[alife] BBSRC PhD studentship - Deadline: 5 June

[Peter Andras]

BBSRC PhD studentship - The role of mitochondrial DNA mutations in aging: is clonal expansion the explanation, or just the "tip of the iceberg"?

    * Reference Code: IA050

Closing Date: 5th June 2011

Details:

Supervisors: Dr P Andras, Professor P Chinnery, Dr M Santibanez-Koref  

Sponsor: BBSRC   

Duration of the award: 3-year PhD or 3-year PhD and 1 year MRes (depending on the prior qualifications of the accepted candidate)

Project description
This project will use "state-of-the-art" single cell next generation sequencing techniques to determine how mitochondrial DNA mutations contribute to ageing in humans.

Somatic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations accumulate throughout life, and are thought to contribute to the ageing process and a range of late-onset degenerative diseases. It is assumed that rare somatic mutation events "clonally expand" within single cells. If such somatic mtDNA mutation affects a large number of cells, this could lead to organ dysfunction and thus contribute to senescence. However, in ~30% of cells with cytochrome oxidase c (COX) deficiency no mtDNA defect has been found. This project will use Next Generation Sequencing and bioinformatics analysis to determine: (a) whether large numbers of rare variants are found in COX negative cells that do not contain clonally expanded mutations; (b) whether ostensibly normal cells contain cumulatively high levels or rare variants; and (c) whether the overall mutational burden increases in cells over time.

Value of the Award and Eligibility
£13,590 pa maintenance grant plus cover for the tuition fees.
The BBSRC eligibility criteria apply.

Person Specification
Applicants should have either a First class honours degree in Computing Science, Statistics, or a Biological Science, or a 2.1 in Computing Science, Statistics, or a Biological Science. Candidates without an MSc or MRes degree in a medical biology related topic will be expected to register for a one-year MRes degree in Medical and Molecular Biosciences. Equivalent experience will also be considered.  Any experience of bioinformatics, gene sequencing or molecular biology experiments will be an advantage, but is not required. A willingness to learn is critical.

How to Apply
Application through the University's online postgraduate application form quoting reference number IA050 and programme code 8410F as the programme of study.  Only mandatory fields need to be completed (no personal statement required) and a covering letter, CV and (if English is not your first language) a copy of your English language qualifications must be attached. The covering letter must state the title of the studentship, quote the studentship code IA050 and state how your interests and experience relate to the project.

Closing date for applications
5th June 2011

Further Information
For further details, please contact Dr Peter Andras, peter.andras at ncl.ac.uk, +44 (0) 191 222 7946 or Professor Patrick Chinnery, p.f.chinnery at ncl.ac.uk, +44 (0) 191 222 8835.


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Dr Peter Andras
Reader in Complex Systems and Computational Intelligence Degree Programme Director for Postgraduate Research Director of Postgraduate Studies and Research

School of Computing Science
Newcastle University
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU
UK

tel. +44-191-2227946
fax. +44-191-2228232
email: peter.andras at ncl.ac.uk
web: www.staff.ncl.ac.uk/peter.andras/