Location: Streatham Campus

This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the South West Doctoral Training Partnership (SWDTP). The SWDTP involves the four research-intensive universities across the South West - Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter – and Rothamsted Research. For further details about the programme please see http://www.bristol.ac.uk/swdtp/swdtp_about/.

Supervisors:

Prof Charles Tyler, Biosciences (University of Exeter)

Prof Andrew Randall, University of Bristol and Exeter Medical Schools

Dr Tetsu Kudoh, Biosciences (University of Exeter)

Dr Aya Takesono, Biosciences (University of Exeter)

Dr Julian Moger, Physics and Medical Imaging (University of Exeter)

Project description:

Defects in nerve cell development are linked to various brain disorders. Radial glial cells (RGCs) in the brain play a key role in neurogenesis and oestrogens are believed to play important modulatory roles in neurogenesis and cognition. This project will apply novel genetically-engineered zebrafish models to investigate oestrogen signaling in neurogenesis and brain development. Zebrafish are particularly suited to this work, as they show substantial neurogenic activity throughout life.

We have developed transgenic zebrafish that allow us to dynamically image oestrogen-responsive cells in living animals in real time. The fish glow red at sites responding to oestrogen via the oestrogen receptor. Very recently, with collaborators in France, we advanced this model allowing us to identify sub-populations of neuronal progenitor cells that are responsive to both oestrogen (glowing red) and those responding to  an enzyme that is involved with oestrogen synthesis (aromatase, glowing green), simultaneously. In this exciting and cutting edge project, the successful student will investigate the functional roles of oestrogens in neuronal development and will identify the different classes of neural cells responsive to oestrogens and how they develop. The student will furthermore develop a further, more complex (triple), transgenic zebrafish expressing also a genetically-encoded fluorescent calcium probe to report nerve activity. Using this model, the student will investigate the roles of oestrogen-responding neurons in the sense of smell. Time allowing, the student will also initiate studies into effects of exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, for which there is widespread health concern, on oestrogen-responsive cells and their subsequent fate and function.

This is a truly novel and exciting project and student will get an outstanding training in a wide range of core bioscientific methodologies spanning molecular methods to histopathology, as well as significant experience of various cutting edge imaging techniques (light, 2-photon fluorescence and Coherent anti-Stokes Raman Scattering) and in both cellular neurophysiology and in-life exposures. The student will join large and vibrant research teams with considerable experience, expertise and infrastructure providing superb support for the PhD training.

For further information and eligibility please visit: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/studying/funding/award/?id=1643

Funding:

For eligible students the award will cover UK/EU tuition fees and an annual stipend (in 2014/15 this was £13,863 for full-time students, pro rata for part-time students) for three and a half years.

Citizens of a EU member state will be eligible for a fees-only award.