Medicine: Swansea University Research Excellence Scholarships (SURES): Fully Funded PhD Scholarship: Antimicrobial resistance

Funding provider: Swansea University and Swansea Bay University Health Board (SBUHB)

Subject areas: Microbiology; Bioinformatics; Antibiotic resistance 

Project start date:

• 1 October 2024 (Enrolment open from mid-September)

Supervisors: 

• Dr Paul Facey (Swansea University – [email protected])
• Dr Claire Morgan (Swansea University)
• Dr Phil Coles (SBUHB and Swansea University)

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Microbiology and Immunology

Mode of study: Full-time

Project description: 

Swansea University is pleased to offer fully-funded Swansea University Research Excellence Scholarships (SURES) for full-time doctoral students to its fifth cohort, commencing in October 2024. 

Antimicrobial resistance, identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the “next major pandemic,” poses a substantial threat, projected to cause 10 million deaths by 2050. Priority pathogens, including multi-drug resistant strains of Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumanii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species (collectively known as ESKAPE pathogens), are recognized as the primary contributors to nosocomial infections. The primary objective of this research project is to address the imminent challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance by developing novel antimicrobials capable of reducing the viability of ESKAPE pathogens. The project specifically aims to identify novel targets and validate the binding efficacy of compounds to these targets. Initial investigations have successfully identified several promising compounds through in silico analyses. These compounds have demonstrated potential by exhibiting binding affinity to crucial proteins within the transcription machinery. The ongoing project focuses on strengthening the initial findings by conducting comprehensive validations of the binding interactions between the identified compounds and their respective target proteins. Experimental assays will be employed to confirm the efficacy of these compounds in inhibiting the essential biological processes of ESKAPE pathogens. The successful completion of this project is anticipated to contribute to the development of novel antimicrobials effective against ESKAPE pathogens. The validated compounds may serve as promising candidates for further preclinical and clinical studies, ultimately addressing the pressing issue of antimicrobial resistance. 

Eligibility

Candidates must have attained, or must be expected to attain, a first-class honours degree and/or a distinction at master’s level. If you are eligible to apply for the scholarship (i.e. a student who is eligible to pay the UK rate of tuition fees) but do not hold a UK degree, you can check our comparison entry requirements. Please note that you may need to provide evidence of your English Language proficiency. 

• Where applicants have multiple master’s degrees, a distinction must be held in the degree that is most relevant to the intended PhD study. 
• If you are currently studying for a master’s level qualification with an expected award date that is later than 01/10/2024, you should hold a minimum of an upper-second-class (2:1) honours degree.   
• You should be able to demonstrate a pass with a minimum grade average of at least 70% for your part-one master’s degree modules (the taught aspect of your master’s course rather than a research-focused dissertation) and submit your dissertation by no later than 30/09/2024.  

Applicants must be able to begin their course of study in October 2024. As a cohort-based programme, deferral to an alternative enrolment window within the academic year or to another academic year is not permissible.

Please note that both the degree and language-proficiency entry requirements for SURES are higher than the baseline standard for entry that is stipulated for most of the PhD programmes at Swansea University. 

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA regulations.