PhD Studentship in Infection Biology : University College Dublin, Belfield Campus, Dublin 4., Ireland

Project Title
Functional genomics and proteomics studies of bovine tuberculosis:
host response to Mycobacterium bovis.

Location
University College Dublin, Ireland.

Supervisors
Prof. David MacHugh:
www.ucd.ie/research/people/agriculturefoodvetscience/drdavidmachugh
Prof. Stephen Gordon:
www.ucd.ie/research/people/agriculturefoodvetscience/profstephenvincentgordon

Project Description
Tuberculosis is a devastating disease of humans and animals. Bovine
tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium bovis, is a major zoonotic
pathogen and causes losses to global agriculture of approx. €2.2
billion per annum. In order to develop strategies to control
tuberculosis, we need to understand how the pathogen causes disease.
This project will explore the host response to M. bovis and will focus
on in vitro and in vivo studies of the bovine macrophage and
interactions with M. bovis mycobacteria. The student will be trained
in a range of highly sophisticated molecular biology techniques,
including RNA-seq transcriptome analysis, next-generation sequencing,
proteomics and bioinformatics.

Project Background
University College Dublin is the largest university in Ireland whose
origin dates back to 1854. There are over 22,000 students including
over 3,200 international students from more than 110 countries. The
student will join a group of researchers investigating bovine
tuberculosis, and will have access to outstanding research facilities
at the Animal Genomics Laboratory, UCD School of Agriculture, Food
Science and Veterinary Medicine and at the UCD Conway Institute of
Biomolecular and Biomedical Research.

The student will also be enrolled in the UCD Thematic PhD programme in
Infection Biology (for more information see: www.ucd.ie/infectbio).

Animal Genomics Laboratory website: www.animalgenomics.ucd.ie
UCD Conway Institute website: www.ucd.ie/conway

Scholarship Details
Applicants should have at least a 2.1 honours degree in one of the
following scientific disciplines: Immunology, Genetics/Genomics,
Microbiology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry.

This is a four-year SFI funded position with a starting stipend of
€16,850 exclusive of PhD fees, increasing ~5% per annum.

Unfortunately due to funding restrictions, this position is available
to EU residents only. Applications from non-EU residents will not be
short-listed.

Funding Agency
Science Foundation Ireland (SFI): www.sfi.ie

Closing Date for Applications
5pm, Friday 18th September 2009

Start Date
2009/2010 academic year (October/November 2009)