Determining the causative agents of Urinary Tract Infections in elderly patients
School of Science and Technology / Queens Medical Centre
Post No: S1799
Principal supervisor: Dr Alan McNally (NTU)
Co-supervisors: Mr Phil Cheetham (NTU), Dr Georgina Manning (NTU), Dr Vivienne Westwood (Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham)
Applications are invited from applicants holding, or expecting to obtain, a first or upper second class Honours degree (or equivalent), or a Masters degree (or equivalent), for a fully funded studentship investigating the organisms which cause UTI in elderly patients, which will commence on 1 October 2008. This project brings together researchers from the RAE 5 graded School of Science and Technology at NTU and consultant microbiologists from the QMC in Nottingham, to address a medical microbiology question of vital importance to elderly health.
This studentship aims to identify bacteria present in selected UTI growth plates from elderly patients at QMC. The pathogenic potential of the isolates will then be assessed using in vitro techniques such as biofilm formation on catheters, tissue culture adhesion and invasion assays, and antibiotic resistance profiles. The isolates will also be assessed genetically using a virulence gene enriched DNA Microarray, as well as PFGE genetic fingerprinting to monitor the evolutionary relationship between isolates. The aim of this work is to identify genetic and physical traits which will allow rapid identification of potential pathogens in elderly UTI samples.
The studentship will pay UK / EU tuition fees, and provide a maintenance stipend of £12,940 per year for up to three years. International candidates are welcome to apply but will be expected to pay the difference between International and Home/EU student tuition fees (the difference in fees in 2008/09 will be £3,300). The minimum English language proficiency requirement is IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 550/CBTOEFL 220 for candidates who have not undertaken a Higher degree (or equivalent) in the UK.
For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Alan McNally (alan.mcnally@ntu.ac.uk or +44 (0)115 848 3324).
For an application form, please contact:
Mrs Doreen Corlett
Research & Graduate Studies Office
Erasmus Darwin Building
Nottingham Trent University
Clifton Lane,
Nottingham NG11 8NS
UK
Email: doreen.corlett@ntu.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)115 848 3269
Completed applications, with copies of academic certificates, should be returned to Doreen Corlett by Friday 16 May, 2008. It is expected that interviews will be held on 28, 29 or 30 May. Applications by CV only will not be accepted
For more information, please visit the following link http://www.ntu.ac.uk/research/graduate_school/index.html
