Qualification Type: | PhD |
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Location: | Nottingham |
Funding for: | UK Students |
Funding amount: | See advert for details |
Hours: | Full Time |
Placed On: | 7th July 2025 |
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Closes: | 15th July 2025 |
Reference: | MED2033 |
Supervisors: Professor Cathy Merry, Professor Kenton Arkill, Dr. Andrew Hook
Overview
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are linear sugars that are displayed on all cells throughout the body as well as in the matrix. Like other glycans, they are not built against a defined template, and yet their structure is non-random, with specific motifs within the glycan chains defining binding sites for critical signalling and structural molecules. Unravelling the ways in which these motifs are encoded into GAGs by their biosynthetic machinery is the fundamental challenge behind the BBSRC-funded GlycoWeb project. This 4-year PhD forms part of GlycoWeb’s broader mission.
Project
The PhD project will focus on the organisation of highly sulphated domains within the heparan sulphate (HS) GAG family. These sulphated domains typically bind to protein ligands via sulphated residues that interact with positively charged regions within the protein ligand(s). The 3D organisation of these domains is therefore critical for their function. The object of our studies is to gain a fundamental understanding of this incredible family of glycans, opening the potential to use that knowledge to design new drugs, new biomaterials or to identify new therapeutic opportunities.
What you’ll do
You will receive training and hands-on experience in:
Working Environment:
You’ll be a good fit if you:
Eligibility
Cover Letter, CV and academic transcripts for application and Informal enquiries may be addressed to: GlycoWeb@nottingham.ac.uk
Type / Role:
Subject Area(s):
Location(s):