MSCA PhD Fellow in Cross-Disciplinary Glycoscience Research

Contract: Fixed term (36 months to complete specific time limited work)

Are you keen to advance glycoscience research across disciplines? Do you have research experience and a strong curiosity about how macromolecular interactions drive the formation of the neuronal glycocalyx, specifically perineuronal nets (PNNs), that play a crucial role in regulating neuroplasticity? Are you eager to develop your expertise, push the boundaries of knowledge, and pursue a PhD in one of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities?

GLYCOCALYX is a Horizon Europe Doctoral Network. It offers a multidisciplinary training programme between its academic and industrial partners to research the self-organisation and barrier functions of the mammalian glycocalyx.

All mammalian cells are covered with a dense and complex coat of sugar chains known as the glycocalyx. Glycocalyces are essential for multicellular life yet remain the ‘dark matter’ of biology, under-studied owing to the historical lack of preparative and analytical tools to probe the local molecular composition and transient interactions of molecules within glycocalyces, and missing physics rules to interpret experimental observations.

The GLYCOCALYX Network will train 15 PhD Fellows in chemistry, physics and biology methods required to resolve the dynamic organisation of glycocalyces; 3 of the 15 PhDs Fellows will be hosted at the University of Leeds. The projects will establish a new level of understanding of how glycocalyces perform their many selective barrier functions. PhD Fellows will receive cutting edge scientific training, alongside industry-relevant transferable skills, to equip them for careers in the medical technology sector and its underpinning research.

As MSCA PhD Fellow (DC2) in Leeds, you will investigate how molecular self-assembly governs the ultrastructure of PNNs. PNNs play a pivotal role in regulating neuroplasticity, a process fundamental to learning and memory. Gaining mechanistic insight into how these complex structures assemble will provide critical knowledge for developing strategies to modulate PNNs and ultimately enhance brain function. You will interact and develop research collaborations with our GLYCOCALYX academic and industrial partners, and in addition you will participate in activities of the Doctoral Network, including attending training courses and work placements at other sites.

Eligibility rules. To meet the requirements of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network, you must be eligible to enrol in a first doctoral degree (PhD), and must not have lived or worked in the UK for more than 12 months in the 3 years prior to recruitment date.

Alongside previous research experience you will have a Masters (or equivalent qualification) in Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, Neuroscience, Physics in Biology, or a related discipline.

To engage in paid employment you must have the necessary right to work in the UK. This may involve obtaining an appropriate visa.

Salary. The Marie Skłodowska-Curie PhD Fellow salary is fixed at £53,780 per annum (plus family allowance if applicable), in line with MSCA Doctoral Network requirements, subject to tax and National Insurance deductions.

Salary Requirements of the Skilled Worker Visa Route 

This post may be suitable for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route but first-time applicants might need to qualify for salary concessions. For more information, please visit the Government’s Skilled Worker visa page.

For research and academic posts, we will consider eligibility under the Global Talent visa. For more information, please visit the Government’s page, Apply for the Global Talent visa.

To explore the post further, please contact:

Jessica Kwok, Professor in Neuroglycoscience, and project primary supervisor

Email: j.kwok@leeds.ac.uk

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