound-based and electron microscopy techniques to measure muscle and tendon structural and mechanical changes, in combination with unique stable isotope approaches (D₂O), to measure protein and collagen turnover and the response to innovative exercise interventions aimed at improving muscle-tendon function in ageing. The successful candidate will gain experience and practical skills in the use of ultrasound for the assessment of muscle and tendon  structure and of tendon mechanical properties, state of the art mass spectrometry, modern molecular and biochemical techniques e.g. western blotting and PCR thereby providing comprehensive skills and training to students wishing to pursue a career in biomedical research. This project will be jointly supervised by Prof Marco Narici, Drs Ken Smith and John Williams (for more details of our research profile see our website:  http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/gem/index.aspx). Prof Constantinos Maganaris (Liverpool John Moores University) will act as an adviser for the in vivo and in vitro tendon investigations.

Applicants should have, or will expect to attain at least a 2i degree classification in Physiology (or related discipline), biochemistry, pharmacology or neuroscience. 

This studentship is available for a period of 3 years and provides an annual stipend and PhD tuition fees (£13,726 and £3,900 in 2013/14). The MRC and School of Graduate Entry Medicine and Health will provide generous research training support grant of £5000 per annum equally. This studentship is available to UK citizens only, or EU applicants who fulfil MRC residency criteria (EU applicants must have been resident in the UK for more than 3 years).  The award start date is 1^st October 2013. 

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Prof Marco Narici and Dr Ken Smith Email:

marco.narici@nottingham.ac.uk or ken.smith@nottingham.ac.uk Tel: 01332 724603 or 724700.  Please note that applications sent directly to these Email addresses will not be accepted. 

Application forms are available from Mrs Sue Rougeolle, sue.rougeolle@nottingham.ac.uk.  Application forms, with two copies of a detailed CV and the names and addresses of two referees, should be sent to Sue.Rougeolle@Nottingham.ac.uk.  (Mrs S Rougeolle, School of Graduate Entry Medicine and Health, Medical School, Royal Derby Hospital, Uttoxeter New Road, Derby, DE22 3DT).  

Please quote ref: MED/1181. This studentship will remain open until filled.