Applications have been opened for a PhD studentship entirely sponsored by the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at the University of Exeter, to start on September 23, 2024, or as soon as practicable after that. The Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences will administer the studentship. The studentship will pay home tuition costs for qualified students in addition to an annual tax-free stipend of at least £18,622 (23/24 stipend rate) for three years of full-time study, or pro rata for part-time study.
Project Description
Genetic variations that encode proteins that interact and alter chromatin are frequently responsible for neurodevelopmental disorders. The histone lysine demethylase encoded by KDM5B will be the main focus of this PhD thesis. Variants in KDM5B’s loss of function have been linked to cognitive capacity, autism spectrum disorders, and intellectual impairment in general. In KDM5B-deficient mouse models, we have identified learning and memory abnormalities and autism-like traits through a combination of acute knockdown and gene targeting techniques.
This study aims to investigate whether normal function may be restored by addressing the cellular and molecular processes impacted by KDM5B deficiency in the context of these behavioural abnormalities.
Objectives
- To determine which brain areas and cell types are impacted by KDM5B deficiency using a mix of single-cell genomics, immunostaining, and conditional gene deletion techniques.
- The identification of synaptic and circuit defects in KDM5B-deficient mice models by acute and in vivo electrophysiological methods.
- To target and uncover the processes underlying neurodevelopmental abnormalities that can be addressed for therapeutic benefit using genetic and pharmacological methods.
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Qualification
Applicants for this studentship must hold a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree, or be on the verge of obtaining the equivalent credentials in a relevant science or technological field outside of the UK.
Requirements
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Transcripts
- Letter of application
- Name of two referees
Deadline
28th February, 2024
For more information and application, visit the official website
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