The University invites applications for a PhD student to join our Hertfordshire Knowledge Exchange Partnership (HKEP) scheme. This four-year project requires a PhD student to undertake a collaborative research project with support from University academic supervisor(s) and scientists at Neurolixis, a private biopharmaceutical company.
The project provides training in a range of in vitro and in vivo techniques relevant to modern neuropharmacology that form useful transferable skills. She/He will be trained in animal behavioral paradigms, neural circuitry relevant to Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and modern biochemical techniques. The programme of work will address a question of considerable scientific merit and thus it will have translational value to clinical neurology and further drug development.
The project begins with a Knowledge Exchange year in which you are based in or are in close interactions with the company. Successful completion of the first year will require the submission of a scientific report, research proposal and an oral examination. The successful candidate will then begin a three-year PhD research project in an area of interest to the company.
Start date: January 2019
Duration: 4 years
Company: Neurolixis
Starts at £14,777 per annum plus approved expenses. All students will also receive a maximum contribution towards their individual tuition fees that is equivalent to the Home/EU student fee in each year of registration.
The project focuses on: Parkinson’s disease (PD), the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder. This project will focus on mitigating parkinsonian neurodegenerative changes in cellular and animal models of PD. The successful candidate will be investigating the therapeutic potential of novel compounds that target a particular serotonin (5-HT) receptor, the 5-HT1A receptor, which has been shown to be involved in the neurobiology of PD and of neuroprotective mechanisms. The present neurochemical and behavioural neuroscience project involves the use of well-established techniques to investigate neuroprotective efficacy of novel drugs.
The student will be responsible for the experimental programme of research within the department of Clinical and Pharmaceutical Sciences on European Union / University Hertfordshire funded studentship in collaboration with Neurolixis on a preclinical drug discovery platform based on Neurolixis’ novel compounds. The successful candidate will be responsible for setting up in vitro (cellular) or in vivo (whole animal) behavioural models, sample collection for central and peripheral functional changes and biochemical alterations in oxidative stress, inflammation and protein aggregation.
• Mahmoud Iravani, PhD, Uni. Hertfordshire
• Adrian Newman-Tancredi, PhD, DSc, Neurolixis
Essential
• First class or upper second-class (2:1) Honours graduate (BSc) in the area of biomedical sciences / neuroscience / biological sciences or similar;
• IELTS 6.5 (or above with no less than 5.5 in any band)/TOEFL 79 (if international student).
Desirable
• Previous in vivo experience and possession of a Home Office personal licence (modules 1-4) is highly valued though training is available for candidates fulfilling other criteria.
Application Process
For further information and to apply for this role please email hsp@herts.ac.uk.
The deadline for applications is 16th December 2018.
Informal enquires should be addressed to Dr. Mahmoud Iravani (m.iravani@herts.ac.uk). Please note that applications sent directly to this address will not be accepted.
2nd Week of January 2019.
If you do not receive an invitation to interview then you have unfortunately been unsuccessful on this occasion.
Dr. Mahmoud Iravani: m.iravani@herts.ac.uk
hsp@herts.ac.uk
