PhD Project: Elucidating epigenetic programs governing stress induced senescence (SISP) in melanocytes across ethnic groups - 2024/25

PhD Project: Elucidating epigenetic programs governing stress induced senescence (SISP) in melanocytes across ethnic groups

• Study level: Postgraduate Research
• Academic entry year: 2024/25
• Apply by 09-Jan-2024
• Attendance of study: full-time, part-time
• Available to: prospective students
• This scholarship or bursary is only available to one successful applicant.

Find out how to apply

Project Overview

Skin ageing is induced by intrinsic (replicative stress due to ageing) and extrinsic pathways e.g., exposure to environmental insults including UV radiation and oxidative stress. Cellular senescence, a process of irreversible growth arrest is a hallmark of ageing. Epidermal melanocytes protect skin from damaging UV radiation by synthesis and transfer of melanin to adjacent epidermal keratinocytes. The concentration of epidermal melanin in melanosomes commands the most significant difference between Caucasians and people of colour. Although higher melanin content confers protection from damaging effects of UV radiation, chronic photo exposure still exacerbates ageing in ethnic skin.

Whilst the role of senescent fibroblasts in skin photo-ageing is well documented, the significance of epidermal melanocyte senescence is still in its infancy. Recent evidence suggests senescent melanocytes accumulate with age, impacting skin ageing by reducing proliferation of surrounding cells. While we know some of the molecular mechanisms governing melanocyte senescence, our knowledge is limited to melanocytes of Caucasian skin. As ethnic skin encompasses a major percentage of the world population, a more comprehensive understanding of the role of melanocyte senescence between ethnicities is needed to combat skin ageing.

Melanocytes, unlike other skin cells, are derived from a transient neuronal stem cell population during development and rarely proliferate during adult life. Aged skin has reduced numbers of melanocytes, although there can be an increased density in UV exposed areas, causing wrinkles, uneven pigmentation, and lentigines. Darkly pigmented skin is more vulnerable to dyspigmentation, therefore, both hypopigmentation and hyperpigmentation are common signs of photoaging in ethnic skin.

Epigenetic signalling leading to changes in gene expression without modifying the genetic code is speculated to be involved in driving cell and stimulus specific senescence programming. Our recent work has highlighted that maintaining an active epigenetic and pigmentation (melanogenesis) programme prevents premature senescence in mouse melanocytes. This fits well within existing literature where dysfunctional epigenetic signalling through loss of key enzymes e.g., acetyl transferase (activates gene expression) and increased activity of histone deacetylase (inhibits gene expression), can trigger melanocyte senescence. Given that epigenetics dictates individual variation in gene programs, we hypothesise that epigenetic signalling differentially regulates stimulus dependent senescence in melanocytes in different skin types with age.   

The overall aim of this project will be to establish molecular and epigenetic differences in stress induced senescence programmes with ageing. Key regulatory elements and genes common/unique to melanocytes from different skin phototypes will be identified. This will be fundamental for developing better intervention strategies for healthy skin ageing tailored to different skin ethnicity. 

The prospective student will be part of the Centre for Skin Sciences (https://www.bradford.ac.uk/css/), Faculty of Life Sciences at University of Bradford with state-of-the-art facilities (e.g., fluorescence microscope, histology suite, etc.) to conduct high quality research. The student will be also become a member of our widening PGR community and gain access to specialized training opportunities (soft skills, academic mentoring etc) as part of the UoB PGR framework. 

Applicable courses

PhD in Chemistry and Biosciences

Eligibility

Applicants are expected to hold (or be about to obtain) a minimum upper second class undergraduate honours degree (or equivalent) in biosciences including Biochemistry, Biology, Biomedical Sciences or related discipline. A Masters degree in a relevant subject and/or experience in laboratory-based research are also desirable. 

In addition to the academic requirements for the project the following skills and behaviours would be advantageous:

• A curiosity to expand your knowledge of business practices and how research insights can be translated into consumer applications

