PhD Studentship: Evolution Inspired Design of New Antibiotics to Address Antimicrobial Resistance

The discovery and development of penicillin sparked ‘The Golden Age of Antibiotics’ which spanned the 1940’s to 1960’s when most major classes of antibiotics were discovered. Indeed, most antibiotics in clinical use today are derived from natural products made by bacteria. 

Alarmingly, however, the pipeline of new antibiotics has dried up at a time when the continued evolution of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) presents a significant threat to global health and new antibiotics with novel mechanisms of action are urgently needed. 

The aim of this project is to use principles learned from evolutionary studies, in combination with gene editing tools and methods developed in our lab, to engineer antibiotic producing bacteria to produce new antibiotics that can be used for the treatment of drug resistant pathogens. 

The successful candidate will have access to cutting-edge research facilities as well as a stimulating research and training environment.  

They will be part of an interdisciplinary team focussed on antibiotic discovery and the project provides an exceptional training opportunity in antibiotic function and biosynthesis, molecular microbiology including gene editing, enzymology and protein purification, protein modelling, bioinformatics, and analytical chemistry.  

The successful candidate also will be supported in acquiring transferable skills such as written and spoken communication, problem solving and critical thinking and to help train students that visit the lab so they can gain skills in knowledge exchange. The combination of skills and experience provided by this studentship will make the successful candidate highly employable in both academia and industry. 

Additional Information:

The Norwich Research Park (NRP) Biosciences Doctoral Training Programme (DTP) is offering fully-funded studentships for October 2023 entry. 

The programme offers postgraduates the opportunity to undertake a 4-year PhD research project whilst enhancing professional development and research skills through a comprehensive training programme.  

You will join a vibrant community of world-leading researchers.  

All NRPDTP students undertake a three-month professional internship placement (PIPS) during their study. The placement offers exciting and invaluable work experience designed to enhance professional development.  

Full support and advice will be provided by our Professional Internship team.  

Students with, or expecting to attain, at least an upper second class honours degree, or equivalent, are invited to apply. 

This project has been shortlisted for funding by the NRPDTP. Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed on 24, 25 or 26 January 2023.  

Visit our website for further information on eligibility and how to apply: https://biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/  

Our partners value diverse and inclusive work environments that are positive and supportive. Students are selected for admission without regard to gender, marital or civil partnership status, disability, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age or social background. 

Primary Supervisor: Prof Barrie Wilkinson 

Start date: 1st October 2023

For more information on this project, please visit www.uea.ac.uk

Funding

This project is awarded with a 4-year Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (NRPDTP) PhD studentship. The studentship includes payment of tuition fees (directly to the University), a stipend to cover living expenses (2022/3 stipend rate: £17,668), and a Research Training Support Grant of £5,000pa for each year of the studentship. Competition Funded (Home and International).