Alzheimer's Society Doctoral Training Centre PhD Studentship: APOE genotype and cognition in animal models

Closing Date

20 Jul 2018

Salary

£15,000 for the first year, rising to £16,000 per annum for the following 2.5 years, plus UK/EU PhD fees and research and training costs

Address

University of Sussex - School of Psychology Brighton, Falmer

Supervisor: Dr Sarah King (School of Psychology, University of Sussex).

Funding: A stipend of £15,000 per annum for the first year, rising to £16,000 per annum for the following 2.5 years. UK/EU PhD fees and research and training costs are also covered.

Project Description:

This studentship is part of the Alzheimer’s Society Doctoral Training Centre at Sussex whose programme of research focuses on understanding a risk gene for Alzheimer's, APOE4, and its effects throughout life.

The ApoE4 genotype is a major risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, early in life, human ApoE4 carriers perform well on some tests of attention and memory – even outperforming non-ApoE4 carriers on some tasks. A contrast to this pattern is the case of spatial memory where both memory performance and fMRI markers of neuronal function indicate abnormalities in ApoE4 versus non-ApoE4 carriers.

This project will investigate the behaviour of mice carrying the human ApoE3 and ApoE4 genes across the whole lifespan. It will establish whether the same early pattern of changes in cognition that we see in humans occur in ApoE4 mice. By using a mouse model, where we can look across the lifespan in the same individuals, we can establish and model lifespan changes over 2 years that would take 90 years in humans. Focusing on specific cognitive tests susceptible to ApoE status in humans, we can identify the tipping point when brain activations show toxic consequences for cognitive performance, and investigate the underlying neurobiology. This work will provide a valuable preclinical model for discovering and assessing targets and therapies that could protect ApoE4 carriers from cognitive decline and subsequent AD.

Applications should be made by 20 July 2018.

Eligibility criteria:

• This award will only pay fees at the Home/EU rate
• Candidates must have, or expect to obtain, a First or a high Upper Second Class Honours undergraduate degree, or equivalent qualification, and/or a Master's degree in Psychology or a related discipline.
• Only full-time students will be accepted.

Guidance for applicants:

• Application procedures can be found here.
• Please submit your application online for the ‘PhD in Psychology’ programme for September 2018 through this link.
• In the ‘supervisor suggested by applicant’ section of your application form, please put: Sarah King.
• In the ‘proposed source of funding’ put: Alzheimer’s Society DTC.

Candidates should provide:

• A research proposal that outlines your knowledge of the research area, hypotheses that could be addressed in your PhD, and an outline of potential methods. Your answer should not exceed 2 pages including references, be set at minimum 10-font type with margins a minimum of 1cm.
• Current degree transcript(s) with full details of performance on all completed courses.
• Two academic references.
• An up-to-date CV.

Timetable:

• Application deadline: 20 July 2018.
• Shortlisting: 24 July 2018.
• Interviews: 1-3 August 2018.

Subjects: Neuroscience and Psychology.

Countries: UK, EU.

Contact: For queries with respect to the application process, please send an email for the attention of 'Postgraduate Coordinator' to: psychologyphd-enquiries@sussex.ac.uk.

To discuss the details of this PhD project further, please contact Dr Sarah King: s.l.king@sussex.ac.uk.

For full details and to apply click here