MSc by Research: Mechanisms of cell size regulation

About the Project

The tremendous diversity of cell shapes and sizes found in living organisms is fascinating. For instance, cell size differs enormously in the human body with myocytes being about a million-fold larger than red blood cells. This raises the fundamental question whether cell size is linked to cell function. The physiological roles and hence function the diverse cell types perform in our bodies are intricately linked to the fate they adopt. Neurons for example, need to be long to allow communication of the brain with distant body parts, while blood cells need to be much smaller to deliver oxygen through the elaborate vascular network of the circulatory system. Therefore, whether cell size determines cell fate and function is a fundamental question. You will use the fruit fly Drosophila as a genetically tractable model system to address the molecular mechanisms of how cells with different sizes are generated in a single division with a focus on microscopy as a starting point to address this question.

Our research community thrives on the diversity of students and staff which helps to make the University of Dundee a UK university of choice for postgraduate research. We welcome applications from all talented individuals and are committed to widening access to those who have the ability and potential to benefit from higher education.

Please see our website for further details on the programme and how to apply:

Life Sciences MSc by Research (Postgraduate) : Study : University of Dundee

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