Lead Supervisor: Professor Michael Heinrich (SoP)
Co-Supervisor: Dr Martin Ingrouille (Bbk)
Professor Monique Simmonds
(Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew)
Applications are invited for a three year Bloomsbury Colleges PhD. Studentship in the research groups of Professor Michael Heinrich at the Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, School of Pharmacy, University of London, Dr Martin Ingrouille at Birkbeck College, University of London and Prof.Monique Simmonds at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (and visiting professor at the School of Pharmacy and Birkbeck College). This joint PhD. project will systematically investigate commonly used medicinal plants from the genus Aristolochia in terms of their content of aristolochic acids. In Europe the use of these species was banned because of serious cases of nephrotoxic and genotoxic effects due to the presence of these compounds, but is still widely used in many African, Asian and American countries. Consequently, illicit material is continuously entering the UK market. The project examines natural variability in core Aristolochia species (pharmacognostic, taxonomic and phytochemical) based on the information on traditional use and to assess the toxicological risk through phytochemical analysis of AAs. Our ultimate goal is to provide clear policy guidelines on how to reduce the potentially dangerous use of birthwort in rural communities in the core countries of use, thus informing national and international policies on development in health care and thus is also linked to the activities of the London International Development Centre (LIDC).
The successful candidate will work jointly in an established research group at the School of Pharmacy and at the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences at Birkbeck as well as the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. This project will allow the development of skills in phytochemical analysis, pharmacognosy, systematics and toxicology. The PhD. Studentship will be enhanced by the provision of specialized training courses available at both academic institutions. The successful candidate will have access to excellent facilities at all three collaborating institutions.
Applicants must have or be expected to achieve at least a 2.1 degree in pharmacy, biology or another relevant subject and be of home/EU status. The PhD. Studentship stipend will be in accord with BBSRC rates including a London allowance.
Further Details about the project may be obtained from:
Lead supervisor: Professor Michael Heinrich; michael.heinrich@pharmacy.ac.uk
http://www.pharmacy.ac.uk/michael_heinrich.html
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7753 5846 / 44
Co-supervisor: Dr Martin Ingrouille; m.ingrouille@bbk.ac.uk
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/bcs/about_staff/ingrouille
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7631-6333
Co-supervisor: Prof. Monique Simmonds; M.Simmonds@kew.org.uk
http://www.kew.org/science/directory/people/Simmonds_Monique.html
Tel : +44 (0) 20 8332 5328,
Application forms and further details about how to apply may be obtained from
http://www.pharmacy.ac.uk/apply_msc100.html
The closing date for applications is 25 February 2009.