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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. Leo Quinlan (leo.quinlan@nuigalway.ie)Prof. Peter
Dockery (peter.dockery@nuigalway.ie)
Medicine
Research Centre / group affiliation: Cellular Physiology and Anatomy
Research group / centre website:
http://www.nuigalway.ie/physiology/leo_quinlan.html
PI website / link to CV:
Dr. Leo Quinlan is a lecturer and principle investigator in the discipline of Physiology at NUI
Galway. At NUI Galway he has supervised a number of postdoctoral researcher fellows and
5 doctoral dissertations. Dr. Quinlan’s research programme is focused on epithelial biology
and electrophysiology in a variety of organ systems. He has to date published 10 papers in
high-impact factor publications.
Prof. Peter Dockery is the Professor of Anatomy at NUIGalway and director of Core Imaging
facility at NUI,Galway. He has published over 80 Papers/chapters and in excess of 100
abstracts. Prof. Dockery’s research interests are in the areas of Neurobiology: Cellular
interactions in the developing and ageing nervous system: Development and repair of the
Spinal Cord and Reproduction: Structure-Function of the Endometrium. Cellular effects of
endocrine disrupting chemicals on reproductive tissues. The Feto-maternal interface.
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Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
Title & brief description of PhD project (suitable for publication on web):
Nongenomic steroid action on cellular structure and ion channel function in human
reproductive tract - implications for fertility.
Brief PhD Project Description:
A large body of experimental evidence shows the existence of steroid effects outside the
classic model of steroid-target cell interaction. These effects are mediated by steroid
receptors on the cell surface and the pathways activated dubbed nongenomic steroid
effects. Nongenomic effects are rapid, do not require protein synthesis and can be elicited
by steroids coupled to high-molecular weight molecules that cannot cross the cell
membrane. The nongenomic effects of sex steroids in the mammalian reproductive tract is
not well characterised. This project will focus on the nongenomic effect of steroids
hormones and commonly found steroid like environmental pollutants and how they effect
tract biology. The focus will be on cellular structure function dynamics of calcium signaling
and potassium and chloride ion channel function which are key elements in normal
reproductive function. As a model pollutant we will employ Bisphenol-A (BPA), one of the
highest volume chemicals produced worldwide. Biochemical assays have shown BPA can
bind estrogen receptors both ERα and ERβ. Until recently, it was considered a weak
environmental estrogen. BPA has been shown to be capable of nongenomic steroid actions
and it is now widely accepted that BPA not only has the efficacy of estradiol but is also
equally potent regarding several of its effects. This study will explore the effect of BPA on
endometrial function in a humans with implications for fertility and human cancers.
Keywords
uterus, oviduct, steroids, endocrinology, fertility, environment.
Unique selling points of PhD project in NUI Galway:
This project is a collaboration between the Cellular Physiology group and the Anatomy
research group under the directorship of Prof. Peter Dockery. The discipline of anatomy
houses the center for microscopy a core node in the pan European Biophotonics platform.
The researcher will have access to state of the art imaging platforms for real time 4D
imaging down to the molecular level.
The candidate will have the opportunity to join a rapidly developing team of scientists in the
area of structural and cellular reproductive biology.
Name & contact details for project queries, if different from PI named above:
As above
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Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
Please indicate the graduates of which disciplines that should apply:
The ideal candidate would have a Bachelor’s degree in biomedical science or a related
subject. A Master’s degree would be a distinct advantage.
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
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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):
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Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
Suitable only as a Full PhD (Y/N): Y _
Available to candidates seeking a Sandwich PhD arrangement (Y/N): N _____