We are excited to offer a 4-year SWBio DTP-funded PhD position at the University of Exeter Cornwall, UK to work on Autoimmunity gone wild: understanding the interactive effects of environmental stress and genetic risk in the development of autoimmune disease in a wild rodent Supervised by Dr Barbara Tschirren & Dr Sarah Richardson, University of Exeter; Dr Anna Long, University of Bristol & international project partners Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks own tissues. These conditions are prevalent among humans and non-human animals, and they cause significant morbidity and mortality. Autoimmune diseases often have a genetic basis, but environmental factors play a key role in their development too. To date, it is poorly understood how environmental and genetic risk factors interact in shaping the development and severity of autoimmunity. This project will use a wild rodent (bank vole Myodes glareolus) that is susceptible to autoimmune diabetes, to tackle these open questions. Using a highly integrative and cross-disciplinary approach that incorporates characterisation of immunogenetic variation using next-generation sequencing, manipulation of ecologically relevant environmental stress in in vivo experiments, and state-of-the-art approaches from immunology, immunohistology and digital pathology to quantify the development and severity of autoimmunity over an animal=92s life course. The project will provide fundamental insights into autoimmune disease ecology and evolution and the impact of environmental stress in modifying disease development. Apply here: https://tinyurl.com/42ypjpdt Both UK and international students are eligible. Deadline: 11th Dec 2024, with project start in Sept 2025 For more information please contact Barbara Tschirren b.tschirren@exeter.ac.uk "Tschirren, Barbara" (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)