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 Cyril Carroll
Enteric Pathogen Research Laboratory
Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, NUIGalway. Ireland
Email: cyril.carroll@nuigalway.ie
Tel: +353 91 492277
School of Natural Sciences
Has project been agreed with head
(or nominee) of proposed
registration school?
Yes
Research Centre / group
affiliation:
Infectious Disease and Immunity Cluster.
Discipline of Microbiology.
Research group / centre
website:
http://ncbes.eurhost.net/infectious-disease.aspx
www.nuigalway.ie/microbiology
PI website / link to CV:
http://www.nuigalway.ie/microbiology/dr__cyril_v__carroll.html
http://www.nuigalway.ie/microbiology/eprllab.html
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.
The PI research is based on bacterial pathogens with specific focus on Campylobacter jejuni.
Research includes: Detection and Epidemiology of Campylobacter spp.; Adaptive Tolerance
Response in Campylobacter spp.; Biofilm formation; Bioactive Ingredients from Algal Sources Assessment of the effects of seaweed extracts as novel antimicrobial tools to limit Campylobacter
infection of poultry.
Title & brief description of PhD project (suitable for publication on web):
Effect of antimicrobials on Campylobacteri Biofilms
Campylobacter jejuni infections are now the leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis reported in
the world. Epidemiological evidence suggests that poultry-meat is a primary source of
Campylobacter infection. Little is known about the mechanisms for this organism survivel in its
environment. Campylobacter are known to form biofilms and these play a central role in its survival
and transmission within the food chain.We have demonstrated that different C. jejuni chicken
strains can form biofilms under continuous chemostst conditions. This project will look at the effect
of antimicrobial (disinfectants & antibiotics) treatment on Campylobacter biofilms with regard to its
Version 2
Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
Proteome and transcriptome with regard to sits survival strategies and virulence. This research it of
relevence to Brazil, an important chicken exporting country, and may suggest novel ways that the
food industry can eliminate these bacteria from the food chain or prevent them from entering it at
all
Unique selling points of PhD project in NUI Galway:
Nuigalway offers a four-year Structured `PhD programme – with added learning structures to
enhance the scientific researcher.
Within NUIGalway Dr Carroll’s Group is a member of the Infectious Disease research Cluster which
facilitates cross fertilisation of techniques and offers a forum for discussuon both within
Microbiology and across other disciplines.
Dr. Carrolls group is nationally persieved as a leader in Campylobacter research as reinforced by the
PI involvent as WHO advisor on the incidence on Campylobacteriosis his has established links with
Irish regulatory bodies and the Irish poultry Industry.
Dr. Carrolls group is one of the few Campylobacter research groups which is actively using
Chemostat technology to study Campylobacters physiology.
Name & contact details for project queries, if different from PI named above:
Please indicate the graduates of which disciplines that should apply:
Biological Science; Microbiology; Molecular Biology; Biochemistry,
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
X
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
Version 2
Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
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): ____Y_
Suitable for either/Don’t know: _____