News FeedThe Twarock group at the University of York invites applications for two PhD
positions: one suitable for a candidate with background in mathematics (pure
or applied mathematics, mathematical physics) and one for a candidate with a
computational background (computational biology, bioinformatics, computer
science).
One project is concerned with the modelling of symmetry in virology. Viruses
use icosahedral symmetry in their structural organisation, and techniques
from group theory can therefore be used to model virus architecture. These
results will then be used to construct models for vital stages of the viral
life cycle, such as virus assembly. Moreover, information inferred from the
symmetry approach on the structures of the capsid proteins will be used to
study viral evolution.
The second project is more computational in nature and involves writing
computer programmes to determine the intermediate structures that appear
during virus assembly, and to use these results for the prediction of
assembly kinetics. Since we are in particular interested in viruses where
the viral RNA plays a pivotal role during assembly, this project will also
require determining the folding structure of the viral RNA via tools such as
Mfold.
Both projects will lead to results that can be used to devise new strategies
for anti-viral drug design.
You will join an interdisciplinary group that includes mathematicians,
mathematical physicists, a bioinformatician and a computational chemist, and
collaborates closely with experimentalists at the Astbury Centre for
Structural Molecular Biology at the University of Leeds. Funding is
available to UK and EU students (a stipend of £12600 p.a. plus Home/EU
student fees for the duration of three years).
Please address informal inquiries and applications to Dr Twarock via email
(rt507@york.ac.uk)
Dr Reidun Twarock
Departments of Mathematics and Biology
University of York
York Y010 5DD
Phone: +44 (0)1904 434160
Fax: +44 (0)1904 433071
rt507@york.ac.uk