This fully funded studentship is available to start in 2010, under the supervision of Prof David Richardson in the internationally renowned School of Biological Sciences, UEA Norwich (90% of research activity classified as internationally leading, excellent or recognised, RAE 2008).
Funding awarded for this project will cover tuition fees and stipend.
Project description:
Some remarkable bacteria can construct bio-nanowires that conduct electrons to and from extracellular minerals. These bacteria have potential biotechnological applications in microbial fuel cells and bioremediation and they are important in a number of biogeochemical cycles and in rock weathering.
We have successfully purified these bio-nanowires and this studentship project will involve incorporating them into artificial membranes and using these to study their structure, function and the mechanism by which they exchange electrons with minerals and electrodes. The research programme is ideal for a student with interests in microbiology, biochemistry and geochemistry.
The student will learn methods in protein purification, reconstitution of proteins in artificial lipid membranes; imaging and electrochemistry. The project is a collaborative venture between the University of East Anglia (UEA) in the UK and the Pacific North National Laboratory in the USA. The student will be registered with the UEA but his/her research time will be split approximately 50:50 between the two participating institutions. This is an excellent opportunity to experience working in two thriving research groups in the UK and USA that have recently published a seminal article together on bio-nanowires.
Contact:
For informal enquiries about this position please contact Prof David Richardson or the Faculty of Science Admissions Office at sci.pgr.admiss@uea.ac.uk or +44 (0) 1603 593002.
How to apply:
An application can be downloaded from our website at http://www.uea.ac.uk/mac/admissions/courses/PG#pgr. Completed application forms should be submitted to the Admissions Office, Faculty of Science, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ.
The deadline for receipt of completed applications is Friday 28th May 2010.
Fully Funded PhD Studentship, University of East Anglia
