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Possible PhD projects include:
- Physical and hormonal signals in the coordination of cell division
and expansion during Arabidopsis embryo development (further
details)
- Mapping and characterisation of genes involved in the coordination
of cell division and cell expansion during Arabidopsis embryogenesis
(further details)
- The role of cell division and cell expansion during Arabidopsis
leaf organogenesis (further
details)
- The role of cell cycle dynamics in the specification of cell fate
during stomatal patterning in Arabidopsis (further
details)
PhD training
Research in all the above areas is currently in progress in my laboratory.
The student will therefore join a research group where experience and
support are available, and the technologies, including those for targeted
misexpression of genes, are established and working. Training will also
be available in the general area of cell biology and developmental genetics
relevant to the specific project, and the goal is that the student will
develop the skills and aptitude to become an independent scientific researcher.
Techniques and approaches
All projects offer experience of a wide range of techniques and approaches
in plant cell biology, molecular biology and genetics. These include cloning,
plant transformation and characterisation of transgenic lines, genetic
crossing, fluorescence microscopy, multispectral time-lapse confocal microscopy,
three-dimensional and dynamic image capture, processing and manipulation.
The student will have scope to develop a broad portfolio of skills, including
state-of-the-art biological imaging and computational analysis. Whilst
all projects have clearly defined goals with specific hypotheses, there
will be ample scope for the student to develop the essential skills of
experimental design.
Interactions and collaborations
There is good scope for interactions, especially with other groups
within the department. In addition, many of the projects are in collaboration
with Dr Jim
Haseloff at the Department of Plant Sciences, Cambridge, who has developed
the GAL4-GFP misexpression system in Arabidopsis.
Development of wider scientific and communication
skills and participation in scientific meetings
Students are encouraged to participate in additional departmental courses,
ensuring that they undertake training in wider scientific and communication
skills, to assist their development as independent research scientists.
Students are also expected to participate in scientific meetings, including
presenting their work at least one international meeting during their
training.
Facilities at York
My group is based in the new Biology building at York. The open plan
structure of the laboratories and write-up areas encourages interactions
within and between groups. The laboratory is well equipped for the proposed
work with excellent transgenic plant growth facilities, a plant tissue
culture suite, facilities and equipment for molecular biology work, and
superb facilities for microscopy. Our new Technology
Facility, which opened in July 2002, provides an innovative and world-class
centre for research, technology development, training and collaboration.
It houses state-of-the-art facilities in five specialist laboratories,
including an Imaging and Cytometry Laboratory, a Nucleic Acid Laboratory,
Protein Production Laboratory, Analytical Biochemistry Laboratory, and
Molecular Interactions Laboratory.
The Department, University and the City
The Biology Department
at the University of York is large,
modern, and generally acknowledged to be one of the best in the country
(RAE 5). With approximately 50 members of academic staff, 90 members of
technical staff, and a large number of students and research staff, the
Department is a lively, stimulating and friendly scientific community.
The department is located within the bustling Heslington campus which
provides excellent facilities, including a sports centre, shops, library,
health centre and residential accommodation. It is a friendly, pleasant
working environment, within easy reach (approx. 1.5 miles) of the historic
city of York.
Funding
BBSRC studentships, University Studentships and Overseas Student Scholarships
may be available (see www.york.ac.uk/admin/gso/gsp/finance/awards.htm).
How to apply
For further information about PhD studies at York, please visit http://www.york.ac.uk/depts/biol/gsp.
To request an application pack, please contact the Biology PhD Office,
tel. (+44) (0)1904 328547 or email biograd@york.ac.uk
If you have any queries about PhD studentships in my lab, or would
like to discuss any of the above projects further, please contact me directly
on smb12@york.ac.uk
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