PhD Studentship in Cardiovascular Development: “Cell Interactions in Fourth Pharyngeal arch Artery Morphogenesis”, funded by the British Heart Foundation

Award summary

100% of home tuition fees paid and an annual stipend (living expenses) starting at £19,919. Additional funding is available to cover research costs and travel to conferences.  

Overview

Interested in the morphogenetic processes underlying cardiovascular development? This PhD project will investigate the mechanisms by which key genes control the development of the aortic arch arteries.  

Congenital cardiovascular abnormalities occur in ~1% of live births and cause a high level of death and morbidity, including defects affecting the major arteries, such as interruption of the aortic arch. These arteries form by a highly complex process that is tightly regulated by genetic and cellular interactions that are not fully understood.  

To uncover the gene regulatory networks and signalling events between the different cell types required for arch artery formation we have been using state-of-the-art single cell sequencing technologies. In this PhD project you will interrogate this data using bioinformatic techniques to identify candidate genes for further analysis. These genes will be investigated in model organisms using a range of laboratory techniques including RNA and protein visualisation by in situ hybridization (using the RNAscope technique) and immunohistochemistry, fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS), quantitative real-time RT-PCR, molecular cloning and cell culture assays. 

Number of awards: 1

Start date: 28^th April 2025

Award duration: 3 years

Sponsor

British Heart Foundation (www.bhf.org.uk) 

Supervisors

Dr Simon Bamforth www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/people/profile/simonbamforth.html 

Dr Helen Phillips www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/people/profile/helenphillips.html 

Dr Rachel Queen www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/people/profile/rachelqueen.html 

Newcastle University Biosciences Institute 

Eligibility Criteria

You must have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 Honours degree in biology, genetics, biomedicine, or a related area. The candidate must be willing to learn bioinformatics. A further qualification such as an MRes is advantageous. 

The studentship covers fees at the Home rate only. Successful international candidates will be required to make up the difference between home fees and international fees.  

Applicants whose first language is not English require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each subsection.  

How To Apply

You must apply through the University’s Apply to Newcastle Portal. Once registered select ‘Create a Postgraduate Application’. 

• Select 2024 as the ‘Year of entry’ for an April 2025 start date 
• Use ‘Course Search’ to identify your programme of study: 
• Search for the ‘Course Title’ use the programme code: 8420F 
• Research Area: Leave Blank 
• Select ‘‘PhD Biosciences (FT)’ - September 2024. Our PG Admissions staff will change the start date to April 2025 after you've applied. 

You then need to provide the following information in the ‘Further Questions’ section: 

• A ‘Personal Statement’ (mandatory field) - upload document or write statement directly into the application form. The statement must state the title of the studentship, quote the studentship reference code BI091 and state how your interests and experience relate to the project. 
• The studentship code BI091 in the ‘Studentship/Partnership Reference’ field 
• ‘Research Proposal’- select ‘Write Proposal’. Use the project title from this advert – you don’t need to provide a proposal. 

In the ‘Supporting Documentation’ section please upload:   

• your CV 

You must submit one application per studentship, you cannot apply for multiple studentships on one application. 

Contact Details

Dr Simon Bamforth (simon.bamforth@newcastle.ac.uk) 

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