Modelling Of Mammalian Mitochondrial Metabolism
Supervisor: Professor David Fell, Oxford Brookes University
Eligibility: Applicants require a good Honours degree (2.1 or equivalent) and either have been educated to degree level through the medium of English or have TOEFL 600 (250) / IELTS 7 or equivalent. Only Home, EU and international students are eligible.
Start date: 1 October 2008
Value p.a. £12,000 bursary, & fees
Closing date: 4 July 2008
Project: The context of this PhD studentship is a collaborative, multidisiciplinary, Systems Biology project with a team led by Prof J-P Mazat in Bordeaux on multi-level modelling of mammaliam mitochondria, covering electron transport, phosphorylation, metabolism and the dynamics of the mitochondrial network (see http://mudshark.brookes.ac.uk/index.php/Mitochondria). The component based at Oxford Brookes University is funded by the BBSRC, and the component in France is funded by the ANR. Although the focus of the BBSRC-ANR project is the metabolism of the normal mitochondrion, and how it varies between different tissues and organs, improved understanding of the responses of mitochondrial metabolism to damage, environmental influences, and varying cellular demand for ATP has implications for ageing and a wide range of human diseases.
One of the contributions of Prof Fell's group to the project will be to build models of mitochondrial carbon metabolism, and an aspect of this will form the basis of the studentship. For example, the PhD project could consist of building a computer simulation of a specific pathway and analyzing the model predictions. Experimental data for building and testing the model will be provided by our collaborators in Bordeaux, and there are also potential links to relevant experimental studies elsewhere in Oxford.
The modelling approaches will exploit existing software developed in the Cell Systems Modelling Group (ScrumPy: http://mudshark.brookes.ac.uk/index.php/Software/ScrumPy), as well as modules of mitochondrial metabolism and software components being developed in the BBSRC-ANR project. Accordingly, experience of programming in a high-level language, such as Python, and/or of simulating biological phenomena with ordinary differential equations would be advantageous. For the biological background, knowledge of the biochemistry of central carbon metabolism and enzyme kinetics would be relevant. It is not expected that applicants would be able to demonstrate existing expertise in all these areas, as training will be available, but preference will be given to those who already have some background in more than one.
An opportunity to develop teaching skills in higher education may be included in the training available with this studentship.
Informal enquiries and further information about this project can be obtained from Professor David Fell.
To apply for this studentship, please complete the University's Postgraduate Research Application Form. This form and the confidential reference form (see question 7 of the Postgraduate Research Application Form) can be found at: www.brookes.ac.uk/studying/applications/direct/research
Applications should be posted to: Miss Lucy Boyles, School of Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Headington, Oxford, OX3 0BP.
Please email Miss Lucy Boyles or telephone +44 (0)1865 483826 with any administrative queries.
N.B. Please note that applications will not be accepted by email.
