PhD Project at Oxford Brookes University

Size matters - how temperature affects Drosophila eye development and vision

3 Year, full-time PhD studentship at Oxford Brookes University, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Department of Biomedical and Medical Sciences 

Eligibility: Home UK/EU applicants who must be permanently resident in UK/EU 

Closing date: 11 June 2021 

Start date: September 2021 

Bursary p.a.: Bursary equivalent to UKRI national minimum stipend plus fees (2021/22 bursary rate is £15,609) 

University fees and bench fees at the Home rate will be met by the University for the 3 years of the Studentship. 

Supervisors: Maike Kittelmann, Casper J Breuker, Daniela Santos Nunes 

Project: Given the rapid changes in habitats and climate it is becoming increasingly important to understand if and how species can adapt and evolve. The role of thermal plasticity in adaptation is especially relevant to insects, which generally have smaller bodies at higher temperatures. However sensory organs such as compound eyes can respond independently to changes in temperature due to the direct impact of size on their function. We have identified Drosophila strains that show significant differences in eye size plasticity in response to higher temperatures, ranging from 3% to 30% reduction in absolute eye size. This project will utilise population genetics, molecular biology, advanced 3D imaging and morphometric analysis to understand how temperature affects Drosophila eye development and morphology, genetically map eye size plasticity and model how morphological adaptations affect Drosophila vision. 

The successful applicant will receive training in Drosophila genetics, genome editing with CRISPR/Cas9, developmental biology and a range of bioimaging techniques. 

For informal inquiries and additional information about the project and the application process please contact Dr Maike Kittelmann: maike.kittelmann@brookes.ac.uk

 

Requirements: Applicants should have a first or upper second class honours degree from a Higher Education Institution in the UK or acceptable equivalent qualification in biological science or related discipline. EU Applicants must have a valid IELTS Academic test certificate (or equivalent) with an overall minimum score of 7.0 and no score below 6.0 issued in the last 2 years by an approved test centre.
How to apply: Applications should be sent to hlsapplications@brookes.ac.uk and should include the following application form:
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