PhD Studentship: Developing Mass Spectrometry Tools to Combat Challenges in Structural Biology

Main description:

Technology advancement is critical to understand more about how biology works. From climate change to therapeutic interventions, structural mass spectrometry is making major breakthroughs. The PhD project will involve learning how to use an apply this cutting-edge technology to solve a multitude of biological problems from cancer therapeutics and drug design, through to photosynthesis and blue biotechnology. Specifically, the PhD project will involve working with our newly implemented hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry platform; a technology that is becoming increasingly used in pharmaceutical research.

The University of Birmingham has a state-of-the-art mass spectrometry facility with the latest instrument, the Orbitrap Ascend Tribrid Mass Spectrometer, being installed in October 2024. The PhD student will work within the large dynamic team of mass spectrometrists within the Leney and Cooper labs at the University of Birmingham. The student will be encouraged to travel and present at conferences, and have the opportunity to mix with instrument developers responsible for instrument design.

For more details on the research group, please refer to: https://www.leney-mass-spectrometry.com.
Interested applicants can write to Aneika Leney (a.leney@bham.ac.uk) for more details. Applications should go directly through the MIBTP funding scheme (see link below).

Funding notes:

The PhD project is funded through the BBSRC-funded Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership.

The studentship includes:

• payment of fees
• tax-free stipend in line with the UKRI rate (£19,237 in the 2024/25 academic year)
• travel/conference budget
• generous consumables budget
• use of a laptop computer for the duration of the programme

Academic requirements:

• 1st or a 2.1 undergraduate degree in a relevant field are eligible.
• Evidence of quantitative training is required. For example, AS or A level Maths, IB Standard or Higher Maths, or university level maths/statistics course.

References:

Latest PhD student publications from the group include:

1) Danielle Kay: Dissecting the functional behavior of the differentially phosphorylated prolyl isomerase, Pin1. Protein Science. 2024.
2) Jaspreet Sound: The increasing role of structural proteomics in cyanobacteria. Essays in Biochemistry. 2023
3) Danielle Kay: Tracking the mechanism of covalent molecular glue stabilization using native mass spectrometry. Chemical Science. 2023
4) Kish Adoni: FAIMS Enhances the Detection of PTM Crosstalk Sites. Journal Proteome Research. 2022

For further information on this project and details of how to apply to it please click on the above 'Apply' button

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