GDSC PhD Programme in Cancer Research and DNA Damage Responses
The Genome Damage and Stability Centre offers 3.5 year MRC-funded studentships in the following research areas:
Cancer research
Human genetic disease
DNA repair mechanisms
Cell cycle control
Cell division
Chromatin organisation
Meiosis
Telomere Biology
Location
The Genome Damage and Stability Centre is an internationally recognised research centre investigating DNA damage responses and the relationship of these to cancer and human genetic disease. It is located in purpose-built state of the art laboratories at the University of Sussex. It is part of and has strong links with the School of Life Sciences (LifeSci), particularly the Biochemistry department, and makes use of the expertise and facilities of the Centre for Advanced Microscopy (SCAM) and the Proteomics Facility.
The University of Sussex is a campus university, situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty near the seaside city of Brighton and Hove. It is has easy access to the Downs, the coast and the vibrant social life in Brighton and good rail links to London and Gatwick airport.
Research Interests
The GDSC currently houses 15 research groups, all focussed on different aspects of DNA damage responses and genome instability.
Alan Lehmann, Penny Jeggo, Keith Caldecott, Sharif El Khamisy, Mark O'Driscoll and Helfrid Hochegger are molecular and cell biologists studying DNA repair processes, cell cycle control and the replication of damaged DNA in human and other vertebrate cells. They have discovered deficiencies in these processes in several human genetic disorders and are attempting to relate the molecular defects to the clinical features of these disorders.
Tony Carr, Felicity Watts and Jo Murray are yeast molecular geneticists, who use the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe as a model system to understand DNA damage responses in eukaryotic cells. They are investigating cell cycle checkpoints that are triggered by DNA damage and the effects of DNA damage on DNA replication. Jessica Downs, Eva Hoffman, Matt Neale and Alessandro Bianchi use the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model system to study chromatin remodelling, the regulation of double strand break formation in meiosis, and role of telomeres in the regulation of the telomerase enzyme and the preservation of genome stability.
Aidan Doherty is a protein biochemist, studying biochemical, cellular and structural properties of multiprotein systems involved in DNA repair and Anthony Chalmers who is an MRC Clinical Sciences Fellow, developing inhibitors of DNA repair for use in cancer therapy.
Environment
The GDSC attracts postdocs and students from all over the world and aims to provide a collaborative and collegial environment to support the career development of both pre- and post-doctoral scientists. The GDSC focuses on investigating DNA damage responses and the relationship of these to cancer and human disease and so has a concentration of relevant expertise and technologies for cancer research. We aim to provide a stimulating scientific environment to train students in the broad aspects of cancer biology. Inter lab communication is positively encouraged. Shared write-up facilities, open plan laboratories and joint lab meetings and journal clubs facilitate communication between groups. Thus on a scientific and day-to-day basis students have good opportunities to mix with other students and post-doctoral researchers working on related topics.
We also aim to provide a caring and supportive atmosphere to ensure that postdocs and students from all over the world enjoy working at the GDSC. In addition to mentoring and general support we have weekly informal social events.