PhD Research Project: The genetics of how environmental fluctuation accelerates the ageing process

Global warming has changed the average environment experienced by organisms but has also increased environmental variability. Even if organisms are able to adapt to a sudden change in average environmental conditions, rapidly fluctuating ecological conditions are predicted to impose severe constraints on biodiversity. Indeed, we have recently found that fluctuating the diet content of flies (Drosophila melanogaster) can dramatically speed up the ageing process. This novel finding indicates severe physiological costs of fluctuations in the diet and opens up the first possibility to understand these costs in detail. The powerful genetics readily available in flies now allows a rapid and deep insight into these processes with high relevance to understanding how diet impacts on organisms.

You will use a combination of approaches in flies to uncover the physiology responsible for the observed vulnerability to fluctuation in the diet. Through screening a large number of lines for the dietary phenotype, genes regulating this physiology can be implicated using genome-wide association analysis. Such genes can then be manipulated in flies to test whether they are regulating causal physiology. Further experiments can then elucidate the exact physiology responsible. The wealth of different genetic lines of flies available in dedicated stock centres means that many intricate genetic manipulations are only one or a few crosses away.

Recent work on the connection between ageing and diet has suggested that the reward centre in the brain might be key in regulating the valuation of diet and thereby ageing. Such neuronal processes could, therefore, be an important part of how organisms cope with fluctuating environments. You will test the involvement of these brain areas in how flies respond to fluctuations in their diet. With the expertise offered by supervisor Dr Sean Sweeney, you will be able to directly test the connections between neuronal cell biology, accelerated ageing and diet.

We seek a hard-working passionate student with a quantitative mindset and an interest in the biology of ageing. Candidates with a diverse background in life science will be considered. The broad scientific expertise of the supervisors ensures a vibrant environment for the student. We will empower the student to pursue his/her own interests and acquire a wide array of skills. Your research will not only have implications for how we understand a key process in evolution and conservation, but also for biomedical science in which ageing research and in particular the connection to diet is growing in importance.

Funding Notes

Fully funded for a minimum of 3.5 years, studentships cover: (i) a tax-free stipend at the standard Research Council rate (at least £14,296 per annum for 2017-2018), (ii) research costs, and (iii) tuition fees at the UK/EU rate. Studentship(s) are available to UK and EU students who meet the UK residency requirements. Students from EU countries who do not meet residency requirements may still be eligible for a fees-only award.

References

This Ph.D. project is part of the NERC funded Doctoral Training Partnership “ACCE” (Adapting to the Challenges of a Changing Environment). This is a partnership between the Universities of Sheffield, Liverpool, York and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.
Selection process: Shortlisting will take place as soon as possible after the closing date and successful applicants will be notified promptly. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview to take place at the University of Sheffield the w/c 13th February 2017.