The Biomolecular Technology Group is composed of an interdisciplinary team of scientists who are passionate about translational science and motivated toward the improvement of human health at De Montfort University.
Opportunities
PhD studentships and Master by Research
Studentships and scholarships will be advertised here as they become available.
Self-funded prospective postgraduate students can get in touch to discuss potential projects.
Some projects that we are willing to develop include:
– Herbal Medicines – Ethnobotany projects:
Ethnobotany projects will use a multidisciplinary approach. This will be achieved by interviewing and using questionnaires to sample communities in different cities to compare attitudes in different cities around the use of herbal medicine. Using molecular tools (DNA barcoding), plants from participants will be tested to authenticate the plants. Ultimately, answering the question of what plants are growing and used in different communities will be the key to this project. The Biomolecular Technology Group at De Montfort University comprises researchers from a range of disciplines, with a common interest in the use and authentication of traditional herbal medicines and would be a natural fit for this activity. The final aim of the project will be to feedback on the results to the communities to inform them on whether the plants they have been using are the correct/safe ones.
– DNA-based authentication and chemical tests of rice grains :
Rice is a staple food that is prone to adulteration because some varieties are very expensive from which big profits can be made. Further processing like the bleaching of cheap rice grains can also be carried out to make lower quality, cheaper varieties appear like more expensive varieties which sell for a higher price. These practices can have serious public health consequences. Several methods of discriminating between cultivars and accurate quantification of adulterants have been in use for the last few decades but recent improvements in biotechnology have shown rapidly evolving DNA-based techniques that have been more successful than conventional non-DNA-based methods. Some of these techniques could replace current techniques that analyse commercial rice products. The prime objective of this proposed study will be to develop genetic tests for the authentication of rice cultivars
– Quality control methods for herbal medicine: a molecular approach:
This project will aim to evaluate various herbal medicine production systems and design an appropriate technology to assess the quality and safety of traditional/herbal medicine products. The project will also evaluate and develop appropriate quality-control tests and standards for traditional/herbal medicines. This will be done in collaboration with pharmaceutical/herbal medicine industries and drug regulatory bodies.
Postdoctoral Applicants
If you are planning on applying to a funding program or have already secured funds, please get in touch with the following header: “Postdoc Funding Proposal.” Please include the following details in the email:
- Status of the funding (already awarded or planning to apply)
- If planning to apply, provide information on the deadline and a link to the funding website
- Project proposal (or outline of the proposal to develop together if a good match for the lab)
- Updated C.V. which clearly illustrates your research strengths and skills
- PDFs of publications
- Statement of interest paragraph detailing: what your research skills currently are, why you wish to specifically train in the BTG group, and what skills you hope to enrich during this training period.
Potential fellowship application opportunities:
Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship
DMU Students
The Biomolecular Technology Group advertise regularly (usually every year around March/April) positions available through the DMU Frontrunner scheme. The DMU Frontrunner scheme is a paid internship that supports students in gaining high-quality work experience alongside their studies, working part-time for up to six months within the professional and academic departments of the university. The BTG also offers internal sandwich year placements and graduate roles.
More info will be advertised on the Programme BlackBoard when applications are open, but get in touch if you have any questions.