We are inviting applications for a 3-year UCL Grand Challenge PhD project in the general areas of nanoscale biophysics and structural/ molecular biology. The student will be based within the London Centre for Nanotechnology as well as in the Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology on UCL’s Bloomsbury campus in Central London.
This project aims to lay out the assembly pathways of pore forming proteins and gain mechanistic insight in the effects of potential drugs and vaccines against bacterial toxins and of pore-forming protein deficiencies in the immune system.
Pore-forming proteins are crucial armaments in the continuous battle between organisms and their pathogens. In the course of their function, they assemble into oligomeric rings that puncture holes through their target membranes. Bacterial toxins, for example, are pore-forming proteins that penetrate host cell membranes to release nutrients for the bacteria, to invade the host cell or to kill it. On the other hand, the immune system secretes pore-forming proteins to kill infected or cancerous cells, or invading pathogens, in the organism.
In particular the dynamics of membrane pore formation remain enigmatic, primarily due to the lack of high-resolution, dynamic pictures of membrane pore formation. This project will combine various microscopy techniques to obtain structural and dynamic information of proteins during their assembly and insertion into the membrane at high spatial and temporal resolution. It will benefit from the respective expertise of 3 academic supervisors in atomic force microscopy (Dr Bart Hoogenboom), single-molecule fluorescence microscopy (Dr Alan Lowe), and electron microscopy and pore forming proteins (Prof Helen Saibil), and build on already on-going work in their research groups.
Candidates should have a high grade point average Bachelor’s, MSci or Master’s degree (or equivalent) in (bio)physics or related subjects. The project involves advanced scanning probe and optical microscopy techniques, and previous research experience relevant to the project is highly desirable.
The stipend is £18’000 p.a. for 3 years, and tuition fees will be covered. This funding is available to UK and EU/EEA candidates. Non-EU/EEA candidates must prove their ability to pay the difference between the UK/EU and international tuition feeds.

Suitably qualified and eligible candidates can contact Dr Bart Hoogenboom (b.hoogenboom@ucl.ac.uk) for further information. Applications, until 24th March 2014, should be according to the guidelines for UCL Grand Challenge PhD studentships, mentioning the PhD project title and highlighting academic excellence and previous research experience.