The successful candidate will develop in vitro culture/feeding assay systems that will serve both to reduce the number of fish used in sea lice research and provide novel in vitro research and bioassay approaches.
The studentship will be registered at the Institute of Aquaculture (IoA), University of Stirling, will be mainly based at Moredun Research Institute (MRI), but will be expected to work closely with the supervisory team at IoA. The student will also be required to undertake an industrial placement with the Aquaculture team at Moredun Scientific Ltd (MSL). This project will provide the student with a strong background in in vitro culture methods, 3D cell culture and bio-imaging, and sea lice biology and culture.
Experience required
Candidates should have (or expect to achieve) a minimum of a 2:1 Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in a relevant subject.
Candidates with a background in Aquaculture are especially encouraged to apply.
How to apply
Follow the instructions from the link below ensuring that all steps are completed:
http://www.eastscotbiodtp.ac.uk/how-apply-0
After you have contacted the project supervisors download and complete the EASTBIO Equality, Diversity and Inclusion survey https://edinburgh.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/eastbio-dtp-equality-diversity-inclusion-form-2021 and then fill in the EASTBIO Application Form and submit the application form plus your academic transcripts to Moredun Research Institute Human Resources at hr@moredun.ac.uk.
Two references should be provided by the deadline using the EASTBIO reference form. Please advise your referees to return the reference form to hr@moredun.ac.uk.
If you are nominated by the supervisor(s) of the EASTBIO PhD project you wish to apply for, they will provide a Supervisor Support Statement.
All EASTBIO (online) interviews will be in the week 8-12 February 2021 with awards made the following week.
Funding notes
This 4 year PhD project is part of a competition funded by EASTBIO BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership http://www.eastscotbiodtp.ac.uk/how-apply-0. This opportunity is open to UK and International students and provides funding to cover stipend and UK level tuition (Unfortunately we are unable to provide funding to cover the difference in fees). Please refer to UKRI website and Annex B of the UKRI Training Grant Terms and Conditions for full eligibility criteria.
We can only accept applications from individuals who have the right to work in the UK.
Supervisors:
Dr Kim THOMPSON (Moredun Research Institute)
Professor James E BRON (University of Stirling)
Dr Sean MONAGHAN (University of Stirling)
Dr Alasdair NISBET (Moredun Research Institute)
Dr William ROY (Moredun Scientific Ltd)
The Atlantic salmon aquaculture industry is a key contributor to the UK economy, contributing over £1 billion annually and supporting around 8,800 jobs in rural communities. Scotland is the third largest producer of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) after Norway and Chile, with production of 190,499 tonnes of farmed Atlantic salmon in 20191. It is the intention of the Scottish Government to double the value of production by 2030, however, the potential for this expansion is severely constrained by major disease challenges, particularly infestations by the salmon louse Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer, 1837). This parasite currently represents the most serious disease problem affecting the Atlantic salmon aquaculture industry in the northern hemisphere, with annual losses to salmon farmers exceeding £500 M in Norway alone2. The overall cost of salmon lice control to UK salmon producers is thought to be in the region of £50-100 M. The struggle to prevent and control salmon lice is currently the UK aquaculture industry’s most significant challenge, and novel R&D initiatives are crucial to tackle this3
One difficulty encountered in developing new treatments is the fact that the sea louse life-cycle cannot be maintained in vitro. The sea louse has a complicated life cycle, with the infective free-living copepodid stage becoming parasitic early in the life cycle and relying on the salmon host for survival. This means a constant supply of host fish are necessary to supply sufficient adult lice for research purposes.
The aim of this studentship is to develop in vitro culture/feeding assay systems that will serve both to reduce the number of fish used in sea lice research and provide novel in vitro research and bioassay approaches. The study will focus on developing substrates for feeding sea lice in vitro; establishing continuous sea louse cell lines; adapting tick explant culture approaches for sea lice and developing bioassays for in vitro sea lice studies.
The student will be registered at the Institute of Aquaculture (IoA), University of Stirling, will be mainly based at Moredun Research Institute (MRI), but will be expected to work closely with the supervisory team at IoA. They will also be required to undertake an industrial placement with the Aquaculture team at Moredun Scientific Ltd (MSL). This project will provide the student with a strong background in in vitro culture methods, 3D cell culture and bioimaging, and sea lice biology and culture.
The Institute of Aquaculture is an international centre in aquaculture and the largest of its kind in the world, tackling global problems of food security, hunger and sustainability through aquaculture. They recently were awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize. MRI is internationally recognised for its research on the prevention and control of infectious diseases of livestock, including fish, and the improvement of animal health and welfare. MSL is a contract research organisation specialising in animal health and aquaculture product development and biosafety testing of biopharmaceuticals. They support animal health and biopharmaceutical companies by testing their products and providing data to support development decisions, registration and commercialisation.
Salary:
UKRI-level stipend
Closing date:
Wednesday 06 January 2021