Neuropeptides have fundamental roles in regulating physiological and behavioural processes in humans and other animals and neuropeptide receptors are known or potential novel targets for therapeutic drugs. The primary aim of research in the Elphick group at QMUL is to discover missing links in our knowledge of neuropeptide evolution and function (Elphick et al., 2018; https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.151092). To accomplish this, we use echinoderms (e.g. starfish) as experimental systems because these animals are more closely related to vertebrates than the majority of invertebrates and accordingly our research is providing novel insights into neuropeptide evolution and function. For example, in 2022 a CSC-funded PhD student shed light on the evolutionary history of somatostatin/allatostatin-C-type neuropeptide signalling (10.1073/pnas.2113589119) and in 2024 we reported the discovery of the first neuropeptide to be identified as a regulator of autotomy in animals (10.1016/j.cub.2024.08.003).
The aim of this PhD project will be to use a variety of computational and experimental methods to investigate the evolution and/or function of neuropeptide signalling systems using the starfish Asterias rubens as a model system. For example, the project could identify novel neuropeptides that act as ligands for ‘orphan’ receptors in A. rubens and/or discover how ‘cocktails’ of neuropeptides act as regulators of diverse physiological/behavioural processes (e.g. autotomy, feeding, reproduction).
The Elphick group currently comprises an international team of postdocs and PhD students from several countries, including the UK, China, Mexico and Bangladesh. Training in a wide-range of research techniques will be provided, including bioinformatics, genomics, transcriptomics, peptidomics, molecular histology, in vitro and in vivo pharmacology and behavioural studies. Personalised training in writing and communication skills will be provided, complemented with generic transferable skills training from QMUL.
Find out more about the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences on our website.
We are looking for candidates to have or expecting to receive a first or upper-second class honours degree and a Master’s degree in an area relevant to the project such as Biology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Marine Biology, Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Physiology, Zoology etc.
Knowledge of one or more of following areas of life sciences and associated research techniques would be advantageous: molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, genomics, bioinformatics, animal physiology, zoology, pharmacology.
You must meet the IELTS requirements for your course and upload evidence before CSC’s application deadline, ideally by 1st March 2025. You are therefore strongly advised to sit an approved English Language test as soon as possible, where your IELTS test must still be valid when you enrol for the programme.
Please find further details on our English Language requirements page.
Formal applications must be submitted through our online form by 29th January 2025 for consideration. Please identify yourself as a ‘CSC Scholar’ in the funding section of the application.
Applicants are required to submit the following documents:
Find out more about our application process on our SBBS website.
Informal enquiries about the project can be sent to Prof Maurice Elphick AT m.r.elphick@qmul.ac.uk Admissions-related queries can be sent to sbbs-pgadmissions@qmul.ac.uk
Shortlisted applicants will be invited for a formal interview by the supervisor. If you are successful in your QMUL 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 with the support of the supervisor.
For further information, please go to the QMUL China Scholarship Council webpage.
Apply Online