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Subject:	bbsrc funded phd opportunity
Date:	Sun, 9 Dec 2012 20:36:18 +0000
From:	Alistair Hume <Alistair.Hume@nottingham.ac.uk>

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BBSRC funded 4-year PhD Research Studentship available at the School of Biomedical Sciences University of Nottingham, UK. Title: Understanding the regulation of cancer associated protein Rab27.

The small GTPase Rab27 is a general regulator of secretory granule transport and exocytosis. Its physiological importance is illustrated by the fact that Rab27 deficiency causes lethal immunodeficiency and partial albinism (Griscelli syndrome), while its over-expression drives the proliferation and metastasis of breast cancer and melanoma cells.

However, in spite of the obvious patho-physiological importance of Rab27 function, little is known of the mechanism(s) regulating its activity. Thus the aim of this project is to determine the molecular mechanisms that regulate the activation and intracellular targeting of Rab27.
This project will involve the use of a wide variety of cell and molecular biology techniques including cell culture, plasmid and siRNA transfection, fluorescence and confocal microscopy, live cell imaging and particle tracking, molecular cloning, RT-PCR, PCR, western blotting and protein-protein interaction studies, thereby providing comprehensive skills and training to students embarking on a career in biomedical research. This project will be jointly supervised by Alistair Hume and Peter Jones (for more details see: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/biomedsci/) and will be within the newly established BBSRC doctoral training partnership hosted by the University of Nottingham and the Rothamstead Institute (for more details of the programme see: http://www.findaphd.com/search/PhDDetails.aspx?CAID=1032&LID=338
Applicants should have, or will expect to attain at least a 2i degree classification (or equivalent) in biochemistry, genetics, cell biology (or a related discipline).

This studentship is available for a period of 4 years and provides a stipend of £13,590 per annum. Please note that certain eligibility conditions apply, and therefore, this studentship is only available to UK/EU citizens ordinarily resident in the UK. Successful applicants are identified in a 2-stage process involving appraisal by both the academic supervisors, and by the Doctoral Training Partnership Selection Panel.
Contact: Alistair.hume@nottingham.ac.uk
Start date October 2013.
Deadline for application: Noon 9th January 2013