Deciphering stress response in healthy aging

About the project

About the Project Details of the Project Background: When organisms encounter stressors such as heat, nutrient deprivation, or oxidative damage, cells form stress granules (SGs)—aggregates of proteins and RNA. SGs protect mRNAs and proteins from degradation, allowing cells to resume normal functions once stress is removed. However, stress responsiveness declines with age. Aging cells accumulate damaged macromolecules due to impaired proteostasis and experience elevated oxidative stress, creating a detrimental feedback loop in which stress accelerates aging, and aging weakens stress responses. Hypothesis: Aging represents a gradual accumulation of chronic cellular stress that disrupts SG dynamics. Aberrant or persistent SGs may impair stress adaptation. Properly balanced SG dynamics may therefore support healthy aging and extend lifespan. Importance: Role of SG in organismal aging remains poorly understood. C. elegans offers a powerful model to study aging-related processes due to its short lifespan, genetic tractability, conserved pathways and transparency, allowing high-resolution live microscopy. Aim: This project aims to examine how SG composition, dynamics and stress responsiveness change with age using three objectives: 1. Assess age-dependent SG composition. SGs will be purified from young and old worms under oxidative or heat stress and analysed by mass spectrometry and RNA-seq, alongside core SG protein-level changes by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. 2. Determine how impaired SG function affects aging. Using wild-type and core SG gene mutants, we will measure lifespan, fecundity, locomotion, and additional aging markers. 3. Evaluate age-related changes in stress recovery. SG dynamics will be monitored in young and old wild-type and SG gene mutant animals to test whether aging compromises SG dynamics. Overall, this project will uncover physiological changes in stress response as we age and provide a springboard for future validation of identified candidates for promoting healthy aging. Overseas Applicants Overseas applicants may apply for this studentship but will need to pay the difference between the ‘Home’ and the ‘Overseas’ tuition fees. Currently the difference between ‘Home’ and the ‘Overseas’ tuition fees is £17,712 for 2026/7. As part of the application, you will be required to confirm that you will provide this additional funding. Please indicate this on the application form in the funding section. This project has associated consumables costs which should be discussed with the supervisor in the first instance and before applying . The supervisor can be contacted at z.balklava@aston.ac.uk . When applying, please upload copies of your discussions with the supervisor as confirmation. Location This position will be based on the Aston Campus in Birmingham, UK. The successful candidate will need to be located within a reasonable distance of the campus, and will be expected to visit in person regularly. Person Specification Candidates should have been awarded, or expect to achieve, EITHER: a] a First or Upper Second Class award in their undergraduate degree, in a relevant subject. OR b] a First or Upper Second Class award in their undergraduate degree, and a Merit or Distinction in a Masters degree, both in a relevant subject. Qualifications from overseas institutions will be considered, but performance must be equivalent to that described above, and the University reserves the right to ascertain this equivalence according to its own criteria. Contact information For formal enquiries about this project contact Dr Zita Balklava at z.balklava@aston.ac.uk Submitting an application We can only consider applications that are complete and have all supporting documents. Applications that do not provide all the relevant documents will be automatically rejected. Your application must include: 1. English language copies of the transcripts and certificates for all your higher education degrees, including any Bachelor degrees. 2. A Research Statement detailing your understanding of the research area, how you would approach the project, and a brief review of relevant literature. Be sure to use the title of the research project you are applying for. There is no set format or word count. 3. A personal statement which outlines any further information which you think is relevant to your application, such as your personal suitability for research, career aspirations, possible future research interests, and further description of relevant employment experience. 4. A Curriculum Vitae (Resume) which details your education and work history. 5. Two academic referees who can discuss your suitability for independent research. References must be on headed paper, signed and dated no more than 2 years old. At least one reference should be from your most recent University. You can submit your references at a later date if necessary. 6. Evidence that you meet the English Language requirements . If you do not currently meet the language requirements, you can submit this at a later stage. 7. A copy of your passport . Where relevant, include evidence of settled or pre-settled status. Interviews Interviews will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. If you are shortlisted, you will be contacted directly with details of the interview. Apply for this position here Please select “Research - Health Sciences” from the application form options. If you require further information about the application process please contact the Postgraduate Admissions team at pgradmissions@aston.ac.uk

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