MRC Funded PhD Studentship - Bacterial cell wall dynamics during life and death

The Krebs Institute, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

Supervisor: Professor Simon Foster

Bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan is responsible for the maintenance of viability and shape determination. Its biosynthesis is the site of action of important antibiotics such as penicillin. The project will take a multidisciplinary approach, including atomic force microscopy and super-resolution fluorescence microscopy, to elucidate cell wall dynamics in bacteria during growth and the action of cell wall antibiotics.

References:
Hayhurst, E. et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2008; 105, 14603-14608
Turner, R.D. et al. Nature Communications 2010; 1, 1-9
Wheeler, R. et al. Molecular Microbiology 2011; 82, 1096-1109

Eligibility

Eligibility is determined by the MRC's eligibility criteria as set out on their website. Applicants should review the MRC guidance in the first instance.

The general eligibility requirements are:
* You should have, or expect to achieve, a first or upper second class UK honours degree or equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK in an appropriate area of study.
* You should be applying to start your first year of study with the University in 2012-13 on a full-time or part-time programme of eligible postgraduate study, within the MRC's subject domain.
* Awards are open to UK and EU applicants. The type of studentship awarded is based on an applicant’s residency status. International applicants are not normally eligible.

Applications

For further information please contact Simon Foster (Tel: 0114 2224411; E-mail:
s.foster@sheffield.ac.uk). Apply via the University website
(http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/online)