Investigating the role of glia in protein homeostasis in Alzheimer's disease
Start date: 1st February 2019
Award: Fully funded IoPPN/Van Geest PhD studentship
Project:
Molecular chaperones are key components of the proteostasis network, essential to maintain correct folding of proteins and neuron health. Chaperone levels are altered in Alzheimer´s disease as well as in other neurodegenerative diseases. In Alzheimer’s disease, incorrect folding of ß-amyloid and tau are hallmarks of the disease together with synapse loss and glial activation.
Regulation of chaperones as a strategy to prevent neurodegeneration has always been studied in neurons, and the role that glial chaperones have in disease is an area underexplored. The topic of this project is to study the contribution of astrocytic chaperones to Alzheimer’s disease. Astrocytes are essential glial cells whose contribution to neurodegeneration is not well understood. We will use organotypic brain slice cultures in this project. These provide an integrated system that preserves the brain cellular architecture and functionality.
The student will become an expert in the use of organotypic brain slice cultures to study neurodegenerative diseases, including genetic and pharmacologic manipulations. The student will acquire cutting-edge cell culture and molecular biology techniques and will use state-of-the-art microscopy equipment available to us in our Nikon Imaging Centre. The student will join an established neurodegeneration research team, based in the newly established Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute.
Deadline: 26th October 2018 (23.59 GMT
Supervisors:
Dr Maria Jimenez-Sanchez and Dr Wendy Noble
Entry requirements: Applicants should have a Bachelors degree with 2:1 honours in Neuroscience or a subject relevant to the proposed project. A 2:2 degree may be considered only where applicants also offer a Masters with Merit.
Award types and eligibility:
Fully funded for three years, including Home/EU tuitions fees (studentship not available to Overseas applicants), annual stipend (£17,000 per annum) and some research and travel costs.
International students are invited to apply if they can make up the difference in Home/EU - International fees. For information on fees please visit the website.
How to apply:
Applicants must complete and submit an online admissions application, via the admissions portal by midnight (23:59 GMT), Friday 26th October 2018.
On the ‘Choosing a programme’ page, please select ‘Research degrees’ and enter the keyword Neuroscience Research MPhil/PhD (Full-time).
In your application, you will be asked to include:
- Academic Transcripts – where applicable, academic transcripts must be submitted with the online admissions application
- Details of your qualifications (you will need to attach copies)
- Details of previous employment
- A personal statement describing your interests and why you wish to apply for this project. Please include this as an attachment rather than using the text box.
- Academic References – all admissions applications require two supporting references. If the applicant is relying on his/her referees to submit references directly to the College after he/she has submitted his/her admissions application, then the applicant must ensure that their chosen referees are made aware of the funding deadline.
In the Funding section, please tick box 5 and include the following reference: MJS-IoPPN-VG-2019
Please note there is no need to complete the Research Proposal section in your application as the project has already been set.
You are welcome to email maria.jimenez_sanchez@kcl.ac.uk (supervisor) for more information regarding the project and studentship.
If you have any queries regarding the application process, please contact Lauren Soules, Postgraduate Research Administrative Assistant.
References must be received by the deadline for the applicant to be eligible.
Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
Interviews:
Interviews will take place during the week commencing 26th November 2018
Further information:
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn/depts/bcn/Our-research/Neurodegeneration/Jimenez-Glial-cells-and-Neurodegeneration/About-the-Group.aspx
https://jimenezsanchezlab.com