Targeting cancer stem cell signalling in nervous system tumours at University of Plymouth

Funding for: UK Students only

Funding amount: The studentship is supported for 3 years and includes full Home tuition fees plus a stipend of £17,668 per annum 2022/23 rate (2023/24 rate TBC)

Targeting cancer stem cell signalling in nervous system tumours

DoS Professor David Parkinson (david.parkinson@plymouth.ac.uk)

2^nd Supervisor Professor Oliver Hannemann (oliver.hanemann@plymouth.ac.uk)

3^rd Supervisor Dr Sylwia Ammoun (sylwia.ammoun@plymouth.ac.uk)

Applications are invited for a three-year PhD studentship.

The studentship will start on 1^st October 2023.

Project Description

A PhD position, funded by the Brain Tumour Research charity, is available in the laboratory of Prof. David Parkinson in the Faculty of Health at the University of Plymouth. The lab works on the biology of meningioma and schwannoma cancers and signalling pathways that drive proliferation in these important nervous system tumours. We are studying the role of the Hippo pathway and its downstream targets using both human tumour cells and transgenic mouse models of tumourigenesis. We use a wide range of cell and molecular biology techniques in the lab, providing an excellent training for post-graduate students. The successful applicant should be familiar with a number of lab techniques, such as cell culture, microscopy and ideally some experience with use of mouse transgenic models, although training can be given to the successful candidates. For further details on the project and lab prior to interview, please see our lab publications and/or e-mail david.parkinson@plymouth.ac.uk.

Eligibility

Applicants should have a first or upper second class honours degree in an appropriate subject and preferably a relevant Masters qualification.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum English requirements for the programme, academic IELTS score of 6.5 (with no less than 5.5 in each component test area) or equivalent.

The studentship is supported for 3 years and includes full Home tuition fees plus a stipend of £17,668 per annum 2022/23 rate (2023/24 rate TBC).  The studentship will only fully fund those applicants who are eligible for Home fees with relevant qualifications.  Applicants normally required to cover International fees will have to cover the difference between the Home and the International tuition fee rates (approximately £12,697 per annum).

NB: The studentship is supported for three years of the four-year registration period.

The fourth year is a self-funded ‘writing-up’ year.

If you wish to discuss this project further informally, please contact Professor David Parkinson, david.parkinson@plymouth.ac.uk.

To apply for this position please click ‘Apply’ above.

Please clearly state the name of the DoS and the studentship title that you are applying for at the top of your personal statement.

Please see here for a list of supporting documents to upload with your application.

For more information on the admissions process generally, please contact the Doctoral College, research.degree.admissions@plymouth.ac.uk .

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 21 June 2023. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview shortly after the deadline. We regret that we may not be able to respond to all applications.  Applicants who have not received a response within six weeks of the closing date should consider their application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.