The School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences at Queen Mary is one of the UK’s elite research centres, according to the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF). We offer a multi-disciplinary research environment and have approximately 180 PhD students working on projects in the biological and psychological sciences. Our students have access to a variety of research facilities supported by experienced staff, as well as a range of student support services.
The successful applicant will enter a vibrant research environment, under the supervision of Dr John H Viles. The lab is well equipped to carry out all the biophysical measurements outlined with excellent facilities, including cryo-EM. Dr Viles has an outstanding track record in PhD student supervision; all past PhD students have submitted in four years and have generated high impact first author publications. The lab is well funded with a recent project grant funded by the BBSRC.
Dr John H. Viles is an Associated Professor in Biochemistry. For details see: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/sbbs/staff/johnviles.html
Our PhD students become part of Queen Mary’s Doctoral College which provides training and development opportunities, advice on funding, and financial support for research. Our students also have access to a Researcher Development Programme designed to help recognise and develop key skills and attributes needed to effectively manage research, and to prepare and plan for the next stages of their career.
The PhD student will use and gain expertise in a range of imaging, biophysical and spectroscopic techniques (cryo-EM, Florescence, CD, NMR, AFM). The neurotoxic action of Aβ oligomers will be studied using a range of approaches, including; cellular membrane permeability; cell viability and ion channel conductance.
Background: Worldwide Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. The disease is characterised by the accumulation of a small neuro-toxic peptide, amyloid-beta (Aβ) which forms fibrous plaques within the brain.
The early stages of the amyloid cascade are characterised by the self- association of Aβ peptide into toxic oligomers and protofibrils, which then convert to mature amyloid fibrils.
Although the link between amyloid-beta peptide and Alzheimer’s disease is clear, the nature of the toxic form of Aβ and the mechanism of toxicity is not well understood.
Objectives: You will investigate the fundamental process of Aβ misfolding and self- association of Aβ peptide along with its interaction with lipid membranes. Using a range of imaging, biophysical and spectroscopic techniques (cryoEM, Florescence, CD, NMR, AFM) to probe the structure and assembly of Aβ and its interaction with lipid bilayers. The neurotoxic action of Aβ oligomers will be studied using a range of approaches to investigate cellular membrane permeability.
This studentship is open to students applying for China Scholarship Council funding. Queen Mary University of London has partnered with the China Scholarship Council (CSC) to offer a joint scholarship programme to enable Chinese students to study for a PhD programme at Queen Mary. Under the scheme, Queen Mary will provide scholarships to cover all tuition fees, whilst the CSC will provide living expenses for 4 years and one return flight ticket to successful applicants.
Applicants must be:- Chinese students with a strong academic background.- Students holding a PR Chinese passport.- Either be resident in China at the time of application or studying overseas.- Students with prior experience of studying overseas (including in the UK) are eligible to apply. Chinese QMUL graduates/Masters’ students are therefore eligible for the scheme.Please refer to the CSC website for full details on eligibility and conditions on the scholarship.
Applicants from outside of the UK are required to provide evidence of their English Language ability. Please see our English Language requirements page for details: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/international-students/englishlanguagerequirements/postgraduateresearch/
Informal enquiries about the project can be sent to Dr John H Viles at j.viles@qmul.ac.uk
Formal applications must be submitted through our online form by 31st January 2024 for consideration, including a CV, personal statement and qualifications. You must meet the IELTS/ English Language requirements for your course and submit all required documentation (including evidence of English Language) by 14th March 2024. You are therefore strongly advised to sit an approved English Language test as soon as possible.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited for a formal interview by the supervisor. If you are successful in your application, then you will be issued an QMUL Offer Letter, conditional on securing a CSC scholarship along with academic conditions still required to meet our entry requirements. Once applicants have obtained their QMUL Offer Letter, they should then apply to CSC for the scholarship by in March 2024 with the support of the supervisor.
Only applicants who are successful in their application to CSC can be issued an unconditional offer and enrol on our PhD programme. For further information, please go to: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/scholarships/items/china-scholarship-council-scholarships.html
Apply Online
[1] Imaging Amyloid‐β Membrane Interactions: Ion‐Channel Pores and Lipid‐Bilayer Permeability in Alzheimer's Disease JH Viles (2023) Angewandte Chemie e202215785
[2] pH Dependence of Amyloid‐β Fibril Assembly Kinetics: Unravelling the Microscopic Molecular Processes Y Tian, JH Viles (2022) Angewandte Chemie.
[3] 3D-visualization of amyloid-β oligomer interactions with lipid membranes by cryo-electron tomography Y Tian, R Liang, A Kumar, P Szwedziak, JH Viles (2021) Chemical science 12, 6896-6907.
[4] Aβ oligomers have a profound detergent-like effect on lipid membrane bilayers, imaged by AFM. DC Bode, M Freeley, J Nield, M Palma, JH Viles (2019) J of Biol Chem, 294 (19), 7566-7572.