Qualification Type: | PhD |
---|---|
Location: | Newcastle upon Tyne |
Funding for: | UK Students, EU Students |
Funding amount: | £17,668 - please see advert |
Hours: | Full Time |
Placed On: | 23rd March 2023 |
---|---|
Closes: | 17th April 2023 |
Award Summary
100% of home tuition fees paid and an annual stipend (living expenses) of £17,668. Successful international candidates will be required to fund the difference between the home fees and international fees.
Overview
Do you want to watch individual proteins as they build the bacterial cell wall in real-time?
Many antibiotics target the bacterial cell wall. Because of its importance, the mechanism of wall assembly has been heavily studied in model species like E. coli, which builds its wall along the sides of the rod-shaped cell. However, bacteria are extremely diverse, and many—including the devastating global pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis—build their cell wall from their poles rather than their sides.
In this PhD, you will use cutting-edge fluorescence microscopy to investigate how pole-growing bacteria build their cell walls. Specifically, you will use single-particle tracking and super-resolution imaging to measure the dynamics and localization of the cytoskeleton and cell wall synthases in Corynebacterium glutamicum—a non-pathogenic relative of M. tuberculosis widely used in biotechnology—with a powerful new microscopy method where cells stand vertically inside bacteria-shaped holes.
You will be based in the Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, a world-class research centre. You will develop solid hands-on knowledge of molecular biology and genetics techniques, as well as ample expertise in advanced fluorescence microscopy.
Number of awards: 1
Start date: 18th September 2023
Award duration: The funding covers a three-year PhD.
Sponsor: Newcastle University
Supervisors: Dr Kevin Whitley – Biosciences Institute
Eligibility criteria
At least a 2:1 honours degree or international equivalent, in a subject relating to biomedical sciences, including microbiology and biochemistry. Further qualification such as an MRes is advantageous.
Applicants whose first language is not English require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in all sub-skills.
How to apply
To apply for a studentship, you must register and apply through the University’s Apply to Newcastle Portal
Once registered select ‘Create a Postgraduate Application’.
Use ‘Course Search’ to identify your programme of study:
You will then need to provide the following information in the ‘Further Details’ section:
In addition, before you submit your application you will need to upload the following supporting documentation:
You will not be able to submit your application until you have submitted all required documents/information.
Contact details: Dr. Kevin Whitley
Type / Role:
Subject Area(s):
Location(s):