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Fully funded PhD in the Queen Square Department of Neurology, UCL. Application Deadline: 20th May 2024, midnight (UK time). Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in June.
Details
A 4-year fully funded PhD studentship is available in the Department of Neurodegenerative Disease at the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology. The proposed PhD start date is 1st October 2024.
Supervisory team: Dr Conceicao Bettencourt, Dr Josephine Barnes, Prof Tammaryn Lashley
Project Background:
About 50% of the human brain is composed of white matter, which is essential to connect brain regions into networks. Research has shown that the extent of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is associated with the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The underlying mechanisms leading to WMH and white matter lesions in dementias are unclear. It has been postulated that oligodendrocytes, the most prevalent white matter cell-type, are thought to play a crucial role. DNA methylation changes occur in AD brains and implicate oligodendrocytes. We have identified relevant white matter DNA methylation changes in other neurodegenerative diseases and found that oligodendrocytes are associated with accelerated biological DNA methylation ageing. However, no study has investigated DNA methylation in dementia white matter. As DNA methylation is reversible (e.g., by lifestyle changes), it is important to elucidate its involvement in white matter health and dementia, as this may bring new avenues for therapeutic interventions to maintain healthier white matter and reduce dementia risk with ageing.
The overarching goal of this PhD scholarship project is to investigate the role of DNA methylation dysregulation and molecular disfunction in dementia and how they relate to white matter lesions. We seek a highly motivated and curious individual to join us for this interdisciplinary PhD project, involving training in components of neuroepigenetics/bioinformatics, statistical analysis, neuroimaging, and neuropathology. The project will combine the analysis of genome-wide DNA methylation and gene expression (RNA sequencing) datasets, the analysis of MRI data, as well as the investigation of relevant protein expression/localization (e.g., by immunohistochemistry) in human post-mortem brain tissue. This PhD project will use unique resources and data, allied with multidisciplinary expertise from the supervisory team to provide training opportunities to the prospective student and advance dementia research.
Person specification & requirements:
Applicants must have a Bachelors degree (high 2.1 minimum, or equivalent) in a relevant discipline. A Masters in a Neuroscience related discipline (distinction, or equivalent) is desirable. A good level of spoken and written English is essential. Applicants with strong coding skills in R and familiar with epigenetic/transcriptomic data analysis, and with experience in laboratory practice, preferably involving the handling of human postmortem tissue, will be prioritized. Familiarity with neuroimaging techniques and data analyses is also desirable.
How to apply:
Applicants should submit:
1) 2-page (max) CV,
2) 2-page (max) cover letter summarising why they are particularly interested in this position, what they bring to it, and their plans for the future,
3) contact details of two referees.
Please save as a single PDF document labelled with “WM_PhD2024_[your surname]”, send this file to Dr Conceicao Bettencourt (c.bettencourt@ucl.ac.uk) by 20th May.