Tracking the origin and fate of osteomorphs

The skeleton is a defining characteristic of all vertebrate animals and osteoclasts are a basic cell of the skeleton responsible for bone remodelling. However, very little is known about osteoclasts and how they cope with the cellular stress of breaking down bone. The proposed PhD projects will seek to bridge critical knowledge gaps about the life cycle of osteoclasts and how and why they undergo cell fission into daughter cells called osteomorphs that may be able to extend the lifespan of osteoclasts by regenerating their mitochondria. The project will involve tracking the cellular dynamics and fate of osteoclasts, osteomorphs and their mitochondria using state-of-the-art intravital microscopy (Project 1) and single cell genomic analysis (Project 2) using CRISPR gene-edited mice. This project would suit a candidate with an undergraduate science degree with first class honours or masters degree. Knowledge in immunology, bone biology and/or cellular metabolism and experience working with animals is desirable but not essential.

Scholarship