The epithelium is one of the four basic tissues in multicellular organisms. Cells in all epithelia share fundamental defining characteristics such as apical-basal polarity and cell-cell adhesion, mediated by the transmembrane protein E-cadherin. These epithelial cell characteristics and their context-specific behaviour are essential for the correct formation and function of the tissue.
Cell-cell adhesion provides a physical connection between cells to keep tissue integrity but also regulates numerous cellular behaviours. It helps cells decide when to divide, die or how to communicate with their neighbours. Not surprisingly, the correct amounts and distribution of E-cadherin in cells are essential for normal epithelial architecture and function.
We have identified that E-cadherin distribution and amounts are controlled by the microtubule cytoskeleton. This is a network of long filaments that direct intracellular transport and serve as signalling hubs in cells. In this project, the successful candidate will investigate:
The successful candidate will receive in-depth training in all required experimental techniques and data analysis. As the project progresses, the successful candidate will be encouraged to design and shape their own research agenda.
In the Bulgakova lab, we study functions and regulation of cell-cell adhesion in epithelial cells (https://nbul.github.io/). In a multidisciplinary approach, we combine genetics, state-of-the-art imaging, omics techniques and bioinformatics to investigate the fundamental principles of cell-cell adhesion biology. The student will receive training in whole-organism invertebrate models and human cell culture, live and high-resolution microscopy and computational image analysis. We share the lab space and collaborate with several other groups at the SBBS QMUL, with research interests that range from biochemistry to human brain organoids. These interactions help promote a positive research environment by sharing expertise, reagents and inspirations.
Find out more about the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences on our website.
We are looking for candidates to have or expecting to receive a first or upper-second class honours degree and a Master’s degree in an area relevant to the project such as Biology, Genetics, or Biomedical sciences.
Knowledge of immunocytochemistry, microscopy, cell culture techniques and R or MATLAB programming languages would be highly advantageous but are not required.
You must meet the IELTS requirements for your course and upload evidence before CSC’s application deadline, ideally by 1st March 2025. You are therefore strongly advised to sit an approved English Language test as soon as possible, where your IELTS test must still be valid when you enrol for the programme.
Please find further details on our English Language requirements page.
Formal applications must be submitted through our online form by 29th January 2025 for consideration. Please identify yourself as a ‘CSC Scholar’ in the funding section of the application.
Applicants are required to submit the following documents:
Find out more about our application process on our SBBS website.
Informal enquiries about the project can be sent to Dr Natalia Bulgakova AT n.bulgakova@qmul.ac.uk Admissions-related queries can be sent to sbbs-pgadmissions@qmul.ac.uk
Shortlisted applicants will be invited for a formal interview by the supervisor. If you are successful in your QMUL 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 with the support of the supervisor.
For further information, please go to the QMUL China Scholarship Council webpage.
Apply Online
Bulgakova NA, Grigoriev I, Yap AS, Akhmanova A, Brown NH. Dynamic microtubules produce an asymmetric E-cadherin-Bazooka complex to maintain segment boundaries. J Cell Biol. 2013 201(6):887-901. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201211159.