A multidisciplinary approach using 3D Gastruloids to understand the role of Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in early mammalian development

A fully-funded, multidisciplinary PhD studentship position in quantitative stem cell and developmental biology and proteomics is available in the labs of Dr David Turner and Prof. Claire Eyers in the University of Liverpool to support our recently awarded BBSRC strategic Longer and Larger project, GlycoWeb.

This multi-partner project includes research groups from The University of Nottingham, the University Liverpool, Manchester University, and the Francis Crick Institute, and we additionally have international (USA and Denmark) and commercial partners as part of the team. We value diversity and welcome applications from people who are part of groups typically under-represented in academic research. Our labs are built to be inclusive, with modifications that will support researchers with physical disabilities.

We are interested in taking quantitative fixed and live-cell approaches, coupled with state-of-the-art quantitative proteomic approaches to understand cell decision-making processes during early development. This exciting, multidisciplinary project aims to understand how glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) regulate biological function, using our cutting-edge in vitro model system: Gastruloids. Gastruloids are aggregates of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) generated in non-adherent culture, which are able to effectively recapitulate many of the processes of early mammalian development such as symmetry-breaking, polarisation, gastrulation-like movements and the development of the three embryonic axes.

You will be trained in state-of-the-art tissue culture techniques, quantitative proteomics, high-end microscopy, and biochemical techniques.

Candidates are expected to have (or about to obtain) a BSc (2:1 or higher), or a Masters in developmental/stem cell biology or related biological/biochemical discipline.