The School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences at Queen Mary is one of the UK’s elite research centres, according to the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF). We offer a multi-disciplinary research environment and have approximately 180 PhD students working on projects in the biological and psychological sciences. Our students have access to a variety of research facilities supported by experienced staff, as well as a range of student support services.
The successful candidate will be based at the Centre for Structural Biology at the Blizard Institute at QMUL.
The Stieglitz lab is supported by dedicated cryo-EM and X-ray crystallography facilities. The lab is well equipped for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of protein systems with biophysical instruments such as PEAQ-ITC, fluorescence spectroscopy and stopped-flow.
Our PhD students become part of Queen Mary’s Doctoral College which provides training and development opportunities, advice on funding, and financial support for research. Our students also have access to a Researcher Development Programme designed to help recognise and develop key skills and attributes needed to effectively manage research, and to prepare and plan for the next stages of their career.
The successful candidate will be trained in a wide range of biochemical and biophysical techniques such as molecular cloning, protein expression and purification, protein labelling, fluorescence spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry, X-ray crystallography and cryoEM.
This project focuses on the structural and functional investigation of the ubiquitin system involved in host – pathogen interactions. Conjugation of a target protein with ubiquitin is a widely used strategy of the cell to transduce signals and plays an important role in innate immunity, the first line of defence against invading microbes. Pathogens have developed strategies to evade the defence mechanism by specifically manipulating and exploiting the ubiquitylation machinery of the host.
The aim of this project is to understand the molecular mechanisms of the ubiquitin conjugation system that initiate and modulate innate immunity pathways in response to bacterial infections. To archives this goal, you will reconstitute ubiquitylation cascades under in vitro conditions using highly purified proteins and investigate the mechanism of ubiquitin conjugation in a host – pathogen specific context. You will apply a complementary set of structural and biophysical techniques which will allow you to get precise mechanistic insights into the function of ubiquitin conjugation at the interface of host – pathogen interaction. This knowledge will contribute to the development of novel drugs, which are urgently required to overcome the emerging global problem of antimicrobial resistance
This studentship is open to students applying for China Scholarship Council funding. Queen Mary University of London has partnered with the China Scholarship Council (CSC) to offer a joint scholarship programme to enable Chinese students to study for a PhD programme at Queen Mary. Under the scheme, Queen Mary will provide scholarships to cover all tuition fees, whilst the CSC will provide living expenses for 4 years and one return flight ticket to successful applicants.
Applicants must be:- Chinese students with a strong academic background.- Students holding a PR Chinese passport.- Either be resident in China at the time of application or studying overseas.- Students with prior experience of studying overseas (including in the UK) are eligible to apply. Chinese QMUL graduates/Masters’ students are therefore eligible for the scheme.Please refer to the CSC website for full details on eligibility and conditions on the scholarship.
Applicants from outside of the UK are required to provide evidence of their English Language ability. Please see our English Language requirements page for details: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/international-students/englishlanguagerequirements/postgraduateresearch/
Informal enquiries about the project can be sent to Ben Stieglitz at b.stieglitz@qmul.ac.uk
Formal applications must be submitted through our online form by 31st January 2024 for consideration, including a CV, personal statement and qualifications. You must meet the IELTS/ English Language requirements for your course and submit all required documentation (including evidence of English Language) by 14th March 2024. You are therefore strongly advised to sit an approved English Language test as soon as possible.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited for a formal interview by the supervisor. If you are successful in your application, then you will be issued an QMUL Offer Letter, conditional on securing a CSC scholarship along with academic conditions still required to meet our entry requirements. Once applicants have obtained their QMUL Offer Letter, they should then apply to CSC for the scholarship by in March 2024 with the support of the supervisor.
Only applicants who are successful in their application to CSC can be issued an unconditional offer and enrol on our PhD programme. For further information, please go to: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/scholarships/items/china-scholarship-council-scholarships.html
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