PhD studentship

[Rickman, Colin]

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CIVIS Imaging Prize PhD Studentships

Development of new photoactivatable fluorescent probes for super-resolution microscopy

This studentship is part of the Centre for In Vitro Imaging Science (CIVIS) cohort of Prize Studentships available to start in Autumn 2013. This project will develop new fluorescent tools to answer key questions in cellular communication and diabetes. The studentship will be undertaken at the Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering (http://www.ib3.eps.hw.ac.uk) at Heriot-Watt University under the supervision of Drs Nicola M. Howarth and Colin Rickman utilising the advanced super-resolution microscopy facilities available in the new £2M MRC funded, Edinburgh Super Resolution Imaging Consortium (ESRIC) based at Heriot-Watt.

Until recently, fluorescence microscopy in biological and pharmacological research has been limited in resolution (~ 250 nm) by the physical properties of light and diffraction. However, with the advent of super-resolution microscopy, this barrier has been overcome permitting the visualisation and quantitation of cellular processes down to the single molecule level.  This project will involve the design and synthesis of a new class of photoactivatable fluorescent probes for use in the technique of photoactivation localisation microscopy (PALM). PALM allows single protein molecules (between 10,000 and 100,000 per cell) to be observed with accuracy of the order of 10 nm. However, at present, PALM can only be achieved using encodable fluorophores (e.g. Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP)) and so there is a need to develop synthetic analogues for use in this technique.

This project is multi-disciplinary in nature, falling at the interface of the chemical and biological sciences, and will use a variety of techniques including organic chemistry, antibody engineering, cell biology and advanced fluorescence microscopy.  A significant part of this project will involve the chemical synthesis of new photoactivatable fluorescent probes for use in cellular labelling. Candidates must therefore have a strong background in organic chemistry with experience in the design and development of synthetic strategies desirable. The ideal candidate will have a 1st or good 2(1) Honours degree in chemistry or an associated chemistry subject with research laboratory experience.

Interested candidates should contact Dr Nicola Howarth ([hidden email] ) or Dr Colin Rickman ([hidden email]) with a copy of their CV in the first instance.

Colin
Dr Colin Rickman
Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering
School of Engineering and Physical Sciences
Heriot-Watt University
Edinburgh
EH14 4AS

Tel: [phone] (Office)

http://www.ib3.eps.hw.ac.uk
http://www.esric.org