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 and the Centre for Experimental Medicine and Reumatology at the William Harvey Research Institute.
The Stieglitz lab is well equipped for the in vitro analysis of protein systems with a variety of biophysical and structural techniques such as fluorescence spectroscopy, cryoEM and X-ray crystallography. The Lewis lab studies the immunological role of ubiquitination enzymes in autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using in vitro cellular models of human immune system signalling as well as ex vivo cells and tissue samples from patients.
The Lewis lab is at the forefront of precision medicine with expertise in next generation sequencing, multi-omics and bioinformatic analysis of patient samples from clinical trials.
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, reporter assays, manipulation of human cells in culture and analysis of ex vivo patient samples using flow cytometry, microscopy, ELISA and other techniques.
This project will provide an understanding about the functional and mechanistic role of RBR ubiquitin ligases in cell autonomous immunity and inflammation. The student will focus on the role of selected ubiquitin ligases in interferon signalling in order to further elucidate their protein-protein interactions and cellular mechanisms. Excessive type I interferon signalling has been shown to be linked to the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases including the life-threatening multi-organ disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
The project aims to bridge the gap between the protein biochemistry of ubiquitin ligases and mechanistic understanding of their immunological functions and thus their relationship to causing autoimmune disease in humans.
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 Dr 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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