UNIVERSITY OF READING PHD STUDENTSHIP

The ingestion of pollutants is a major health concern which can arise from chemicals applied during food production or crop growth in polluted soils, as well as direct ingestion of the polluted soil itself. At present little is known about the transfer of the majority of soil and food associated organic pollutants across the intestinal epithelium which is key to determining their bioavailability and hence their toxic impact.

The studentship will assess the bioavailability of pollutants i.e. the fraction that transfers from contaminated material into the blood stream by crossing the intestinal epithelium. Currently our work assesses bioaccessibility i.e. that fraction of a pollutant desorbed from the matrix into the gut medium. The project will use this system and also human cell culture models for assessing desorption of pollutants in the gut and their subsequent transfer across the gut wall and their impact upon on it. This is an exciting project at the interface ofsoil science and human biology.

The successful candidate will have a 2:1 in biological or environmental sciences; cell culture techniques and/or chemical analysis experience are desirable, but not essential. The student will be encouraged to engage with our industrial and regulatory collaborators, as well as attend international conferences and submit scientific papers.

Assessing the transfer of pollutants in the human gut
University of Reading – Department of Soil Science, School of Human & Environmental Sciences
Supervisors: Dr Chris Collins, Professor Glenn Gibson, Professor Ian Rowland

Funding/Eligibility Notes
Due to restrictions on the funding this studentship is only available to applicants from the UK/EU. The studentship covers the full cost of a Home/EU student (university fees and living expenses) for three years.
Applicants should hold or expect to hold a minimum of an Upper Second Bachelors Degree in a relevant subject.

There are currently four University of Reading PhD studentships being advertised by the School of Human and Environmental Sciences. Applicants are asked to note that a maximum of two of these studentships will receive funding. The decision on which projects to fund will be based on the strength of applications received.

Application Procedure
Informal enquiries about the project should be addressed to the project supervisor: Dr Chris Collins, Department of Soil Science, SHES, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6DW (Tel. 0118 378 8910; E-mail: c.d.collins@reading.ac.uk).

To apply, please complete the Postgraduate Application Form available from: http://www.reading.ac.uk/Study/apply/pg-applicationform.asp. Please return completed application forms to:  Joint Faculty Office for Science and Life Sciences, Geography Building, University of Reading, Whiteknights, PO Box 227, Reading, RG6 6AB. Email: scipg@reading.ac.uk

For the project proposal, applicants should submit a 500 word statement addressing (i) why they think the research project is important; and (ii) why they are the most appropriate candidate to conduct the research, with reference to their academic background, skills, and experiences.

Candidates should arrange for two academic referees to send confidential references by the closing date.
Closing date: 31 March 2010