PhD studentship - Investigating the role of Glycosylation in Melanoma Metastasis

PhD studentship, University of Bradford, Faculty of Life Sciences

Project Title:

Funded PhD Project: Investigating the role of glycosylation in melanoma metastasis

Project Supervisors:

Dr Karthic Swaminathan, Prof Rob Falconer

Project Description:

Malignant Melanoma, the cancer of the melanocytes, is the deadliest form of skin cancer and its incidence in the UK has risen by ~32% in the last ten years (CRUK). Melanoma is a major global health problem with poor overall survival (<2 months) for advanced disease with distant metastasis. Despite recent advances, there are no effective therapies for metastatic melanoma.

Cancer metastasis is driven by changes in cell behaviour which is greatly influenced by cell’s ability to attach (cell-adhesion) and remodel Extra Cellular Matrix (ECM), a meshwork of proteins that holds the cells in place. Cellular adhesion relies on activation of cell surface receptors (integrins) that converts extracellular cues (growth and mechanical signals) into intracellular biochemical signals influencing cell motility and invasion. While we know the identity of many pathways involving receptor activation and cell adhesion regulation, how these pathways are controlled during metastasis has not been worked out.

Aberrant glycosylation of cell surface proteins is a hallmark of metastasis in various tumours. Glycosylation, the addition of sugars to proteins, has been implicated in cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion regulation and promotes invasion and metastasis in cancers. However, how these cell surface changes impacts cell behaviour during metastasis has not been worked out. Therefore, the overall goal of this project is to establish the molecular mechanisms underlying cell surface protein glycosylation driven cell-matrix adhesions and its impact on mechanobiology and melanoma metastasis.

This project will combine biochemical and mass proteomics approaches with gene editing tools and live cell imaging (deep tissue in vivo) to provide mechanistic insights into how surface glycosylation tunes intracellular signalling upon cell adhesion facilitating melanoma metastasis.

The PhD student will join a highly active research environment at the Centre for Skin Sciences, University of Bradford and work closely with research groups at Institute of Cancer Therapeutics (UoB) and the Cancer Research UK Scotland (CRUK SI). The student will obtain training in molecular and cell biological techniques and in state-of-the-art microscopy techniques along with in vivo deep tissue imaging.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a minimum upper second class undergraduate honours degree (or equivalent) in biosciences including Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences, Cancer Science or related discipline. A Masters degree in a relevant subject and/or experience in laboratory-based research are also desirable.

Good communication skills in English are essential, and you should have experience in writing and presenting scientific reports. Curiosity, self-motivation and good attitude towards team work are equally important.

The student will be expected to work collaboratively, share project updates and written reports in weekly supervisory meetings and with collaborators, and disseminate results at national and international conferences.

Funding notes:

This project has full funding for UK students, which will cover tuition fees, a tax-free stipend at UKRI rate for living costs, and a Research Support Grant.

Funding for:

UK Students

Enquiries email name and address:  

For informal enquiries, please contact research@bradford.ac.uk

How to apply:

Potential candidates should apply directly online through the online application portal (via the ‘Apply’ button above)

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