SoCoBio BBSRC Doctoral training partnership scholarships (2021) 1361 views

The University of Sussex is a member of the SoCoBio Doctoral Training Partnership, funded by the Biotechnology and Biosciences Research Council (BBSRC). Successful applicants follow a four-year research skills training programme and will have their UK PhD tuition fees and living allowance (currently £15,285 for 2020-21) covered for the four years.

Number of scholarships: Up to 27 scholarships are available across the consortium.

About the PhD project:

• Selected candidates will have supervisors from at least 2 SoCoBio partner institutions and will follow the 4 year SoCoBio training programme with taught modules and two laboratory rotations in year one.

The advertised projects led by Sussex supervisors are:

1. Dynamic modelling of synthetically lethal pathways to enable the development of   cancer therapeutics (Industry led project) Dr Frances  Pearl
2. Characterisation of an atypical kinase regulating bacterial metabolism Dr Stephen Hare
3. Brain mechanisms of high-strength alcohol seeking Dr Eisuke Koya
4. Assessing impact of leptin peptides and analogues on tau aggregation and toxicity: towards novel therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease Dr Cristina Pubill Ulldemolins
5. Coastal rewilding and food security: understanding restoration pathways using ecoacoustics and environmental DNA (eDNA) Dr Mika Peck
6. Exploiting Mycobacterium tuberculosis biofilm-derived phenotypes for transformative novel drug discovery Dr Simon Waddell
7. Gaining a better understanding of apoptosis rescue; stabilizing p53 Mutants. Prof John Spencer
8. Growing complimentary crops and nutritionally rewarding cultivars to sustain insect pollinators and crop pollination on farms Prof Dave Goulson
9. Host plant relationships of insect potential vectors of Xylella fastidiosa Dr Alan J A Stewart
10. Integration of visual and modulatory inputs in the early visual system Prof Leon Lagnado
11. Mapping APOE and Microglial effects on cognition across the lifespan Dr Sarah King
12. Multimodal imaging of selective recollection in youth and ageing Dr Alexa Morcom
13. The causes and consequences of sexual reproduction in bacteria Professor Adam Eyre-Walker
14. Uncovering the structural and molecular mechanism of CBTF, a key regulatory transcription factor during early embryonic development Dr Erika Mancini
15. Understanding the genesis of chromosomal breakpoints: the role of a virus in driving MYC translocations in B cells Professor Michelle West

Eligibility:

• SoCoBio studentships are open to UK and Overseas students according to the UKRI student eligibility rules.
• Up to 30% of each cohort of students may be overseas students, but Overseas PhD fees are not covered by the BBSRC scholarship.
• Candidate is counted as a UK student if he/she are : a UK national who has been living in the UK or EU for the three years prior to starting the course; an EU national with Settled Status; an EU national with Pre-Settled status who has been living in the UK for 3 years prior to starting the course; a student will Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK; an Irish National (due to a reciprocal agreement with the UK)
• All other students (e.g. EU nationals moving to the UK to start their PhD) will count as overseas students.

How to apply:

Apply online and provide all supporting documents as follows:

• The SoCoBio DTP Application Questionnaire Form
• Evidence of prior academic qualifications – these will be certificates or transcripts to show that you meet, or expect to meet the entry requirements.
• Evidence of English proficiency, if English is not the first language.