Please contact Daniel with your questions directly: email: daniel.ng@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk

From: Singapore

Degree course: Wellcome Trust Four Year PhD Programme

Supervisor: Professor Martin Humphries

PhD project title: Investigating the dynamics of focal adhesion disassembly

What did you do before undertaking your PhD?

I was at The University of Manchester studying a degree course in medical biochemistry.

Why did you decide to undertake a postgraduate course?

Personally, I have always been deeply interested in science; as such, having a career in science research has been my ambition. Although a career in science research entails long hours in the lab and a salary which seemingly does not match up with the efforts put in, it allows one the freedom to explore an area of science that no one has yet done. I find being able to push the boundaries of our knowledge of science deeply satisfying. Therefore, undertaking a postgraduate course was a step towards a career in science.

Why did you choose the Wellcome Trust Four Year Programme?

I found the Wellcome Trust Four Year Programme highly attractive because of the good quality training and the prestige associated with it. During the first year of the programme, students rotate through three different labs which allow a broad exposure to different areas of life sciences research. By the end of the first year, students are equipped with a good range of skills and are more confident to embark on a PhD project.

Why did you choose Manchester?

I did my undergraduate degree in Manchester and loved it. There’s so much to the city itself. From the ‘quirky-ness’ of the Northern quarter to the swish Didsbury village, there’s something for everyone. Moreover, coming from Singapore, it is the perfect place to be based to travel around Europe.

Apart from the city itself, Manchester University has an outstanding reputation in the area of life sciences research. Having done my final year project in one of the labs, I found the highly collaborative nature of the faculty very attractive. Research groups are not isolated, but are constantly interacting with other groups within the university and also with other groups around the world.

Summary of your PhD project

Focal adhesions are multi-protein complexes which mediate cellular attachment to the extracellular matrix. During cell locomotion, focal adhesions at the front of the cell can be likened to ‘hands’ trying to grab hold of objects (matrix molecules) to pull itself forward. At the rear end of the cell, these ‘hands’ have to be released. The exact mechanism by which this occurs is still unknown, and my project is to further understand how this occurs.

What do you think of your PhD so far?

Doing a PhD is highly challenging and the entire process is a steep learning curve. It is great that the faculty regularly arranges meetings between student/supervisor and advisor because it does help students with the directions of their projects.

Although doing a PhD can be difficult sometimes, the satisfaction of being at the frontier of science is incredible.

What are facilities and resources like in the Faculty?

I believe the facilities and resources are second to none. We have some of the latest equipment like mass spectrometry machines and high-end microscopes. Importantly, courses are held every year to teach people how to use the university equipment effectively.

What does the University offer international students?

The University of Manchester is a very diverse university, with students coming from all around the world. The great thing about this is that you get to meet different people and share experiences and ideas. The university has a wide range of societies, and they are a great way to experience a fulfilling university experience.

What are your future plans?

My short term plan, of course, is to complete my PhD well. At the mean time, I am looking if I could do a non-science related placement with the Wellcome Trust. In our first year, we went to the London headquarters for an introduction to the Wellcome Trust and I was awestruck by the organisation. There’s so much going on, from finance and investments to policy planning to public relations. Ultimately, I would like to stay in science research but I think it would be nice to have an experience in being part of the running of the organisation.

Please contact Maria with your questions directly: email: maria.ninova@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk

From: Sofia, Bulgaria

Degree course: Wellcome Trust Four Year PhD Programme

Supervisor: Dr Sam Griffiths-Jones

PhD project title: The role of microRNAs in body plan evolution

What did you do before undertaking your PhD?

I obtained a BSc degree in Molecular biology from the Sofia University “St Kliment Ohridski”, and then moved to the University of Manchester, where I completed an MRes in Biological Sciences.

Why did you decide to undertake a postgraduate course?

I have been fascinated by the incredible complexity and diversity of the living nature since my childhood. Later on, I started questioning the fundamental mechanisms through which the living organisms function and evolve, which naturally formed my desire for pursuing a research career in the field of biology. Getting a PhD is an important step in this direction.

Why did you choose the Wellcome Trust Four Year Programme?

The Wellcome Trust PhD programme combines the excellent opportunity to work with world-class scientists and the flexibility to choose your own research topic. The first year of the Programme includes taught elements and three laboratory rotations, enabling students to gain experience in a variety of areas and to choose a research group which best matches their personality and scientific interests. During my rotation in Dr Sam Griffiths-Jones’ lab, I was fascinated by the power of bioinformatics and computational biology tools, and my project gives me a great chance to apply them to the study of fundamental questions such as the non-coding genome functions, and its role in development and evolution.

Why did you choose Manchester?

The University of Manchester is among the best UK universities in terms of research excellence. It offers a large choice of research groups, and provides modern research facilities. Moreover, the city of Manchester suits me very well – it is relatively big and there is a wide variety of leisure activities and entertainment events on and off campus, but in the same time it is not too overpopulated and stressful.

