PhD in Cell and Organismal Biology

University of Leeds

A research degree in the Faculty of Biological Sciences is an opportunity to gain and develop skills as an independent researcher in your chosen field. Under the supervision of your lead supervisor and one or more co-supervisors, you will get the chance to carry out cutting-edge research on a particular biological problem and to become part of a large research community using multi-disciplinary approaches to tackle today’s important research questions. Throughout your PhD you will not only strengthen your research skills and knowledge within your research area but also develop skills through our training programmes as well as through attendance as seminars and conferences.Our cell biology research aims at determining the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying both normal cell functions and how they become dysfunctional in diseased cells and organisms. In particular our research pursues a detailed understanding of the structure and function of cellular components such as membranes, organelles and the cytoskeleton as well as cellular processes including protein folding and degradation pathways, stress response mechanisms, gene regulation and protein targeting and secretion in health and disease. These themes are addressed in model systems as diverse as mammalian cells in culture, plants, worms and fruit flies. Our studies exploit techniques ranging from molecular biology, functional genomics and advanced imaging techniques including Confocal and Super-resolution Microscopy and Cryo-Electron Microscopy.