PhD Studentship: Actions of novel hybrid peptides on hyperglycaemia and vascular dysfunction in experimental diabetes

Director of Studies: Dr. Opeolu O. Ojo (o.o.ojo@uel.ac.uk)

Applications are invited for a fully-funded PhD research studentship in the Medicines Research Group, School of Health, Sport and Bioscience, University of East London. Our vision is to deliver excellent research that has impact on the health and wellbeing of individuals in the local, national and international context. The successful applicant will work on a project investigating actions of novel hybrid-peptides on hyperglycaemia and vascular dysfunction in experimental diabetes.

The recent increase in the global incidence of type 2 diabetes and challenges associated with its treatment necessitate the search for novel agents with better therapeutic potential. Many diabetic patients suffer from cardiovascular complications, which usually occur secondary to hypertension and associated endothelial dysfunction, and are predisposed to conditions including atherosclerosis, cardiomyopathy, stroke and nephropathy. These patients are up to four times more likely to die from such conditions. This project seeks to investigate in vitro and in vivo actions of some newly designed hybrid-peptides (receptors agonists) on hyperglycaemia and vascular dysfunction in high-fat fed animal model of obesity-diabetes. The programme will provide PhD training opportunities in tissue culture, reversed phase HPLC, animal handling and immunohistochemistry amongst others.

The Award

The studentship is for a period of three years, subject to satisfactory yearly progress and provides an annual stipend of £16057 pa including London costs), payment of tuition fees at the UK/EU rate only and some research costs.

Requirements

Applicants must have an excellent honours degree (at least a 2.1 or international equivalent) and an MSc in biomedical sciences, pharmacology, or a related subject. Evidence of undertaking a practical, primary research project is essential. Applicants must also have excellent communication skills and a very high level of written and spoken English. Where English is not the applicant’s first language, a minimum IELTS Academic English score of 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in all components is required.

The holder of the studentship will be expected to:

Complete their doctoral studies and submit their dissertation within 3 years.

Prepare papers for submission to peer-reviewed journals.

Participate in and contribute to research activities of the School and activities relevant to their sponsors.

Application Procedure

Informal enquiries about the studentships should be addressed to the specific Director of Studies stated above. Applicants should contact Ms. Debbie Dada in the Graduate School (d.dada@uel.ac.uk or 0208 223 2450) to obtain an application form. Applications will only be accepted on the official form. The closing date for completed applications is 1000am Monday 11th January 2016. Interviews will be held in the week of the 25th January 2016. Start date will be February 2016.