Cancer Research UK Studentship: Centrosomes, Microtubules and Cancer
The CRUK Cambridge Institute is a joint venture between Cancer Research UK and the University of
Cambridge. It opened in 2007 and has excellent state-of-the-art facilities. Research ranges from basic
cancer biology and computational biology through to translational research and clinical application.
Our graduate students play a pivotal role in the continuing success of our research programme and
gaining a studentship in the Institute is an excellent opportunity to start a research career in an
environment committed to training outstanding cancer research scientists of the future.
We seek a highly motivated and talented student to enter our PhD programme in October 2013. All
of our students gain their degrees from the University of Cambridge and have access to the wide
range of talks and courses to be found across the University.
PhD Supervisor: Dr Fanni Gergely
Title of Project: The role of the centrosome in genome stability
Application deadline: 24 April 2013
Funding Availability: Cancer Research UK Studentship, which includes full funding for University and
College fees and in addition, a stipend of £19,000 per annum. This is open to all nationalities, no
restrictions apply.
Applications are invited from recent graduates or final year undergraduates who hold or expect to
gain a first/upper second class degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject from any recognised
university worldwide.
For informal enquiries and further information, please contact fanni.gergely@cruk.cam.ac.uk
All living things are composed of cells that multiply through cell divisions. Normal divisions require
precise DNA replication followed by faithful transmission of the replicated chromosomes into two
daughter cells. Inheriting too many or too few chromosomes disrupts the normal physiology of cells.
Indeed, cancer cells often display whole chromosome gains and losses, a sign that chromosomes are
not equally shared between the daughter cells. Correct chromosome segregation above all requires a
functional mitotic spindle.
Mitotic spindles are bipolar structures built primarily of microtubules. Spindle microtubules focus at
the centrosome, a proteinaceous organelle located at the spindle poles. A tightly controlled
duplication cycle ensures the production of two functional centrosomes by mitotic onset, hence
facilitating bipolar mitotic spindle assembly. Cancer cells exhibit a range of centrosome abnormalities,
but how and why these arise is not well understood. Furthermore, mutations in centrosomal genes
have been linked to congenital neurodevelopmental disorders.
The interest of our laboratory is to elucidate the link between centrosome dysfunction and disease.
The project will include the use of cell and molecular biological techniques to study consequences of
centrosome abnormalities in genetically tractable cell lines and in vivo models.
References:
1.
Sir JH, Barr AR, Nicholas AK, Carvalho OP, Khurshid M, Sossick A, Reichelt S, D'Santos C,
Woods CG, Gergely F. A primary microcephaly protein complex forms a ring around parental
centrioles. Nat Genet. 2011 Oct 9;43(11):1147-53.
2.
Barr AR, Kilmartin JV, Gergely F. CDK5RAP2 functions in centrosome to spindle pole
attachment and DNA damage response. J Cell Biol. 2010 Apr 5; 189(1):23-39.
3.
Zyss, D and Gergely, F. Centrosome function in cancer: guilty or innocent? Trends in Cell Biol
2009. Jul;19(7):334-46.
4.
Nigg EA and Stearns T. The centrosome cycle: Centriole biogenesis, duplication and inherent
asymmetries. Nat Cell Biol. 2011 Oct 3;13(10):1154-60.
Applications
To apply, please send a single pdf document named (your) LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME.pdf to
fanni.gergely@cruk.cam.ac.uk
Document contents: your covering letter and your academic CV, containing the names and contact
details of two academic referees to fanni.gergely@cruk.cam.ac.uk