University Instructor - Canterbury, United Kingdom - Canterbury Christ Church University

Canterbury Christ Church University

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Canterbury, United Kingdom

2 weeks ago

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Tom O´Connor

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Description

University Instructor (NAS):

Job description

Background of department/role

In their instructor role, the post holder will primarily support undergraduate practicals and workshops as a demonstrator, supporting academics in answering student questions, explaining protocols and providing general support.

There are also opportunities (if desired) to deliver lectures, seminars and tutorials on the course(s) related to their expertise. The post holder will familiarise themselves with the theoretical background and protocols necessary for each practical or workshop.

Details of the PhD project are included below.

About the PhD project:

Ageing is a universal phenomenon during which progressive changes ultimately lead to death. One of the conditions that accompanies the natural ageing process is sarcopenia. In humans, skeletal muscles undergo a gradual decline in muscle mass after the age of 30.

Lifestyle factors such as physical inactivity and an unbalanced diet are also believed to contribute to the loss of muscle mass and strength.

Another condition linked to ageing is neurodegeneration.

It appears that greater levels of physical activity or exercise have positive influences and may enhance cognitive function and delay the onset of Parkinson's disease (PD) and other dementias.

The microscopic round worm
- _Caenorhabditis elegans_ is an excellent model for investigating conserved molecular mechanisms regulating muscular health and its decline with age. Studies in
- _C. elegans_ can therefore potentially lead to insights into maintenance of muscular health, impacting a wide range of human disorders ranging from muscular dystrophies to neurodegenerative diseases. There is extensive genetic variation among wild isolates of
- _C. elegans_ that has not yet been extensively studied. Most research into physiology of ageing is still carried out by using the canonical strain N2 (Bristol) and/or its mutants. In this project, we want to tap into the genetic variation in
- _C. elegans_ as it strongly contributes to phenotypic variations in many complex traits.

Many quantitative loci trait (QTL) studies, e.g.

pathogenic resistance/susceptibility, lifespan, fitness, and stress responses have been performed with different panels of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) in the past.

Plenty of these studies derived from using CB4856 and N2 RILs. In this research, we propose using a new
- _C. elegans_ RIL population carrying an introgressed α-synuclein transgene derived from NL5901 and SCH4856 to study ageing and the effect of exercise on a) sarcopenia and b) neurodegenerative diseases. This project is in collaboration with the Wageningen University, Netherlands and there is a potential for some of the lab work to take place in Wageningen in later stages.

This project will involve:
Testing αsynuclein toxicity in RIL panel of _C. elegans_
Analysing the RILs for sarcopenia
Testing the loss of gut permeability in ageing worms
Application of various environmental stresses such as cold or oxidative stress
The post holder will have a 1st Class honours degree in a relevant discipline. They will have a commitment to delivering a highquality student experience, and be able to demonstrate excellent communication and organisational skills.

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Additional Information

How to apply- Interviews are to be held: Week commencing 1st of May 2023

Please ensure you include contact details of two

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