Please give a brief summary of your PhD project.

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs which have recently been identified as novel post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, and computational predictions suggest that they target ~10-30% of the protein-coding genes in both invertebrates and vertebrates. MicroRNAs have been shown to play roles in important process such as cell differentiation, developmental timing and apoptosis, and that the number of microRNA genes in the metazoan animals relates to their morphological complexity. My project combines computational techniques and deep sequencing to compare the microRNA expression patterns during the embryonic development of different model arthropods and investigate the role of microRNAs in the evolution of pattern formation and diversity at a genome-wide level.

What do you think of your PhD so far?

I am very happy with my PhD so far. I find the whole process of asking a biological question, thinking of ways to address it, performing experiments and ultimately getting and interpreting results greatly satisfying. I really enjoyed the first year of laboratory rotations, which I believe give students a great advantage of trying different research areas, techniques and model organisms, before picking their future research topic. I am also happy that I had the chance to choose my own PhD topic and work in an area which I was always interested in, and I am really curious and excited to see the results. I have regular meetings with my supervisor, my advisor and the programme director, so I receive constant guidance and support.

What are facilities and resources like in the Faculty?

The Faculty of Life Sciences maintains core research facilities, including genomic sequencing, mass spectrometry, bio-imaging, which provide state-of-the-art equipment and great support with designing and conducting your experiments. The Faculty also offers plenty of training courses and workshops, oriented to both research skills and personal development. We are situated in modern open-plan buildings, which facilitate the interactions between different research groups and encourage collaborations.

What are your future plans?

I enjoy what I am doing and I intend to stay in science. I haven’t decided whether I will go for an academic or an industrial position, but I am confident that the Wellcome Trust PhD programme gives excellent training suited for both.

From:  Sucha Beskidzka, Poland

Degree course: Wellcome Trust Four Year PhD Programme

Supervisor: Professor Andrew D. Sharrocks

PhD project title: Non-redundant functions of ETS factors in regulating the expression of actin-related genes.

What did you do before undertaking your PhD?

I obtained a masters degree in biotechnology from Jagiellonian University in Poland. In my fifth year I spent one semester as an Erasmus student in Manchester in the laboratory I later chose for my PhD project.

Why did you decide to undertake a postgraduate course?

At the risk of sounding sappy… as a child, I wanted to keep learning new things for my whole life and being a scientist sounded as good as becoming an astronaut! I’ve always been fascinated by the mechanisms that make living things work and by the vastness of knowledge that is stored in the simplest structures, like a cell or a molecular complex. Getting a PhD will allow me to do just that. I like travelling, so being able to live in different places around the world is a definite plus as well.

Why did you choose the Wellcome Trust Four Year Programme?

The Wellcome Trust PhD Programme is among the best ones in Europe, giving the opportunity to do brilliant research and offering a large choice of research groups to match your personality/interests to. My supervisor has a great publishing record and offered me a project that would allow me to learn methods ranging from biochemistry, through cell imaging to genome-wide experiments and computational biology; this would facilitate finding a job in several areas of science upon completion of the PhD. At the same time I knew I would get the independence in day-to-day research I wanted with plenty of scope to test my own ideas.

Why did you choose Manchester?

The university here is one of the biggest in the country, offering a large choice of research groups and great core research facilities. The focus of the WT programme is in the area of science I find most interesting (molecular biology) and there are plenty of young group leaders offering innovative ideas. Manchester as a city is large enough to have its own theatres, opera, plenty of clubs and events, but still small enough to cycle around. I liked the alternative feel of the city and the individual character of its different areas (Rusholme, city centre, Chorlton…). From all the offers I received, Manchester had the best quality of science/quality of life balance.

Summary of your PhD project

The project I’m pursuing consists of two parts. I’m investigating whether different ETS transcription factors have unique functions in regulating gene expression; this would be contrary to what has been believed so far. I’m using human epithelial cells as a model and showing that depletion of three different ETS factors has diverse effects on the actin cytoskeleton, cell migration, cell survival and expression of genes relevant to those phenotypes. I’m also trying to uncover the molecular mechanism of this by performing ChIP-seq coupled with microarray experiments and applying bioinformatics approaches to analyse the data.

What do you think of your PhD so far?

The PhD is coming along as expected, with lots of rather chaotic work at the beginning and more interesting results now that my approach to science has become more structured. I find it very satisfying when a series of experiments comes together to form a model, especially when I can do it all myself starting in the wet lab, following through with the analysis and then coming up with a graphical representation of the result. I’m learning not only how to do experiments, but also how to look at science critically and how to identify questions worth following through.

What are facilities and resources like in the Faculty?

The core research facilities are excellent, offering support at many levels from performing the experiment (i.e. genomic technologies) to training you to use their equipment (i.e. microscopy, flow cytometry). The university holds subscriptions to a vast number of scientific journals. There are plenty of soft skill training options to choose from (how to identify marketable ideas, how to spot a discovery which could get a patent…) and the availability of online courses (statistics, bioinformatics, EndNote) allow researchers to complete them in their own time.

