Applications are invited for a 4-year PhD Studentship in the lab of Dr Claire Senner in the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience commencing October 2025.
Project description:
Early mammalian development is underpinned by a series of cell state transitions as multiple lineages form with distinct transcriptional programmes. There is accumulating evidence that post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms play a key role in these developmental transitions. Currently this is an understudied facet of developmental biology, but several publications have reported embryonic lethality with an embryonic or placental phenotype in mice where an RNA binding protein or decay factor has been knocked out. However, detailed phenotyping and in-depth molecular analysis is lacking in most of these examples.
The aim of this PhD project is to use embryonic and trophoblast stem cell lines, as well as in vivo models, to understand changes in RNA stability during normal differentiation events and understand the consequences of disruption of RNA processing or decay pathways. In this way we will be able to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying lineage formation defects and embryonic lethality in this context.
Methods: cell culture, RNA-seq, transcriptomic analysis, CRISPR gene editing, western blotting, histology, immunofluorescence.
College information:
Jointly funded by the Royal Society and Wolfson College. The successful applicant will become a member of Wolfson College which offers a lively and welcoming home to a diverse and cosmopolitan community of postgraduate and older (21+) undergraduate students. Wolfson offers all of its PhD students at least two years' housing in reasonably priced student accommodation. First year accommodation is not guaranteed but is usually available to new students who meet all their offer conditions by 31 July (and often thereafter). Detailed information is available https://www.wolfson.cam.ac.uk/accommodation.
Full details of the University's entrance requirements and scholarships are specified in the following link: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/.
Funding
Full funding covering Maintenance at the Royal Society stipend rate (Yr 1 £20,034) and the University Composition Fee at the Home UK rate (2025-26 £10,356) is provided for the studentship, with effect from 1 October 2025.
The PhD studentship stipend and fees will be reviewed annually. The value of the studentship may be varied by the Royal Society during the lifetime of the studentship.
Application Process
To apply please visit: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/blpdpdpdn and click 'Apply Now' selecting the following course:
- PhD in Physiology, Development & Neuroscience (Full-time)
- Start Date: 1st October 2025
- Project Supervisor: Dr Claire Senner
- Project Title: RNA stability in Mammalian Development
- Research Proposal: Please add the project description listed above.
Applications should include:
- Two academic references
- Transcript
- CV/resume
- Evidence of competence in English (If required - you can check using our tool)
- Statement of Interest outlining your suitability, why you are interested in a PhD in this area, your background and research interests.
- School of Biological Sciences - Widening Participation Questionnaire (applicants are asked to complete an additional form to provide contextual information about their previous study. Find out more about our use of contextual information here: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/applying/contextual-data.
For queries related to this PhD studentship, please contact Dr Claire Senner ces207@cam.ac.uk .
Deadline
Completed applications (with ALL supporting documentation and references) to be submitted via the portal by 23:59pm (midnight) UK time on 22nd November at the latest. Interviews will be scheduled for mid December.
Please quote reference PM43669 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.