Alzheimer’s Research Trust PhD Studentships, University College London

UK. A numbers of PhD studentships are available within the Division of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology. The studentships are for research leading to a PhD within three years and will include full fees paid at the UK/EU rate and an annual stipend of £16,000 per annum.

The aim of the Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Division is to enhance the fundamental understanding of the normal and pathological molecular and cellular processes in the CNS, and the Division is involved in basic research with a multidisciplinary approach to investigate the specific biological mechanisms involved in health and disease. The Division occupies recently refurbished laboratories equipped to the highest standard at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology.

The Institute achieved the highest possible rating in the last three Research Assessment Exercises and is part of UCL Biomedicine comprising an extensive collaboration of scientific expertise. The graduate will therefore have access to a wide variety of cutting-edge technologies and core facilities, as well as interaction with researchers across a wide range of biomedical research.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent age-related neurodegenerative disease, the neuropathological hallmarks of which include the accumulation of extracellular senile plaques (SP) and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFT). Pathological NFT are composed of the microtubule-associated protein tau and correlate closely with disease progression and the severity of dementia in Alzheimer’s disease.

Recently, novel components of the cellular protein quality control machinery have been implicated in the formation of NFT. This project will aim to directly examine the role of these previously unexplored molecular components as important modulators in the biochemistry and neurodegenerative process of tau aggregation and NFT formation.

These studies will involve the use of an in vitro cell model of tau pathology and will include the acquisition of a repertoire of desirable research skills including cell culture techniques immunofluorescence laser scanning confocal microscopy immunoprecipitation and western analysis molecular biology techniques including site-directed mutagenesis, RNA interference and RT-PCR and immunohistochemical techniques.

Applications are invited from UK and EU postgraduate students, with or expecting to obtain at least a first class or upper second class degree in a relevant scientific area (Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry).

The closing date for applications is Wednesday, 30th April 2008. The award will commence in October 2008.

For an informal discussion or further information on the project, potential applicants are invited to contact the lead project supervisor Dr Jacqueline van der Spuy ( email: j.spuy@ucl.ac.uk)

Application forms, general enquiries about the application process and further information on the project are available from Jane Molyneux ( email: j.molyneux@ucl.ac.uk. )