Version 2 Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras PhD Project Template 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 Aoife Boyd Aoife.Boyd@nuigalway.ie Natural Sciences Has project been agreed with head (or nominee) of proposed registration school? Yes Research Centre / group affiliation: Microbiology Research group / centre website: www.nuigalway.ie/microbiology PI website / link to CV: www.nuigalway.ie/microbiology/ab.html Brief summary of PI research / research group / centre activity (2 or 3 lines max): Dr Boyd leads the Pathogenic Mechanisms group which characterises the molecular mechanisms deployed by bacteria in order to colonise, survive and multiply during infection. Title & brief description of PhD project (suitable for publication on web): Title: Novel virulence factors of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Description: V. parahaemolyticus is a pathogenic bacterium that causes gastroenteritis. Infection occurs as a result of eating contaminated shrimp and oysters and in Brazil V. parahaemolyticus has been recognised as a threat to the country’s seafood farming industry. A key step in the infection process is the colonisation of the intestine through attachment of bacterial adhesins to human cells. The PhD researcher will investigate the importance of recently identified adhesins in V. parahaemolyticus –host cell interactions. By discovering ways to prevent host-pathogen interaction, this project aims to develop treatments for gastrointestinal diseases. Unique selling points of PhD project in NUI Galway: The PhD student will interact with scientists researching a range of pathogenic bacteria within the Infectious Disease Research Cluster at NUI, Galway. Through investigating host-pathogen interactions, the PhD student will gain experience in microbiology, cell biology, molecular biology and infectious disease research. 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: Biology, Microbiology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology 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 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): _ ____ Available to candidates seeking a Sandwich PhD arrangement (Y/N): _____ Suitable for either/Don’t know: __Y___