PhD Studentship in Infection Biology - Ireland (Scholarship)

Project Title
Functional genomics and proteomics studies of bovine tuberculosis: virulence in Mycobacterium bovis.

Location
University College Dublin, Ireland.

Supervisors
Prof. Stephen Gordon: www.ucd.ie/research/people/agriculturefoodvetscience/profstephenvincentgordon
Prof. David MacHugh: www.ucd.ie/research/people/agriculturefoodvetscience/drdavidmachugh

• 
  Project Description
  Tuberculosis is a devastating disease of humans and animals. Bovine tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium bovis, is a major zoonotic pathogen and causes losses to global agriculture of approx. €2.2 billion per annum. In order to develop strategies to control tuberculosis, we need to understand how the pathogen causes disease.
  This project will explore the molecular basis of virulence in M. bovis. The student will focus on two methyltransferase genes that we have previously shown to be implicated in the infection process. The student will decipher the function of these proteins and be trained in a range of highly sophisticated molecular biology techniques, including mutagenesis studies, RNA-seq transcriptome analysis, next-generation sequencing, and bioinformatics.
  
  Project Background
  University College Dublin is the largest university in Ireland whose origin dates back to 1854. There are over 22,000 students including over 3,200 international students from more than 110 countries. The student will join a group of researchers investigating bovine tuberculosis, and will have access to outstanding research facilities at the Animal Genomics Laboratory, UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine and at the UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research.
  
  The student will also be enrolled in the UCD Thematic PhD programme in Infection Biology (for more information see: www.ucd.ie/infectbio).
  
  Animal Genomics Laboratory website: www.animalgenomics.ucd.ie
  UCD Conway Institute website: www.ucd.ie/conwayScholarship Details
  Applicants should have at least a 2.1 honours degree in one of the following scientific disciplines: Immunology, Genetics/Genomics, Microbiology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry.
  
  This is a four-year SFI funded position with a starting stipend of €16,850 exclusive of PhD fees, increasing ~5% per annum.
  
  Unfortunately due to funding restrictions, this position is available to EU residents only. Applications from non-EU residents will not be short-listed.
  
  Funding Agency
  Science Foundation Ireland (SFI): www.sfi.ie
  
  Closing Date for Applications
  5pm, Friday 18th September 2009