School of Life Sciences, Arthritis Research UK Centre for Sport, Exercise and Osteoarthritis,
University of Nottingham
Two 3 year PhD studentships
Applications are invited for two full-time PhD studentships available in the School of Life Sciences, each
for a 3 year PhD, open to Home and EU students. The PhD studentship will cover the cost of tuition
fees at the Home/EU rate. The successful applicants will commence as soon as possible.
We are pleased to be able to offer this exciting opportunity to work within the newly formed Arthritis
Research UK Centre for Sport, Exercise and Osteoarthritis. This Centre is a unique collaboration of
seven Universities (Nottingham, Oxford, Loughborough, Leeds, Bath, Southampton and UCL) as well as
Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust working towards a better understanding of mechanisms
relating sport, exercise, injury and osteoarthritis (OA). The investigating multi disciplinary team
includes specialists in orthopaedics, rheumatology, sport and exercise medicine, physiotherapy,
podiatry, epidemiology, occupational therapy, nutrition, sports science, skeletal muscle biology, bone
and cartilage biology, psychology, physiology and biomechanics.
Studentship: the time-course of development of muscle wasting and insulin resistance in
OA.
Using two established models of OA in the rat, this project will determine molecular events that
precede pathophysiological changes linked to wasting and insulin resistance in muscle and tendon and
will enable the hypothesis that pathological events are co-regulated by common molecular pathways to
be tested. The successful applicant will then investigate the effects of anabolic pharmacological
interventions and/or insulin sensitising agents on OA-induced muscle wasting and insulin resistance,
and the mechanistic regulation of these processes in these models of OA.
Informal enquiries may be addressed to Professor Paul Greenhaff (paul.greenhaff@nottingham.ac.uk)
and Professor Vicky Chapman (victoria.chapman@nottingham.ac.uk).
Studentship: Inactivity/immobilisation, remobilisation and exercise training.
Current evidence is inadequate to understand the precise contribution of sedentary behaviour to
musculoskeletal decline as we age. Inactivity results in the loss of muscle mass and strength and
development of muscle insulin resistance. Importantly, the loss of muscle strength with inactivity is far
greater than the loss of muscle mass. Several lines of evidence point to putative negative effects of
age and inactivity (and/or a combination of both) on brain activation, corticospinal excitability and
motor unit recruitment. Similarly, the negative impact of inactivity on muscle insulin sensitivity
appears to be a muscle centric phenomenon, but the specific mechanisms responsible are unresolved.
The successful applicant will examine these phenomena using interdisciplinary approaches to to
neuromuscular and metabolic changes to immobilisation and/or periods of sedentary behaviour in
young and older volunteers.
This is an excellent research opportunity. Applicants must have a minimum of UK 2.1 honours degree
(or equivalent) in a relevant subject area and be highly numerate. A relevant Masters qualification is
desirable but not essential. This project will require strong wet lab analytical skills and statistical
analyses experience/ability would be an advantage.
This fully funded studentship is available immediately for a period of three years and will provide a
stipend of £13,863 per annum.
Informal enquiries may be addressed to Professor Paul Greenhaff (paul.greenhaff@nottingham.ac.uk)
and Dr Francis Stephens (francis.stephens@nottingham.ac.uk)
Applications with a covering letter, a detailed CV, the names, addresses and contact details of
two/three referees, should be sent via e-mail to sarah.marshall@nottingham.ac.uk
Closing date for applications: This studentship is open to applications until the vacancy is filled, but
interested candidates should apply early and may be shortlisted for interview (interview date to be
arranged)