Version 2
Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
PhD Project Template
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Use one form per project
Please complete & submit to international@nuigalway.ie as soon as possible, and by 27/11/2012
In your email, begin the subject line with [SWB] (be sure to use square brackets) to ensure that
your email is filed correctly. Emails will be automatically filed
PI name & contact details:
School:
Dr. Uri Frank / Prof. Noel Lowndes
uri.frank@nuigalway.ie
School of Natural Sciences
Has project been agreed with head (or
nominee) of proposed registration school?
Yes
Research Centre / group affiliation:
Regenerative Medicine Institute / Centre for Chromosome
Biology
Research group / centre website:
www.remedi.ie
www.chromosome.ie
PI website / link to CV:
www.nuigalway.ie/frank
Brief summary of PI research / research group / centre activity (2 or 3 lines max):
If you are already involved in relevant scholarly activities relating to Brazil, please mention them here.
Stem cells are units of development and regeneration. Because these cells are relatively inaccessible
in adult mammals, we use the cnidarian Hydractinia (a relative of corals, sea anemones and
jellyfishes) as a model to study stem cells in the intact animal. Using transgenic animals, gene
knockdown approaches and cell transplantation we study how stem cells maintain pluripotency and
how they 'decide' to become specialized cells such as neurons and muscles.
Title & brief description of PhD project (suitable for publication on web):
DNA damage response in an irradiation-resistant animal
DNA damage response is a highly regulated and evolutionarily conserved mechanism. The ability to
repair DNA breaks depends on the cell type and on the nature and extent of the damage. Inability to
repair DNA damage may result in cell death or cancer. Intriguingly, some animals seem to be more
resistant to DNA damaging agents; understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying this
resistance would be a great contribute to cancer biology. The proposed project will investigate the
consequences of gamma-irradiation on the ability of stem cells to self-renew and differentiate using
gene expression analysis and manipulation, flow cytometry, and advanced microscopy.
Unique selling points of PhD project in NUI Galway:
The proposed project is a collaborative work between two groups with complementary expertise
that encompass developmental biology, cell biology, biochemistry and animal manipulation. It will
utilize a unique model organism that allows one to perform exciting experiments at a cellular
resolution in the intact animal. Such approaches are not feasible in any of the common model
organisms. Advanced molecular and cellular biology, together with high-resolution microscopy, will
be applied by the student during the thesis work. The research will be carried out in the new
biomedical building at NUI Galway, providing a unique cross-disciplinary environment and state-ofthe-art facilities.
Version 2
Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
Name & contact details for project queries, if different from PI named above:
Please indicate the graduates of which disciplines that should apply:
Biochemistry;
Cell biology;
Molecular biology;
Biomedical science;
Biotechnology;
Genetics/ molecular genetics.
Ciência sem Fronteiras / Science Without Borders Priority Area:
Please indicate the specific programme priority area under which the proposed PhD project fits- choose only
one (tick box):
Engineering and other technological areas
Pure and Natural Sciences (e.g. mathematics, physics, chemistry)/Physical Sciences (Mathematics,
Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Geosciences)
Health and Biomedical Sciences / Clinical, Pré-clinical and Health Sciences
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), Computing
Aerospace
Pharmaceuticals
Sustainable Agricultural Production
Oil, Gas and Coal
Renewable Energy
Minerals, Minerals Technology
Biotechnology
X
Nanotechnology and New Materials
Technologies for Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Disasters
Bioprospecting and Biodiversity
Marine Sciences
Creative Industry
New technologies in constructive engineering
Please indicate which of the following applies to this project (referring to Science Without Borders
arrangements):
Suitable only as a Full PhD (Y/N): Y
Available to candidates seeking a Sandwich PhD arrangement (Y/N): _____
Suitable for either/Don’t know: