PhD Studentship: EPSRC Molecular Nose Project

PhD Studentship: EPSRC Molecular Nose Project

Modelling and analysis of sensed behaviours in biochemical networks

Supervisor: Professor Muffy Calder

The Molecular Nose is an exciting, large interdisciplinary research
project involving biochemistry, cell biology, engineering, chemistry,
and computing science. The goal of the project is to build a
multiplexed sensor platform that can assess and quantify dynamic
changes in the functional state of biochemical networks in mammalian
cells, and use these data to reconstruct cell network interactions and
their dynamic behaviour on a systems wide level. The concept
underpinning this platform is fundamentally different from existing
methods used in the biological sciences to assess cell function, and
similar to the Electronic Nose, where an array of sensors is trained
with individual stimuli to establish a library of response patterns
which subsequently are used to deconvolute complex inputs. In this
project, Professors Calder and Girolami (Computing Science) will
establish a computational framework of modules for the interpretation
of input-output relationships and prediction of functional network
behaviours in response to perturbations. The aim of this studentship
is to analyse and predict how modules interact with each other. The
starting point will be Calders previous work on the interaction of
features in telecommunications networks, and also process algebraic
models of biochemical networks.

The studentship is for four years.

The studentship is suitable for candidates with a good first degree
(or Masters) in Computing Science or Mathematics, a willingness to
engage with biochemistry and engineering and to work as part of a
interdisciplinary team.

The closing date is 30 June 2007.

The application procedure can be found at
http://www.dcs.gla.ac.uk/phd/application.html.