Postgraduate study
I welcome applications from prospective MSc by Research (MScRes) or self-funded PhD students who are interested in genetic, genomics, developmental biology, or evo-devo.
Possible MSc or PhD projects might include:
Subject area: Shark evolutionary developmental biology
Project description:
The cartilaginous fish (sharks, skates, and their relatives) occupy an important phylogenetic position as the oldest extant group of jawed vertebrates. They can provide insights into key events in vertebrate evolution, and can inform our understanding of general vertebrate anatomy, development, and physiology.
In this project, students will study the development of one of a number of shark organ systems in the lesser spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula), a model chondrichthyan, with a view to informing our understanding of processes associated with human health issues. Techniques will involve bioinformatic identification of candidate genes from genomic and transcriptomic resources, and determination of temporal and spatial distributions of mRNA and proteins using RNA-Seq, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridisation and hybridisation chain reaction.
Subject area: Assessing current and historical levels of genetic diversity in North Wales moths
Project description:
There are two species of moth in North-West Wales which are found nowhere else in the UK, Weaver’s Wave (Idaea contiguaria) and Ashworth’s Rustic (Xestia ashworthii). These populations are likely relics of a wider distribution, and may be cold-adapted. Such populations are extremely susceptible to climate change, as they cannot easily shift their range to more hospitable areas, and small isolated populations typically have low levels of genetic diversity.
The project will include field sampling across the current range of these species; identification of historical samples in UK and European museums; and lab-based determination of current and historical levels of genetic diversity to shed light on what is going on with these species, and what pressures they might be under as our climate changes.
Prospective students from Commonwealth countries may wish to investigate the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission as a possible source of support for postgraduate study.
Students from the USA should investigate the Fulbright Commission and the Marshall Scholarships.
Postdoctoral positions
I also welcome enquiries from prospective post-doctoral researchers, especially those interested in applying for independent fellowships such as:
BBSRC David Phillips Fellowships
Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowships
Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowships
Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowships
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