Nigel Groome Studentship: Gene Regulatory Networks Driving Male-Female Genital Co-evolution

3 Year, full-time funded PhD Studentship

Eligibility: Home UK/EU and International applicants

Bursary p.a.: Bursary equivalent to UKRI national minimum stipend plus fees (2025/26 bursary rate is £20,780)

Fees and Bench fees: will be met by the University for the 3 years of the funded Studentship. Visa and associated costs are not funded. International applicants can visit https://www.brookes.ac.uk/students/isat/ for further information

Closing date: Friday 25 April 2025 - Midday

Start Date: September 2025

Project Title: Nigel Groome Studentship: Gene Regulatory Networks Driving Male-Female Genital Co-evolution

Requirements:

Applicants should have a first or upper second-class honours degree from a Higher Education Institution in the UK or acceptable equivalent qualification. International applicants must have a valid IELTS Academic test certificate (or equivalent) with an overall minimum score of 6.5 to 7.0 and no score below 6.0 issued in the last 2 years by an approved test centre. 

The studentship requires you to undertake the equivalent of up to 6 hrs teaching per week on average, during semester time, and to include preparation and marking (but no more than 20 hrs per week), and to participate in a teaching skills course without further remuneration. 

Project Description:

Differences in genital morphology between species play a critical role in mating compatibility and reproductive success. Understanding the genetic and developmental mechanisms driving the evolution of genital morphology is thus key to uncovering the basis of reproductive isolation and speciation. Historically, the co-evolution of male and female genitalia has been underappreciated due to the subtle differences in female genital morphology compared to the pronounced diversity in males. However, recent findings highlight the critical role of female traits in shaping reproductive dynamics.

Our research has found that the gene tartan (trn) drives genital divergence between species in both sexes (PMID: 31484761, 32931587). This project aims to investigate the regulatory networks mediating trn-driven co-evolution, illuminating the genetic basis of coordinated genital evolution.

We will use scATAC-seq and RNA-seq on genital tissues of different Drosophila species to identify transcription factor (TF) binding sites driving sex-specific tartan expression. Candidate TFs will be manipulated (using CRISPR to knockdown, knockout and overexpress) and the effects on enhancer activity, trn expression, genital development and downstream targets (using RNA-seq) will be tested.

This project will be led by Dr. Dani Santos-Nunes in collaboration with Dr. Sebastian Kittelmann. The student will join a vibrant and supportive team of fly researchers supported by the Centre for Functional Genomics (CFG) and the Centre for Bioimaging.

Application process: Please contact hls-applications@brookes.ac.uk for details of how to apply via the above ‘Apply’ button.

Director of Studies: Dr Dani Santos Nunes

Supervisors: Dr Sebastian Kittelmann

Project Contact: Dr Dani Santos Nunes: msantos-nunes@brookes.ac.uk

Contact hls-applications@brookes.ac.uk with any queries.

This project is advertised on a competitive basis alongside other current Nigel Groome PhD studentship advertisements for School of Biological and Medical Sciences projects. Part time MPhil/PhD study will be exceptionally considered (Home Fee status applicants only).

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