Skip to main content
What types of page to search?

Popular pages: Undergraduate Postgraduate PhD Accommodation Research International students

Alternatively use our A-Z index.

(BBSRC NWD) Probing Drosophila Growth and Patterns Across Temperature Changes

Funding
Funded
Study mode
Full-time
Apply by
Start date
Subject area
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
How to apply
Change country or region

We’re currently showing entry requirements and other information for applicants with qualifications from United Kingdom.

Please select from our list of commonly chosen countries below or choose your own.

If your country or region isn’t listed here, please contact us with any questions about studying with us.

Overview

Scaling explains how the machinery that controls animal pattern formation can adapt so that individuals of different sizes show proportioned morphological structures: the same developmental machinery can build the leg of a mouse or an elephant. In this context, animal environments play a key role defining animal proportionalities and organ patterns. However, the mechanisms by which changing environments modulate animal patterns are elusive. On the other hand, how animals cope with temperature changes during growth, remains largely unexplored. Here, we propose to study how temperature regulates organismal growth and proportionalities, by employing a multidisciplinary experimental pipeline in Drosophila.

About this opportunity

We will explore temperature responses during development and organ growth in Drosophila melanogaster, an excellent system to analyse organismal patterns and growth. We expect to address these three key issues:

  1. Characterisation of the growth factors and signalling patterns, across different temperatures in developmental and adulthood.
  2. Single-cell morphological and gene expression analyses across different temperatures.
  3. Interplay between temperature and tissue-specific growth/death regulation.

Methods and Plan of work

Until now, studies on morphological changes and animal patterns across different temperatures remain largely descriptive and unexplored. In this NWD project, we aim to understand the mechanistic bases of organismal growth and patterns across temperatures. Furthermore, this project engages a set of state-of-the-art techniques in cell biology, imaging and molecular genetics, which we have already developed (unpublished):

  • Advanced microscopy – will show the tissue and cell-specific changes (expression and pattern) associated with temperature. These experiments will be performed using fixed tissue samples as well as long term live imaging. (MM + HA)
  • Biochemistry and Proteomics – will be used to analyse key proteins and molecular interactions regulating size and shape at different temperatures. (MM + HA)
  • Preclinical Imaging Techniques – To measure across temperatures: growth, patterning and associated phenotypes. (MM + HP)

Further reading

1. Azot Expression in the Drosophila gut Modulates Organismal Lifespan. Communicative & Integrative Biology. (2022). 16(1), 2156735.
2. To Fit or not to Fit: death decisions from Morphogen Fields. Trends in Cell Biology. (2022). S0962-8924(22)00213-6.
3. A role for Flower and cell death in controlling morphogen gradient scaling. Nature Cell Biology (2022) 24:424.
4. Elimination of Unfit Cells Maintains Tissue Health and Prolongs Lifespan. Cell (2015) 160(3):461-76.
5. “Fitness fingerprints” mediate physiological culling of unwanted neurons in Drosophila. Current Biology (2013) 23(14):1300-9.

Back to top

Who is this for?

Applicants must have obtained or be about to obtain a minimum Upper Second class UK honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in an appropriate area of science, engineering or technology.

International applicants

We are only able to offer a limited number of full studentships to applicants outside the UK. Therefore, full studentships will only be awarded to exceptional quality international candidates due to the competitive nature of this scheme.

International applicants must ensure they meet the academic eligibility criteria (including English language) before applying. Visit our English Language requirements page to find out more.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Equality, diversity and inclusion is fundamental to the success of The University of Liverpool, and is at the heart of all of our activities. The full equality, diversity and inclusion statement can be found on our website

Back to top

How to apply

  1. 1. Contact supervisors

    Supervisory Team

    MM= Marisa Merino – Primary Supervisor.

    https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/people/marisa-merino

    HP= Harish Poptani – Co-supervisor.

    https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/people/harish-poptani

    HA= Hilary Ashe – Co-supervisor.

    https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/persons/hilary.ashe

    MM is a developmental biologist expert in genetics and quantitative biology, focused on the mechanisms of competition, organ scaling and growth. The NWD – doctoral student will join a multidisciplinary team of young researchers. The NWD – doctoral student will be trained on the required experimental techniques and intellectual skills. He/she will meet the PI at least once per week and once per month the supervisory team (MM, HP, HA) to brainstorm and discuss new research avenues. Every member of the lab presents in the weekly lab-meeting, and paper discussion activities (e.g. journal clubs) are organised. MM maintains an open-door policy and aims to lead by example.

    The Supervisory Team (MM, HP, HA) completed the University EDIW courses: including mental health, project supervisor and EDWI. Moreover, MM is an active member of the EDI and Wellbeing committee for the Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology.

  2. 2. Prepare your application documents

    Browse our BBSRC NWD in Bioscience projects and discover one you’re passionate about that matches your interests, ambitions and goals.

    Applicants must make direct contact with preferred supervisors before applying. It is your responsibility to make arrangements to meet with potential supervisors, prior to submitting a formal online application.

    How to Apply

    All applications should be submitted through the University of Manchester application portal.

    Apply directly via this link, and select BBSRC DTP PhD as the programme of study. You may apply for up to two projects from the programme via this scheme. To do so, submit a single online application listing both project titles and the names of both main supervisors in the relevant sections.

    Please ensure that your application includes all required supporting documents:

    • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
    • Supporting Statement
    • Academic Certificates and Transcripts

    Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

    Applications should not be made through the University of Liverpool’s application portal.

    You must submit your application form along with the required supporting documents by the deadline date. You can select up to two projects on one single application, noting the title of each project from the advert and the supervisor name. This can include two projects from one institution or a project from each institution.

    Once you have completed your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email.

    Deadline: Sunday 7th December, midnight (UK time)

    Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

    If you need help with this stage of the process, or have any queries regarding your eligibility (such as if you achieved unexpectedly low degree results due to extenuating circumstances), please contact the Liverpool BBSRC team for advice at 

  3. 3. Apply

    Finally, register and apply online. You'll receive an email acknowledgment once you've submitted your application. We'll be in touch with further details about what happens next.

    Once you have applied through the University of Manchester portal, and if you are successfully offered a studentship following a formal interview, you will be instructed to apply formally through the University of Liverpool. You must only do this once you have been instructed to do so.

Back to top

Funding your PhD

These studentships are available to UK and international applicants, and provide funding for tuition fees and stipend at the UKRI rate, subject to eligibility, for four years. This does not include any costs associated with relocation. This scheme is open to both UK and international applicants.

Back to top

Contact us

Have a question about this research opportunity or studying a PhD with us? Please get in touch with us, using the contact details below, and we’ll be happy to assist you.

Liverpool BBSRC team
Back to top