• An appreciation of the benefits of stakeholder management

• The ability to tailor information to the needs of different audiences

View eligible countries

• Afghanistan
• Aland Islands
• Albania
• Algeria
• American Samoa
• Andorra
• Angola
• Anguilla
• Antigua & Barbuda
• Antilles (Netherlands)
• Argentina
• Armenia
• Aruba
• Australia
• Austria
• Azerbaijani Republic, The
• Bahamas, The
• Bahrain
• Bangladesh
• Barbados
• Belarus
• Belgium
• Belize
• Benin
• Bermuda
• Bhutan
• Bolivia
• Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
• Botswana
• Bouvet Island
• Brazil
• British Antarctic Territories
• British Indian Ocean Territory
• British Virgin Islands
• Brunei Darussalam
• Burkina Faso; Also Upper Volta
• Bulgaria
• Burundi
• Myanmar
• Cameroon
• Canada
• Cape Verde Islands
• Cayman Islands
• Canary Islands
• Central African Republic
• Chad
• Channel Islands, not elsewhere specified
• Chile
• China
• Christmas Island
• Cocos (Keeling) Islands
• Colombia
• Comoros
• Congo (Peoples Republic)
• Congo, Democratic Republic
• Cook Islands
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Cuba
• Cura
• Cyprus (European Union)
• Cyprus (Non-European Union)
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Djibouti
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• Timor Leste (East Timor)
• Ecuador
• Egypt, United Arab Republic of
• El Salvador
• England
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Estonia
• Ethiopia
• Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
• Faroe Islands
• Fiji
• Finland
• France
• French Guiana
• French Polynesia
• Gabon
• Gambia, The Republic of The
• Georgia
• Germany
• Ghana
• Gibraltar
• Greece
• Greenland
• Grenada
• Guadeloupe
• Guam
• Guatemala
• Guernsey
• Guinea
• Guinea Bissau
• Guyana
• Haiti
• Honduras
• Hong Kong
• Hungary
• Iceland
• India
• Indonesia
• Iran
• Iraq
• Ireland, the Republic of
• Isle of Man (The)
• Israel
• Italy
• Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Jersey
• Jordan
• Cambodia
• Kazakhstan
• Kenya
• Kiribati (The Gilbert Islands)
• Korea (North), Democratic Peoples Republic of
• Korea (South), Republic of
• Kosovo
• Kuwait
• Kyrgyzstan
• Laos People's Democratic Republic
• Latvia
• Lebanon
• Lesotho
• Liberia
• Libya
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Macao (Special Administrative Region of China)
• Macedonia
• Madagascar
• Malawi
• Malaysia
• Maldive Islands
• Mali
• Malta
• Martinique
• Mauritania
• Mauritius
• Mayotte (French Territorial Collectivity)
• Mexico
• Moldova, Republic of
• Monaco
• Mongolia
• Montenegro
• Montserrat
• Morocco
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Nauru
• Nepal
• Netherlands
• New Caledonia, also French Overseas Territori
• New Zealand
• Nicaragua
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Niue
• Norfolk Island
• Northern Ireland
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Norway
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Palau
• Palestine; West Bank; Gaza Strip inc E Jerusa
• Panama
• Papua New Guinea
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Philippines
• Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oenno Islands
• Poland
• Portugal
• Puerto Rico
• Qatar
• Reunion
• Romania
• Russia
• Rwanda
• Samoa, Independent State of
• San Marino
• Sao Tome & Principe
• Saudi Arabia
• Scotland
• Senegal
• Serbia
• Seychelles
• Sierra Leone
• Singapore
• Sint Maarten (Dutch part)
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Solomon Islands
• Somalia
• South Africa
• South Sudan
• Spain
• Sri Lanka
• St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
• St Pierre and Miquelon
• St.Kitts and Nevis
• St.Lucia
• St.Vincent and the Grenadines
• Sudan
• Suriname
• Svalbard and Jan Mayen
• Swaziland
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Syrian Arab Republic
• Taiwan
• Tajikistan
• Tanzania, United Republic of
• Thailand
• Togo
• Tokelau
• Tonga
• Trinidad & Tobago
• Tunisia
• Türkiye
• Turkmenistan
• Turks & Caicos Islands
• Tuvalu
• Uganda
• Ukraine
• United Arab Emirates
• United States of America
• United States Virgin Islands
• Uruguay
• Uzbekistan
• Vanuatu
• Vatican City, Holy See Vatican City State
• Venezuela
• Vietnam
• Wales
• Wallis and Futuna
• Western Sahara
• Windward Islands (not otherwise specified)
• Yemen, Republic of
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

Payment amount & frequency

Successful candidates will be awarded a studentship which covers full Home tuition fees, pays a monthly stipend at UKRI rates (£19,162 per year in 2024/25), and project costs.

Applications are invited from both UK and non-UK residents. However, please be aware that if you are a non-UK applicant, the BBSRC requirements cap the number of PhDs that can be filled by non-UK residents at 30% per academic year.

How to apply

There are three steps required to apply:

Applicants will need to complete this short (anonymous) survey

You will then need to complete this additional form here

Finally, Applicants will need to submit a formal application to the University of Bradford  

Further information about this scholarship

For informal enquiries - please contact Dr Karthic Swaminathan ([email protected] )