Graduate School

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fbsgrad@leeds.ac.uk

Masters
admissions enquiries
+44(0) 113 343 1418

Research (PhD) admissions enquiries
+44(0) 113 343 8186

Faculty Studentships

CRUK/YCR Studenships

We have a 3-year studentship funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research and a 4-year studentship funded by Cancer Research UK available to start in October 2012. The studentships are open to UK/EU students and will provide a stipend and full fees in the following research areas across four Faculties within the University. Interested applicants should have, or expect to gain, a good first degree in a relevant subject. Due to the highly competitive nature of this studentship, we are only able to consider applicants with or expecting first class degrees.

Application form

Deadline: 18th Feb 2012

Anatomy Demonstrating PhD Studentships

Two Anatomy Demonstrating Studentships are available from October 2012 for students undertaking a PhD for the first time in the Faculty of Biological Sciences. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have the necessary skills to undertake Anatomy teaching and will be responsible primarily for demonstrating gross anatomy, living anatomy and neuroanatomy to students of medicine, biological sciences and allied health sciences. You should hold a strong degree (equivalent to at least a UK upper second class honours degree) in a relevant discipline such as anatomy, medical sciences, medicine or a health science and should also have experience of studying or teaching human gross anatomy.

Applicants can undertake their research project in any of the Faculty’s research institutes. Further information on these and potential supervisor(s) is available on the web at: http://www.fbs.leeds.ac.uk/institutes/ or browse PhD supervisors by subject. It is important that you indicate which supervisor(s) that you are interested in undertaking your PhD with as this aids the application process.

The studentship will cover the cost of tuition fees (~£3,732 - UK/EU rate) and a maintenance grant (£14,590 for session 2012/13) in return for which the student will be required to undertake 120-150 hours anatomy demonstrating per year. The Studentship will provide funding for four years subject to satisfactory progress during the research candidature. International Applicants are eligible to apply but will be required to demonstrate how they intend meet the shortfall in tuition fees.

Applicants should submit the following documents if they wish to be considered:

University Study application form (if you haven’t already done so)
Anatomy Demonstrating Studentship Application Form
Transcripts
Full CV

Deadline 27th Feb 2012

Regulation of amyloid production in Alzheimer's disease

Supervisor: Prof. Nigel Hooper

Alzheimer’s is characterised by the build up and deposition in the brain of the amyloid-beta (Abeta) peptide which is derived from the larger transmembrane amyloid precursor protein (APP) through the sequential action of the beta- and gamma-secretases. There are three major isoforms of APP (APP695, APP751 and APP770) that are produced by alternative splicing. Recently, we have shown that the three APP isoforms differ markedly in their cleavage by the beta-secretase BACE1 such that Abeta and functional APP intracellular domain (AICD) production occur preferentially from the APP695 isoform (Belyaev et al. 2010 J. Biol. Chem. 285, 41443-41454), suggesting that the balance between the isoforms may be an important factor influencing Abeta production. In this project we want to build upon these observations to explore the molecular and cellular factors underlying this isoform-specific difference in Abeta and functional AICD production.

The studentship is funded (fees and stipend) by Alzheimer's Research UK and is available to UK students only for starting in October 2012.

Apply here - please include a CV and transcripts.

Deadline: 9th March 2012

Medical Research Council Studentships

A range of projects are available in the areas of:

Tissue Disease & Regeneration
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Repair & Replacement
Genetics & Disease
Lifestyles Affecting Health

Deadline: 1st March 2012

Defining the mechanisms of aberrant protein self-assembly in protein biopharmaceuticals using ESI-MS

Supervisors: Prof Sheena Radford and Prof Alison Ashcroft

This studentship is a CASE award (enhanced stipend and consumables available) with Medimmune. You will exploit and develop non-covalent mass spectrometry (MS), using IgGs supplied by Medimmune, to (i) identify properties of aggregation-prone antibody molecules compared with their non-aggregating counterparts and (ii) use the knowledge gained to develop new assays able to predict aggregation propensity early in the development process. You will achieve this by determining the global stability and conformational dynamics of different antibody molecules using a suite of MS-based assays and determining the sensitivity of the properties of these proteins to sequence, glycosylation status, time and solution conditions. For more information please see our research group page and the Astbury Centre.

Applications are welcomed from students with biological, chemical or physical science backgrounds.
Please contact Sheena Radford or the post-graduate office if you are interested or if you need any more information before applying.

Deadline: 29th Feb 2012

Electrically connecting bacteria to electrodes for Microbial Fuel Cell applications

White Rose network project with Dr Lars Jeuken (Leeds) and Dr Graham Stafford (Sheffield)

We will aim to improve the power output of MFC by increasing the electron conductivity of the extracellular matrix in the biofilm using pre-synthesised metallic nanoparticles (NPs) and nanowires (NWs). The NPs/NWs will aid “direct ET‟ by enhancing the electron transfer from the electron transfer proteins in the (outer) membrane of the microbes to the electrodes. By modifying NPs/NWs, the affinity between the particles and the microbe’s outer membrane will be optimised. The project complements the York project (which relies on in situ self-assembly of nanostructures in MFCs) and will benefit from the Sheffield’s expertise in MFC devices.

To apply, please complete the university application and then the scholarships form. Please note that this studentship is open to UK/EU candidates only and will provide fees and stipend.

Deadline: 30th March 2012

Membrane-bound hydrogenases: Catalytic properties, ubiquinol reduction and hydrogen oxidation

Supervisor: Dr Lars Jeuken

This project will be performed in collaboration with Dr. Stefan Frielingsdorf from the Humboldt University of Berlin and is fully funded by the European Research Council (ERC Starting Grant) and is open to residents from EU countries. The project will start October 2012 at the latest, but, in discussion with the successful applicant, can be started earlier. This PhD project is part of a wider ERC project MEME, "Membrane-modified electrodes to study Membrane Enzymes". For more information about this project see the Jeuken lab website
To apply, please click here

Deadline Jan 2012

http://www.fbs.leeds.ac.uk/gradschool/keywords/tab_fap.htm

http://www.fbs.leeds.ac.uk/gradschool/keywords/tab_other.htm

Other Opportunities

University Research Scholarships

University Research Scholarships are available for students from the United Kingdom and other EU countries who are commencing PhD study from October 2012. Applicants must hold at least a UK Upper Second Class Honours degree or equivalent undergraduate degree. Up to 18 scholarships will be available across the university and will cover academic fees at the UK rate and (for full-time students) an annual maintenance grant (amount to be confirmed).

Deadline: 20th Jan 2012

http://www.fbs.leeds.ac.uk/gradschool/keywords/tab_closed.htm

Recently Closed

The following competitions are now closed for 2012 entry:

White Rose DTP
Wellcome Trust: The Molecular Basis of Biological Mechanisms
Chinese Scholarship Council – University of Leeds Scholarship

Faculty of Biological Sciences