Fully Funded A*STAR PhD Studentship: Investigating the Mechanisms Underlying Collective Cell Migration in Vivo

Cell migration plays an important role in the normal development of multicellular organisms and also in cancer metastasis. While many kinds of individual cell movements have been characterised, we understand much less about how clusters of cells migrate in a coordinated fashion. Understanding the molecular and biophysical mechanisms of how cells migrate collectively, will likely lead to a better understanding of metastasis and the identification of novel molecular targets for therapeutic intervention.  

This is a fully funded 4 year PhD studentship, where the selected student will spilt their time between 2 world class labs – Dr Kyra Campbell, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield and Dr. Keng-Hwee Chiam, A*STAR Bioinformatics Institute, Singapore. 

This project will focus on using the embryonic midgut cells during early stages of development of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, as a model system. This model offers an unparalleled opportunity to image the dynamics of cell migration in vivo, on the Campbell lab’s own dedicated multiphoton confocal microscope in Sheffield. You will use the many tools available to perturb the system, including fine-tuned laser ablation techniques to probe and dissect the underlying forces. 

As cell migration is a physical process, it is important to consider the physical aspects, such as understanding how these forces are produced and transduced.  Therefore, you will spend half of your time in the lab of Dr. Chiam in the Bioinformatics Institute in Singapore, where you will develop image analysis algorithms to measure cell behaviours from the live imaging data obtained in during your first year.  These data will then be used to build physical models to explore in silico different assumptions about collective cell migration and generate testable mechanistic hypotheses. In the final year, these will then be investigated experimentally in Dr. Campbell’s lab in Sheffield. 

This is a unique opportunity for you to carry out cutting-edge microscopy and modelling, develop ng both wet lab and computational skills in exciting multidisciplinary environments. A-level Physics and some experience with programming (Python, Matlab or C/C++) is desirable but not essential.

Student Eligibility

• Academic requirements: applicants should have, or expect to achieve, a first or upper second class UK honours degree (or equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK) in an appropriate STEM area of study.
• Applicants should be registering on their first year of study with the University for 2023/24 on an eligible programme of doctoral study.
• Candidates must qualify for Home fee status.  

Award details

For each student admitted to the 4-year programme, A*Star will provide the following financial support, whilst the student is in Singapore: 

• Monthly stipend of S$2,700
• Monthly housing allowance of S$600
• One-time airfare grant of S$1,500
• One-time settling-in allowance of S$1,000
• One-time IT allowance of S$800 
• Medical insurance 
• Conference allowance 

Whilst in Sheffield, students receive fees and stipend at the UKRI rate. Currently these are £4,596 fees and £17,668 stipend per annum.

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