University of Nottingham – NERC Envision DTP PhD Studentship
Supervisor 1: Jan Bradley
Supervisor 2: Andrew MacColl
Application deadline: 15th January 2015
Causes and consequences of Immune variation in rodents
"The norm is to be exposed to a wide range of infectious organisms and most wild animals are infected
with a wide range of parasites. Yet in modern societies we humans are infected with relatively few
parasites and as a consequence the hygiene hypothesis suggests we are developing autoimmune diseases
and allergies. Laboratory mice are excellent organisms for studying the immune consequences of
infection under defined conditions but studies are usually on single infections using inbred mice. In
natural systems however animals (and humans) are exposed to many different infections and
environmental influences that shape our immune system. Arguably naturally infected wild provide a
better study system to test the hygiene hypothesis.”
This PhD will be integrated into a multi-institutional NERC-funded project
(Liverpool/Nottingham/Aberystwyth universities) on immunodynamics in natural rodent populations. The
work, using the Kielder field voles model (Parasitology 141: 997-1017), will combine high throughput RTPCR analysis of gene expression (Molecular Ecology 20: 893-909) with large-scale manipulative field
experiments.
The aim of this PhD is to examine the effects of diet and gut infections on the balance of the gut flora in
voles and how this relates to the immune phenotype and the fitness of these populations in their natural
environment.
Funding Notes: This project is funded through the NERC Envision Doctoral Training Programme
http://www.envision-dtp.org/portal/projects/ . Interested students from the UK or EU, who have or
are expected to obtain at least a 2:1 degree in a relevant subject, should contact Prof Jan Bradley
Jan.bradley@nottingham.ac.uk for an informal discussion about the project. Applications should be
made via the Envision project portal http://www.envision-dtp.org/portal/.