About Us
Diamond Light Source is the UK’s national synchrotron science facility. By accelerating electrons to near light-speed, Diamond generates brilliant beams of light from infra-red to X-rays which are used for academic and industry research and development across a range of scientific disciplines including structural biology, physics, chemistry, materials science, engineering, earth and environmental sciences.
The Project
The bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp) and Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) are a frequent cause of respiratory illness, which can be fatal, particularly in young children and the elderly. Additional research in this field is now urgent, due to a) rising antibiotic resistance and b) interplay with viral disease (e.g. COVID 19) where bacteria contribute to potentially deadly secondary infections.
As human adapted colonisers, both Sp are Hi are able to exploit "glycan mimicry" to imitate structures coating the human cell and so evade identification and destruction by the immune system. An important aspect of mimicry is the incorporation of a terminal sialic acid (SA) onto bacterial surface glycans. This project will: i) seek insights into metabolic pathways that manufacture glycans decorated with SA and ii) investigate the import of SA into Sp/Hi via a critical membrane transporter.
This interdisciplinary project will present opportunities for the student to learn skills in molecular biology, protein expression/purification, enzymology, and structural biology (crystallography and cryo-EM). The project will translate the enzymology expertise of the Gloster lab, who have experience investigating the human SA metabolic pathways, to gain important insights into SA metabolism in Sp/Hi. In the Walsh lab, the project will build on existing protein expression and purification results of the Sp/Hi SA membrane transporters, to enable crystallography and/or cryo-EM (in collaboration with eBIC) towards a structural understanding.
The PhD is fully funded for 3.5 years, and the student will have a 50/50 time split between the University of St Andrews (supervised by Tracey Gloster) and Diamond Light Source/Research Complex Harwell (supervised by Petra Lukacik and Martin Walsh). If you would like further information or to discuss the project/application, then please get in touch with Tracey Gloster (tmg@st-andrews.ac.uk), Petra Lukacik (petra.lukacik@diamond.ac.uk) and/or Martin Walsh (martin.walsh@diamond.ac.uk).
A first class or 2.1 BSc degree (or equivalent) in biochemistry, molecular biology, chemistry, or related subject is required. An undergraduate/postgraduate Masters and/or relevant research experience will significantly strengthen the application.
Further Information
Diamond Light Source Ltd holds an Athena SWAN Bronze Award, demonstrating their commitment to provide equal opportunities and to advance the representation of women in STEM/M subjects: science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine.
Diamond jointly funds around 15-20 studentships every year with a variety of collaborators from both academic institutions to industry partners. Students accepted onto these projects will be part of our yearly cohort intake and are supported by both their academic and Diamond supervisors, as well as a dedicated Student Engagement team based at Diamond.
Diamond studentships are typically 50% funded by Diamond and 50% by the partnering university institution (or 25% funded by Diamond if there is a third party collaborator). Students are therefore required to spend 50% of their studentship at Diamond, with most students relocating to the local area for this period. Support on suggested accomodation options are provided by Diamond.
Benefits of Diamond's jointly funded studentships
Further Information
If you have further questions please contact the Student Engagement team on diamond.students@diamond.ac.uk.
Further guidance for students can be found here as well as more information about life at Diamond found here.
Find a PhD University of St Andrews
Please make a formal application to the School of Biology through the above links.
The following documents are required;
Diamond Light Source is the UK's national synchrotron science facility, located at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire.
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