Cell & Molecular Biophysics, Randall Division of
| This research opportunity is provided by the School of Biomedical & Health Sciences. Follow this link for information about the School, including facilities, funding, and a list of staff research interests. | |
| Research profile RAE score 5 (2001). Research income: £3m per year. Current number of academic staff: 26 Principal Investigators, 22 PhD Supervisors. Current number of graduate research students: 31. Current number of post-doctoral research assistants: 61. Recent publications include • Soluble CD23 monomers inhibit and oligomers stimulate IGE synthesis in human B cells. • Activated ezrin promotes cell migration through recruitment of the GEF Dbl to lipid rafts and preferential downstream activation of Cdc42. • Lymphocyte transcellular migration occurs through recruitment of endothelial ICAM-1 to caveola- and F-actin-rich domains. • Mef2s are required for thick filament formation in nascent muscle fibres. • Structural changes in troponin in response to Ca2+ and myosin binding to thin filaments during activation of skeletal muscle. Current research projects: Details can be found on our website. Partner organisations: National Institute for Medical Research, Imperial College, Gray Cancer Institute, Max Planck Institute, Novartis, AstraZeneca. | |
| Research description Biophysics was established at King’s by John Randall and made famous by the DNA structure studies of Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins. The Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics is now based in New Hunt’s House on Guy’s Campus and has strong collaborative links with other biomedical and clinical researchers in the King's Health Schools. We contribute expertise in molecular and cell biology, molecular structure and molecular cell imaging to these and other areas of research in the Health Schools at King’s. Many of our research groups operate at the interface between the health, biomedical and physical sciences, developing new techniques for application in biology and medicine. There are six research groups in the Randall: Muscle Biophysics, Cell Motility & Cytoskeleton, Muscle Signalling & Development, Cell Imaging, Structural Biology and Allergy & Asthma. There are close collaborations between laboratories in these groups and interactions with the Divisions of Asthma, Allergy & Lung Biology, Cancer Studies, and Cardiovascular Medicine; and several Principal Investigators (PI) hold joint positions with these Divisions. Recently we have made several new appointments of young PIs to strengthen our research in cell motility, structural biology, muscle stem cell biology, and bioinformatics Qualification for principal investigator status within the division requires a sustained track record of high quality publications, significant peer-reviewed grant income and a proven commitment to the supervision and training of graduate students. For further information about the research groups within the Division, please refer to the individual group websites at http:// www.kcl.ac.uk/schools/biohealth/research/randall/ | |
| Head of group/division Professor Malcolm Irving FRS. | |
| Study environment Students work alongside staff researchers, are supervised by two members of academic staff and overseen by a divisional research co-ordinator. Students’ progress is monitored closely and reported on every six months. For more details on study environment see also facilities’ description in the School entry. | |
| Training All students are regularly notified about skills development opportunities through a monthly Postgraduate Research Newsletter. Participation in the annual Postgraduate Research Showcase is compulsory for all students and provides an opportunity to improve science communication and presentation skills. All graduate students in the Randall present their research in seminars to the whole division as well as to their research groups. Opportunities are available for graduate students to present their work at national and international scientific meetings. Our graduate students also assist with teaching of undergraduates as demonstrators in practical classes or leading tutorials. | |
| Application and PhD approval process Studentships will be advertised in New Scientist or Nature, on the College’s website or www.findaphd.com. Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed by at least two academics. Proposed research projects must be approved by the School Postgraduate Research Committee before an offer can be made. | |
| Staff research interests Show further information | |
| Research groups | |
| English language requirements More information for students whose first language is not English. | |
| Student destinations Most of our PhD graduates continue careers in science as post-docs in academic and industrial laboratories. | |
| Funding MRC, BBSRC, EPSRC Studentships, King’s Graduate School Studentship, RCUK Dorothy Hodgkin Award, the EU, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, other medical charities, scientific societies, overseas governments and industrial partners. | |
| Section 6 of application form Please give your A-level (or equivalent qualification) results (school/college; date; subject; grade). | |
| Contact for further information Academic Centre at the Guy's Campus, tel 020 7848 6348; Dr Baljinder Mankoo, Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, tel 020 7848 6594. |
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