Applications are invited for an EPSRC/STFC supported PhD studentship in collaboration with the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

Structural studies & interactions of Bio-surfactants at interfaces

Understanding and resolving structures is the first step in understanding function. Biological membrane models are generally composed of micelles, vesicles or lipid bilayers. These systems are complex and only approximate to in_vivo membrane function. The objective of the project is to study one simple model of this system, namely the conformation of a lipid monolayer at the oil-water interface with application to drug delivery systems in form of emulsion. This is of significance given that over 40% of newly formulated drugs are fat soluble. The proposed system has the advantage that the hydrophobic alkyl chains are fully solvated. The aim of this project is to examine the molecular structure and changes in conformation of the lipid monolayers and their interaction with other molecules such as proteins and DNA.

Neutron and x-ray reflectometry allows the structural determination of matter perpendicular to a surface or a given interface. The resolution is high and is on Angstrom length scale. In the last decade, neutron reflectometry has been established as a powerful, and in many cases essential, technique. One of the particular strengths of the technique is that it can be applied to ‘wet’ interfaces attaining information at better than molecular resolution. These properties of neutron reflectivity, allied with the ability of hydrogen/deuterium labelling, make it especially suitable to the study of interfaces in biological systems.

The project would provide training in scattering techniques for resolving biological structures at interfaces and may also involve development of sample environments.

Part of the research work will be carried out using the most advanced instruments at the ISIS pulsed neutron source in Oxfordshire and the international neutron sources at the Institut Laue-Langevin, Gernoble, France., The Berlin Neutron Scattering Centre at Hahn-Meitner-Institut (HMI) Germany may also be used.

Please e-mail your CV to

Dr A. Zarbakhsh
Queen Mary, University of London
School of Biological & Chemical Sciences
Walter Besant Building
Mile End Road
London E1 4NS. UK


Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 3259

Web: http://www.sbcs.qmul.ac.uk/vacancies/index.shtml