Exploring the role of habitual physical activity in driving physiological ageing

PhD Description: Robust evidence regarding the biological mechanisms responsible for the health benefits of physical activity, and the detrimental impacts of inactivity is lacking. This PhD will aim to address the long-standing debate surrounding the role of habitual physical activity levels in driving ageing processes in multiple organs, with a particular focus on skeletal muscle. The successful candidate will be integrated into a multidisciplinary team dovetailing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), biotechnology and human physiology expertise, which will permit a comprehensive array of endpoints to be quantified over the course of a 6-month controlled physical activity intervention. A specific focus of this PhD project will be understanding the contribution of metabolic and physiological changes in skeletal muscle with altered physical activity levels. This PhD will provide unique training in metabolic physiology and will be based across 3 sites, the Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre and Queens Medical Centre (QMC) on the University of Nottingham University Park campus and the University of Nottingham Medical School in Derby (UNMSD; please note: free University transport is available between the sites).  

Further Information:

Applicants should have either:

·       a minimum of a 2.1 in a relevant undergraduate degree (e.g., Exercise Science, Physiology, Biology), OR

·       a minimum of a 2.2 undergraduate degree and a relevant Master’s degree.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to the programme lead, Prof Bethan Phillips (beth.phillips@nottingham.ac.uk) or to the principal supervisor, Prof Paul Greenhaff (paul.greenhaff@nottingham.ac.uk).

To apply, candidates should send their CV and a short cover letter (<1000 words) outlining why they are applying for this PhD to: beth.phillips@nottingham.ac.uk. The email subject line should be: “DMT PHD APPLICATION”. Candidates may apply for more than one of the PhD’s that form part of this programme, but should make this known in their cover letter. Candidates should also provide the contact details for 2 referees one of whom should be their most recent employer or academic supervisor. 

Closing Date for Applications: Monday April 22^nd 2024, 10:00am

Provisional Interview Dates: 28^th and 29^th May 2024

PhD Start Date: 1^st October 2024, or as soon as possible thereafter.