PhD Studentship

Funding for The Dean’s PhD Studentship: Developing and characterising Non-mammalian Pre-clinical screening Tool for Ischaemic Stroke research (NOPTIS)

The Centre for Inflammation Research and Translational Medicine at Brunel University London is offering a fully funded Dean’s PhD studentship to investigate immune responses and inflammation in stroke. Stroke remains the second leading cause of death, the main cause of adult disability globally, and its burden is forecasted to increase (20-30%) in the next 20-30-years. Treatment options are limited. Thus, there is an urgent need for discovering and developing novel pharmacological targets and therapeutic strategies for stroke prevention and management. Immune and inflammatory responses play crucial roles in stroke pathophysiology. The ideal outcome of inflammation is its resolution, an active process involving endogenous mediators and related pathways. Developing therapies that temper inflammation and enhance its resolution could help to minimise post-stroke brain damage, bringing significant advantages to the patient and enhancing recovery.

This PhD project will address this challenge by investigating immune and inflammatory responses in a novel pre-clinical model of stroke in zebrafish, with the aim to discover and characterise critical druggable pathways whose modulation could lead to neuroprotective effects.

Based in and funded by the College of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, the studentship offers a full-time annual London rate stipend of £19.668 (including London weighting) plus Home/EU tuition fees, for a maximum of 36 months.

The start date will be 1 January 2023.

Overview
The PhD studentship will involve developing and characterising a novel model of stroke in zebrafish to investigate complex pathophysiological processes using cutting-edge in-vivo imaging and behavioural profiling methods available in our laboratories and to assess its potential to enhance the current stroke drug discovery and pre-clinical development strategies.

The successful candidate will be supervised and trained by an expert interdisciplinary team of supervisors.

For informal discussions, please contact Professor Felicity Gavins, felicity.gavins@brunel.ac.uk .

Eligibility
Ambitious and highly motivated candidates should have an undergraduate degree (first or upper second class) or equivalent qualification in immunology, pharmacology, or a related field. A Masters qualification in a relevant area would be desirable. Candidates with previous laboratory experience, particularly in neuroscience and/or with an interest in immunology and inflammation are encouraged to apply. Applicants who have not been awarded a degree by a University in the UK will be expected to demonstrate English language skills to IELTS 7.0 (minimum 6.5 in any section).

How to Apply

If you wish to apply, please e-mail the following to chmls-pgr-officestaff@brunel.ac.uk by 31 October 2022.

• An up-to-date CV.
• A single-page A4 single-spaced personal statement describing why you are a suitable candidate (i.e. outlining your qualifications and skills).
• One example of your academic writing (e.g. an essay, a section from a dissertation).
• A summary of your teaching experience or your willingness to support teaching activities.
• Names and contact details for two academic referees.
• A copy of your highest degree certificate and transcript.
• A copy of your English language qualification, where applicable.

Short-listed applicants will be required to attend an interview in the week commencing 14th November 2022. Successful applicants will be instructed to submit a formal online application via Admissions.

For further information about how to apply, please contact the College of Health Medicine and Life Sciences Postgraduate Research Office on chmls-pgr-officestaff@brunel.ac.uk .