PhD Studentship: Molecular basis for DNA damage checkpoint termination

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal form of cancer for women. In the UK less than half of women, and only 30% globally, survive more than 5 years after diagnosis. Acquired resistance to front line chemotherapy is a major problem for the treatment of ovarian cancer, and immunotherapy has produced minimal clinical benefit compared to other cancers. There is a clear need for new rationally designed therapies to improve patient outcomes. In ovarian cancer, suppression of the DNA damage response is thought to be the basis for chemotherapy resistance and poorer outcomes for patients. However, we do not fully understand at a molecular level the cellular machinery that is hijacked by ovarian cancers.

In this project the student will employ cutting-edge structural biology approaches (cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography, and AI-driven methods), biochemical reconstitutions, biophysical investigations, and cell biology to uncover how ovarian cancer subvert repair pathways to ignore DNA repair. The lab was recently awarded pump-priming funding from the Sussex Cancer Research Centre (SCRC) to initiate this project in collaboration with the Sussex Drug Discovery Centre and clinical oncologists at the Royal Sussex County Hospital to drive our investigations towards patients.

The project is based in the Genome Damage and Stability Centre (GDSC); a University Centre of Excellence and world-leading research Institute in the field of genome damage and repair. The student will be directly supervised by a research leader at the Genome Centre with strong expertise in DNA repair, structural biology (cryoEM and X-ray crystallography), biochemistry, and biophysics. The student will also benefit from strong interactions within the Genome Centre, especially for cell biology approaches and live cell imaging, the Wolfson Centre of Biological Imaging, and the wider School of Life Sciences. The student will also receive support to attend training workshops and scientific conferences provided by the host lab. The project’s inter-disciplinary approach, combined with the access to state-of-the art facilities and links to the clinic, will offer a unique opportunity to acquire a broad experience in a highly engaging research environment.

How to apply:

Please submit a formal application using the online admissions portal attaching a CV, degree transcripts and certificates, and two academic referees. A research proposal is not required. Instead, please upload a personal statement describing your subject areas of interest, skills and previous experience, motivation for Doctoral Research, future goals, and why you are applying to this project.

On the application system select Programme of Study – PhD Genome Stability. Please select ‘funding obtained’ and state the supervisor’s name where required. Applicants with overseas fee status need to provide evidence showing how they will fund the difference between Home and International tuition fees (approx. £18k per year).

Students should have a background in a science and experience working in a laboratory setting. Experience in structural biology approaches (lab-based and/or computational) is desirable. Candidates should have (or expect) a minimum BSc 2:1. An MSc or MRes degree is advantageous. Qualifications should be in Biochemistry or a related subject area. You may be considered if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.

Candidates for whom English is not their first language must include a document listed here:  English language requirements

Applications are particularly welcomed from candidates with protected characteristics – e.g., from Black and other ethnic minorities – who are under-represented in postgraduate research at our institution.

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