An exciting opportunity has arisen for a PhD student to join a Wellcome Trust funded programme to investigate the development of the hypothalamus, a region of the brain that is critical to health and life. We have recently made the unexpected breakthrough that the basal hypothalamus arises from a population of progenitor cells1. The student will be part of a small team who will investigate how this embryonic population forms, decipher the information it contains that is the blueprint for hypothalamic construction and ask whether the embryonic population harbours a hypothalamic stem cell2. In the long-term these studies could let us build the hypothalamus in a dish, an important future goal in medicine for making personalised cells and restoring the damaged brain.
Science Graduate School
As a PhD student in one of the science departments at the University of Sheffield, you’ll be part of the Science Graduate School. You’ll get access to training opportunities designed to support your career development by helping you gain professional skills that are essential in all areas of science. You’ll be able to learn how to recognise good research and research behaviour, improve your communication abilities and experience the breadth of technologies that are used in academia, industry and many related careers. Visit http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/sgs to learn more.
Entry requirements
First class or upper second 2(i) in a relevant subject. To formally apply for a PhD, you must complete the University's application form using the following link: View Website
*All applicants should ensure that both references are uploaded onto their applic
1. Fu, SC, Towers, M, Placzek, M (2017) Fgf10+ progenitors give rise to the chick hypothalamus by rostral and caudal growth and differentiation. Development 144 3278-3288
2. Robins SC, Stewart I, McNay DE, Taylor V, Giachino C, Goetz M, Ninkovic J, Briancon N, Maratos-Flier E, Flier JS, Kokoeva MV, Placzek M. (2013) α-Tanycytes of the adult hypothalamic third ventricle include distinct populations of FGF-responsive neural progenitors. Nat Commun. 4:2049-53.
For more information and to apply, click here
