Dr Rebecca Jones

Supervisor Details

Contact Details

Supervisor Profile

Research Interests

My research group focuses upon DNA replication, replication stress and replication-associated DNA damage. The aim of our work is to understand how these processes take place within the context of the nucleus in healthy cells and in ageing-related disease such as cancer and progeroid syndromes.

I have experience of working with a wide range of techniques for studying the dynamics of DNA replication. Such techniques include immunofluorescence microscopy, chromatin isolation, DNA fibres, replication foci formation, alkaline gel electrophoresis, affinity chromatography and cell viability assays.

Supervision Style

In three words or phrases: Supportive, organised, student-centred.

Provision of Training

In the beginning, I will provide all the necessary training and support required for you to develop independence. As you become more independent, you can work to your own schedule and I will also encourage you to partake in suitable professional development training.

Progression Monitoring and Management

In Y1, we will arrange a suitable time each week in which we can meet to discuss your progress and create monthly action-plans. Regular scheduled meetings will ensure that you feel supported throughout your PhD, you have dedicated time to ask questions and problems can be quickly resolved.

Communication

Aside from the weekly one-to-one meetings, the group will communicate through email and a WhatsApp group chat for general communication, so I would expect these to be checked regularly within working hours. You will be responsible for managing your work/life balance but if you have any issues that impact your ability to fulfil your potential or my/our expectations then I will be more than happy to talk about them.

PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me:

In a group meeting

At least once per week

In year 1 of PhD study

At least once per week

In year 2 of PhD study

At least once per fortnight

In year 3 of PhD study

At least once per month

These meetings will be mainly face to face, and I am usually contactable for an instant response on every working day.

Working Pattern

Certain tasks in my lab need to occur at set times, and students need to be able to commit to a rota/timetable shared with other members of the team.

Notice Period for Feedback

I need at least 1 week's notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5000 words.

MIBTP Project Details

Primary supervisor for:

How do healthy cells age - a worm's tale into the decline of DNA replication and the structure of the nuclear membrane.

See the PhD Opportunities section to see if this project is currently open for applications via MIBTP.

Please Note: The main page lists projects via BBSRC Research Theme(s) quoted and then relevant Topic(s).

How do healthy cells age - a worm's tale into the decline of DNA replication and the structure of the nuclear membrane.

Secondary Supervisor(s): Dr Zita Balklav, Dr Alice Rothnie

University of Registration: Aston University

BBSRC Research Themes:

Integrated Understanding of Health (Ageing)

Project Outline

Background:

DNA replication is the fundamental process of all life, and maintaining accuracy in this process protects against development of disease. Onset of DNA replication requires formation of an intact nuclear membrane. Indeed, components of the nuclear membrane interact with DNA replication machinery, but the importance of these interactions is still unclear.

As healthy cells age, DNA replication accuracy decreases, while the integrity of the nuclear membrane also deteriorates [1, 2]. Such changes have never been studied together however and so the aim of this project is to determine which occurs first in ageing - defects in DNA replication or deterioration of the nuclear membrane?

For this project, we will use the C. elegans (nematode worm) model organism, which ages within 2-3 weeks and is highly conserved with humans. The project combines my expertise in DNA replication with that of Dr Zita Balklava (C. elegans expert) and Dr Alice Rothnie (expert in co-polymers for nuclear membrane analyses).

Objectives:

1. Monitor the health of DNA replication and the structure of the nucleus over the life span of the worms.

2. Isolate nuclei from cells at different stages of the life span. Extract sections of the nuclear membrane with co-polymers [3] and analyse the proteome of the nuclear membrane through mass spectrometry.

3. Determine the cellular localisation of a key component of the nuclear membrane, Lamin 1, as worms age, and also analyse its interactions with DNA replication factors.

This project will enable us to characterise how fundamental aspects of cell biology decline with age, and could potentially lead to the development of treatments to protect the accuracy of DNA replication in healthy ageing, reducing the occurrence of ageing-related diseases.

References:

1. Pathak, R.U, et al. Ageing Research Reviews, 2021.

2. Flach, J, et al. Nature, 2014.

3. Hawkins, O.P, et al. Biochim Biophys Acta Biomembr, 2021.