The School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences at Queen Mary is one of the UK’s elite research centres, according to the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF). We offer a multi-disciplinary research environment and have approximately 180 PhD students working on projects in the biological and psychological sciences. Our students have access to a variety of research facilities supported by experienced staff, as well as a range of student support services.
In this PhD project the expertise of Prof. Elphick (School of Biological & Behavioural Sciences, QMUL) on the evolution and comparative physiology of neuropeptide signalling systems and Dr. Fornili (School of Physical & Chemical Sciences, QMUL) on the computational analysis of protein structure and dynamics will be combined to co-supervise an interdisciplinary research project.For further details of the recent publications from the Elphick group, including publications by CSC-funded students, see: http://www.researchpublications.qmul.ac.uk/publications/staff/21463.html.For further details of the recent publications from the Fornili group, including publications by CSC-funded students, see: https://researchpublications.qmul.ac.uk/publications/staff/34522.html. Here are links to the webpages of Prof. Elphick and Dr Fornili: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/sbbs/staff/mauriceelphick html https://www.qmul.ac.uk/spcs/staff/academics/profiles/ariannafornili.html
Our PhD students become part of Queen Mary’s Doctoral College which provides training and development opportunities, advice on funding, and financial support for research. Our students also have access to a Researcher Development Programme designed to help recognise and develop key skills and attributes needed to effectively manage research, and to prepare and plan for the next stages of their career.
Training in a wide-range of research techniques will be provided, including bioinformatics, genomics, computational analysis of protein structure and peptide-protein interactions, cell-based methods for deorphanisation of G-protein coupled receptors, molecular histology and in vitro/in vivo pharmacology.
Neuropeptides have fundamental roles in regulating physiological and behavioural processes in humans and other animals and neuropeptide receptors are known or potential novel targets for therapeutic drugs. However, progress has been hindered by the lack of information on neuropeptide receptor structures. Recent advances in cryo-EM methods are providing the first insights into neuropeptide-receptor binding sites at the atomic level. Furthermore, with the development of novel AI-based protein structure prediction tools (Alphafold), there are exciting opportunities to investigate neuropeptide receptor structure in all animals.The primary aim of our research is to discover missing links in neuropeptide evolution and function (Elphick et al., 2018; https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.151092). To accomplish this, we use echinoderms (e.g. starfish, sea urchins) as experimental systems because echinoderms are more closely related to vertebrates than the majority of invertebrates and accordingly our research has provided important new insights into neuropeptide relationships.For example, research done by a former CSC-funded PhD student in our group and published in PNAS has revealed that neuropeptides (somatostatin and allatostatin-C) that hitherto were thought to be orthlogs are in fact paralogs (Zhang et al., 2022; https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2113589119). Furthermore, starfish have many remarkable morphological and physiological characteristics – they are typically five-sided and have a unique ability to rapidly autotomise (under neural control) and then regenerate arms, which makes them of great interest from a medical perspective.The aim of this PhD project will be to use computational methods to analyse the structure of “orphan” neuropeptide-type receptors in starfish (receptors for which neuropeptide ligands have yet to be discovered) and then use docking methods to test candidate ligands computationally. Then experimental methods will be employed to test predicted neuropeptide-receptor partners and to investigate the physiological roles of novel neuropeptide signalling systems.
This studentship is open to students applying for China Scholarship Council funding. Queen Mary University of London has partnered with the China Scholarship Council (CSC) to offer a joint scholarship programme to enable Chinese students to study for a PhD programme at Queen Mary. Under the scheme, Queen Mary will provide scholarships to cover all tuition fees, whilst the CSC will provide living expenses for 4 years and one return flight ticket to successful applicants.
Applicants must be:
- Chinese students with a strong academic background.- Students holding a PR Chinese passport.- Either be resident in China at the time of application or studying overseas.- Students with prior experience of studying overseas (including in the UK) are eligible to apply. Chinese QMUL graduates/Masters’ students are therefore eligible for the scheme.
Please refer to the CSC website for full details on eligibility and conditions on the scholarship.
Applications are invited from outstanding candidates with or expecting to receive a first or upper-second class honours bachelors degree and preferably also a masters degree in an area relevant to the project [e.g. Biochemistry, Biology, Pharmacology, Physiology, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Zoology.Research experience in computational/experimental analysis of protein structure and function would be advantageous, but is not essential.
Applicants from outside of the UK are required to provide evidence of their English language ability. Please see our English language requirements page for details: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/international-students/englishlanguagerequirements/postgraduateresearch/
Informal enquiries about the project can be sent to Prof. Maurice Elphick at m.r.elphick@qmul.ac.uk. Formal applications must be submitted through our online form by 31st January 2023 for consideration, including a CV, personal statement and qualifications.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited for a formal interview by the project supervisor. Those who are successful in their application for our PhD programme will be issued with an offer letter which is conditional on securing a CSC scholarship along with academic conditions still required to meet our entry requirements.
Once applicants have obtained their offer letter from Queen Mary they should then apply to CSC for the scholarship by the advertised deadline with the support of the project supervisor.For September 2023 entry, applicants must complete the CSC application on the CSC website between 10th March - 31st March 2023. Only applicants who are successful in their application to CSC can be issued an unconditional offer and enrol on our PhD programme. For further information, please go to: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/scholarships/items/china-scholarship-council-scholarships.html
Apply Online
For further details of the recent publications from the Elphick group, including publications by CSC-funded students, see: http://www.researchpublications.qmul.ac.uk/publications/staff/21463.html.For further details of the recent publications from the Fornili group, including publications by CSC-funded students, see: https://researchpublications.qmul.ac.uk/publications/staff/34522.html.