What does the University offer international students?

Despite being a foreigner, I’ve never become interested in that aspect of university life – perhaps because the FLS is such a cauldron of nationalities that it doesn’t make one feel alienated. The city itself is definitely a positive cultural shock.

What are your future plans?

I plan to continue a career in science, either by staying in academia or moving to industry. The PhD I’m doing will equip me with skills and knowledge to do either. The Wellcome Trust Programme is recognised worldwide for its high level, that should help open some doors for me. Moreover, the university offers extensive career advisory services.

What do you like about the city of Manchester?

I’m actively involved with the biking community in Manchester, despite the weather this is definitely a cycling city! It offers a vast array of museums, galleries, theatres, live music shows etc. and the countryside is close enough for day-long cycling trips and easy access to horse stables. I’m very happy with how open and supportive it is towards LGBT community and how it celebrates many forms of diversity- national, ethnic, religious, musical… Finally, there are two big airports nearby with lots of flights to Europe and beyond, making travel easy.

To me, Manchester is a place of opportunity. There is potential here to do great research and publish in leading journals, and lots of other opportunities if I decide that level of competitiveness isn’t really for me. Nothing is perfect and there are some negative sides to it (weather…) but choosing the PhD here was definitely a decision I would make again.

From: Kazanlak, Bulgaria

Degree course: Wellcome Trust four Year PhD Programme

Supervisor: Professor Nancy Papalopulu

PhD project title: Role of microRNA-9 in vertebrate neural development

What did you do before undertaking your PhD?

I did my undergraduate degree (B. Sc. Biotechnology) at the University of Mannheim, Germany. In my final year, I worked on ion channels in the lab of Blanche Schwappach at the Centre for Molecular Biology in Heidelberg.

Why did you decide to undertake a postgraduate course?

Research for me represents constantly challenging yourself and being curious about the whys and hows. Even in my undergraduate courses I was always fascinated by the scientific process behind the dry facts in the textbooks, and I wanted to be part of it. In addition, it gives you the opportunity to learn important skills, to work in world-class facilities and to form useful collaborations, which are important for ones future career.

Why did you choose your degree/project/supervisor?

The Wellcome Trust PhD programme has an excellent reputation both in the UK and abroad and for me one of the major advantages is the flexibility it provides with choosing your research topic. You are encouraged to explore different research area until you settle on a particular lab and project. During my second rotation in Nancy Papalopulu’s lab I realized that I really like developmental biology and the project gave me the chance to combine this with an area that I was fascinated with even before coming to Manchester – non-coding RNAs. But choosing a lab has more to it that just the project – social activities, and working as a team also played an important part in my decision.

Please give a brief summary of your PhD project.

The development of the brain is a complex process that needs to be precisely regulated. In particular, how self-renewing and differentiation of neural stem cells is integrated with regional specific signals is unclear. In my project, I examine the function of a novel class of non-coding RNAs called microRNAs in neural development. We have found that one neuronal specific microRNA – miR-9 regulates the transition between neural progenitors and differentiated neurons in a region specific manner. Lately, I’ve been using system biology approaches to examine the dynamics of gene expression during neural differentiation. This work highlights the importance of stem cells origin and has potential implications for stem cell based therapies.

Why did you choose Manchester?

Manchester seemed like an ideal compromise between excellent research facilities and social activities. It has plenty of theatres, restaurants and pubs to spend your free time, but at the same time does not feel like a big city such as London for example. In addition, the fact the so many excellent research groups are based in Manchester, investment in new building and facilities and in particular the vision of the university to become one of the world’s best by 2015 all contributed to my decision.

What do you think of your PhD so far?

I was quite happy that I could work on a project focused on the two areas that I was most interested in – neural development and non-coding RNAs, and that contributed a lot to my motivation to do research. Even though I’ve achieved a few things during my PhD - I won the award for best presentation in the Tissue Systems Showcase symposium and for the best poster at the Faculty Research Symposium in 2010 and my paper was recently accepted for publication in Developmental Cell - I think that the combination of problem solving skills, the challenge of designing your own experiments and realising how to improve them is the essence of my experience so far.

What are facilities and resources like in the Faculty?

I should say that I quite enjoy the open-plan buildings which encourage cooperation and collaborations between the different research groups, and that is not common to all universities. In addition, the core research facilities (such as the microarray or the mass spectrometry) provide excellent support with designing and conducting your experiments. The various workshops that the graduate office organizes provide information about career options after a PhD and can give an important perspective as to what to do next.

What are your future plans?

My PhD convinced me that I enjoy research and I intend to stay in science, either in the academia or changing gears and trying industry. I’m confident that the training, the skills and most importantly – the mindset that I’ve acquired during my PhD will be invaluable regardless of my career choice.