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School of Life and Health Sciences
Fully-funded PhD Studentship (Full-Time)
Mass spectrometry studies of protein oxidation in ageing and its relationship to function
Applications to undertake a research programme on novel tools to study protein damage and ageing are
invited from UK and EU students who have at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in a molecular
science subject. An interest in cross-disciplinary research would be an advantage.
The project is linked to a £5 million multi-centre research programme (PROXO) funded by the Engineering
and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) on new technologies for understanding the causes of
ageing and protein-oxidative damage. Proteins are altered by oxidation in ageing and inflammatory disease,
which upsets cell signalling pathways. The research will build on expertise within the group in advanced
mass spectrometry methodology, nanotechnology and arrays. It will begin with studies of a wellcharacterized phosphatase, PTEN, involving technology transfer from Imperial College London to set up
expression systems. The protein will be oxidized, its activity measured and correlated with the presence of
oxidative post-translational modifications. Specific tyrosine, tryptophan and proline modifications will be
identified using mass spectrometry methodology developed previously. In parallel, additional MS protocols
for detecting other modifications will be developed, and isotopically-labelled peptides for quantitative
applications will be synthesized. The aim is to map all the oxidations to correlate with change in activity and
function, to test the hypothesis that only certain modifications give functional changes that affect signalling.
The successful applicant will join a well-funded multidisciplinary group with an extensive UK and European
research links. The project will give an excellent grounding in protein science and signalling pathways, with
extensive experience in state-of-the-art proteomics and MS techniques, as well as routine biochemical and
cell biology methods. The student will be integrated within the PROXO consortium and will benefit from the
extensive postgraduate training opportunities therein. Aston’s School of Life and Health Sciences (LHS)
conducts excellent research and was ranked 3rd out of 63 UK Higher Education Institutions for research in
Allied Health Professions and Studies in the last Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). Additional
information about research in the School can be found at http://www1.aston.ac.uk/lhs/research/
Financial Support:
UK students or EU nationals will receive full tuition fees and a stipend of approximately £13,590 per annum
with annual increments. There is also an ample budget to cover research costs. Overseas students are
not eligible for funding.
Application Requirements:

Eligible Applicants should hold at least a Bachelor (Hons.) Degree of either First or Upper Second Class
Or hold a Masters Degree (MSc/MRes) in a relevant discipline.

EU Applicants will need to demonstrate adequate proficiency in English Language skills, with a
minimum score of 620 (260 minimum in computer test) in TOEFL or IELTS with minimum marks of 6.5
in each section and an overall band of 7.0.

The duration of the Studentship is 42 months, subject to a satisfactory progress review at the end of the
first year, with an anticipated Registration of 1st January 2012.

Informal enquiries should be addressed to the project supervisors, Prof Andrew Pitt (E-mail:
[email protected]) or Dr Corinne Spickett (E-mail: [email protected]).

To apply please complete the on-line application form at:
http://www1.aston.ac.uk/lhs/research/postgraduate-research/apply/ and please quote the Reference
‘CDRL-Pitt/Spickett’ on all applications.

The Closing Date for applications is: Friday, 21st October 2011