PhD Position: Modelling Spine Calcium Dynamics, University of Exeter

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Based within the EPSRC Centre for Predictive Modelling in Healthcare at the
University of Exeter, a £2M initiative bringing together mathematicians,
statisticians and clinicians, you will work on a project aiming to
investigate the mechanisms and hence understand the regulation of calcium
transient dynamics (shown to be a critical trigger for synaptic plasticity)
in dendritic spines. The project involves development and analysis of
three-dimensional mathematical models using finite element methods. Therefore
I am looking for candidates trained in quantitative fields whose interest
has turned to the study of synaptic plasticity and calcium dynamics.

This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from
the South West Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (SWBio DTP). The
SWBio DTP is a BBSRC-funded PhD training programme in the biosciences,
delivered by a consortium comprising the Universities of Bristol (lead),
Bath, Cardiff and Exeter and Rothamsted Research. The SWBio DTP projects
are designed to provide outstanding interdisciplinary training in a range
of topics in World-Class Bioscience, underpinned by training in mathematics
and complexity science. Each project is supervised by an interdisciplinary
team of academic staff and will follow a structured training 4 year PhD model.

In particular the project on "Modelling spine calcium dynamics: implications
for synaptic plasticity" stems form a long-standing collaboration between
Prof Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova (main supervisor, Exeter) and Dr Jack Mellor
(co-supervisor, Bristol http://www.bris.ac.uk/synaptic/people/66711/)

To Apply: Candidates with strong quantitative training (e.g. a BSc or MSc
in Physics, Mathematics, Computational Neuroscience, Computer Science, or
Engineering) and evidence of scientific achievement are invited to apply.
Knowledge of neuroscience is a plus. Please apply using the following link:
http://www.exeter.ac.uk/studying/funding/award/?id=1977

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