About the Project
As global life expectancy increases, more people face chronic, age-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, and cancer. To develop targeted interventions and preventative strategies, we need to understand what drives biological aging at the cellular level, and how those same processes link to inflammation, stress, and tissue health.
This PhD project will explore the nucleolus, a fascinating and dynamic structure within the nucleus that plays a key role in ribosome biogenesis and cellular stress response. One of the most striking features of aging cells is a change in nucleolar size: enlarged nucleoli are seen in senescent (aging) cells, while smaller nucleoli are linked to longevity. Yet, how and why these changes occur, and what affects they have on tissue function and disease risk, remains unclear.
Our lab has identified the nucleolar protein, TIF-IA, as a potential regulator of this process. We’ve shown that TIF-IA influences nucleolar size and connects to inflammatory pathways downstream of genotoxic stress. TIF-IA also correlates with cancer prognosis and even responds to lifestyle interventions such as exercise. These exciting findings suggest that TIF-IA could be a crucial molecular switch linking the nucleolus to aging and disease.
In this project, you’ll explore in depth the role of TIF-IA in nucleolar function, inflammatory response and cellular aging. You’ll use a combination of molecular and cell biology techniques, omics approaches (kinome, interactome, and proteomics), phenotypic screening, and multiplex immunohistochemistry to uncover how TIF-IA affects nucleolar phenotype, inflammation, tissue homeostasis and disease susceptibility.
This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated student who wants to:
- Investigate cutting-edge questions in cellular aging and stress biology
- Gain hands-on experience with advanced molecular and imaging techniques
- Work in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment at the interface of cell biology, aging research, and translational medicine
This 4 year PhD project is part of a competition funded by EASTBIO BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP). Detailed guidance on the application process, and the EASTBIO Application and Reference Forms can be found at How to Apply | Biology.
Please send your completed EASTBIO Application Form along with a copy of your academic transcripts (as a pdf) to student-admin@igc.ed.ac.uk You should also contact your referees and ask them to submit their references (on the EASTBIO reference form template) to student-admin@igc.ed.ac.uk by the application deadline of 16th November 2026.
Funding Notes
This opportunity is open to UK and international students and provides funding covering stipend and UK level tuition fees. The University of Edinburgh covers the difference between home and international fees meaning that the EASTBIO DTP offers fully-funded studentships to all appointees. There is a cap on the number of international students the DTP recruits. It is therefore important for us to know from the outset which fees status category applicants will fall under when applying to our University.
Please refer to UKRI website and Annex B of the UKRI Training Grant Terms and Conditions for full eligibility criteria.
Project supervisors
Lesley Stark
Career overview
Lesley Stark received a B.Sc in Cell Biology from the University of Aberdeen in 1990. The interest in cancer research began during the PhD, conducted in the labs of C. Bird at the University of Edinburgh, focusing on the role of papillomavirus in skin cancer. Post-doctoral training was undertaken with Professor R.T. Hay at the University of St Andrews, where the work concentrated on the interaction between the HIV protein, vpr, and the NF-κB pathway. Stark then returned to the University of Edinburgh to carry out a cancer gene therapy project with M.G. Dunlop. Shortly after this project commenced, interest developed in the role of NF-κB in the pro-apoptotic effects of aspirin. In 2002, a Caledonian Research Foundation fellowship was awarded to pursue this line of research, leading to an appointment as a lecturer/group leader at the University of Edinburgh in 2005. Stark has managed a busy life balancing full-time work with family responsibilities, including caring for three children. Despite this, time is still found for fitness activities, including completing an 81-mile bike race around the highlands of Scotland in under 5 hours. Looking ahead, Stark is eager for the next challenge.
Research interests
Lesley Stark's research focuses on cell signalling, particularly in the context of cancer. Their work has explored the role of NF-κB in the pro-apoptotic effects of aspirin and the interaction between the HIV protein vpr and the NF-κB pathway. Stark has also been involved in cancer gene therapy projects and has a longstanding interest in the role of papillomavirus in skin cancer.
Cell Biology, Cancer Research, Papillomavirus, Skin Cancer, HIV, NF-κB Pathway, Cancer Gene Therapy, Pro-apoptotic Effects, Aspirin, Immunology, Oncology
Professor Kathryn Ball
Career overview
Kathryn Ball pursued a degree in Biochemistry at the University of Salford, where an interest in classical chemistry and protein structure-function was ignited. Following this, she moved to the University of Leeds to undertake a PhD focused on the degradation mechanism of the enzyme lipoprotein lipase, which established her career as an enzymologist. She received a Broodbank Fellowship to study the regulation of pyrophosphate-fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase under the mentorship of Prof. Tom ap Rees at the University of Cambridge. Despite Prof. ap Rees's untimely death in a road accident in 1996, he remained a significant inspiration throughout her career. Kathryn then completed post-doctoral studies at Michigan State University in the USA before returning to the UK to investigate the enzymology of protein kinases at the University of Dundee. There, she collaborated with Prof. Sir David Lane on the structure, function, and post-translational regulation of proteins involved in tumour suppression and cell growth control, adopting a cross-disciplinary approach to her research. At Dundee, she secured a Project Grant and a CRUK Senior Cancer Research Fellowship to establish her own research group focused on the post-translational regulation of the growth regulator p21WAF1. In 2004, Kathryn relocated her group to the University of Edinburgh to take up a Readership and develop a cross-disciplinary research programme integrating Biophysics, Chemistry, Biochemistry, and cell systems to study IRF-1 regulation and the mechanism of ubiquitination by E3-ubiquitin ligases. She was awarded a personal chair in Biochemistry and Cell Signalling in 2007 and remains actively involved in laboratory work, particularly in protein purification, while enjoying a view of Edinburgh castle from her bench.
Research interests
Kathryn Ball's research focuses on the structure, function, and post-translational regulation of proteins and enzymes involved in tumour suppression and cell growth control. They have a particular interest in the post-translational regulation of the growth regulator p21WAF1 and the regulation of Interferon Regulated Transcription Factors. Their work employs a cross-disciplinary approach, integrating biophysics, chemistry, biochemistry, and cell systems to study IRF-1 regulation and the mechanism of ubiquitination by E3-ubiquitin ligases.
Biochemistry, Cell Signalling, Enzymology, Protein Structure-Function, Lipoprotein Lipase, Pyrophosphate-Fructose-6-Phosphate 1-Phosphotransferase, Tumour Suppression, Cell Growth Control, Post-Translational Regulation, Interferon Regulated Transcription Factors, Ubiquitination, E3-Ubiquitin Ligases, Cross-Disciplinary Research, Biophysics, Chemistry
