Download Applying computational biology to understanding gene

PhD Research Project
Applying computational biology to understanding gene
regulatory networks in stem cell models of neuropsychiatric
disease
Institution:
King’s College London
Dept/School/Faculty:
Institute of Mathematical and Molecular Biomedicine
PhD Supervisor:
Prof N Buckley
Application Deadline:
Friday, May 2, 2014
Funding Availability:
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Co-Supervisor:
Dr A Annibale
Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
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PhD Research Project
Studentship: Multidisciplinary Research Studentship in Computational Biology and Neuroscience.
Project: One of the most exciting areas of biology is the application of computational and
mathematical tools to the ‘big data’ sets that are being generated by contemporary biological
experiments. This is nowhere more evident than in the complex gene expression patterns that drive
brain development. The recent development of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) allows brain
development to be modeled ‘in a dish’. This, in turn, opens up opportunities for applying mathematical modelling and computational
tools to understand the dynamics of gene expression and epigenetic changes during differentiation of iPSC-derived neurons.
Further, this approach opens up the opportunity to detect distinct network topologies that specifically characterise neurons derived
from individuals suffering from neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder or schizophrenia. This strategy
may lead to identification of regulatory pathways that have the potential to rescue neurons from a pathological to a normal
developmental trajectory.
Location: The studentship is a joint venture between the Department of Neuroscience and the Institute of Mathematical and
Molecular Biomedicine (IMMB). This is a unique opportunity to carry out a computational biology project couched within an
experimental neuroscience laboratory environment. You will be embedded within the Neuroscience Department in the newly
established Wohl Clinical Neurosciences Institute (www.kcl.ac.uk/iop/research/centres/mauricewohl/index.aspx) and maintain
strong links with the IMMB. You will be supervised by Professor Noel Buckley (Neuroscience) and Dr Alessia Annibale (IMMB).
This will allow you to carry out a PhD program of research that cuts across three of the most exciting areas of biology; iPSC models
of brain disease, gene regulatory networks and computational biology. While your focus will be computational biology, we fully
expect you to become part of a multidisciplinary team of experimental and computational biologists and to take advantage of the
training opportunities offered by this unique studentship.
For more details about the project contact Professor Noel Buckley ([email protected]) and Dr Alessia Annibale
([email protected]).
Funding Notes:
Funding provider: King's Annual Fund. Tuition fees at the UK/EU rate and an annual stipend (current 2013-14 value £15,726) will
be covered for up to 4 years.
Suggested project start date: September 2014
Entry requirements: Strong first degree in physics, mathematics, bioinformatics, engineering or related subjects.
Application process: Send your CV, supporting statement and details of two referees to [email protected].