PhD Studentship in Phage Therapy: Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD Studentship focusing on the control of Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infections through innovative phage therapy. This three-year opportunity, based in the Life Sciences field, aims to capitalize on recent breakthroughs in phage isolation and genome editing to design, build, and test synthetic bacteriophage cocktails against dominant C. diff strains responsible for C. difficile infections (CDI).
PhD Studentship in Controlling Clostridioides difficile Infections through Phage Therapy
Study Area: Life Sciences, with a focus on microbiology, biochemistry, synthetic biology, and CRISPR/Cas genome editing techniques to combat C. difficile infections.
Location: UK Other
Eligibility/Qualification:
- A minimum of a 2.1 Honours degree in Microbiology, Biochemistry, or a related field.
- Open to UK students only.
- Strong academic background, research experience, and relevant skills in anaerobic microbiology, DNA synthesis, cloning, bioinformatics, and related areas.
Description: C. difficile is a significant global health threat, causing hospital-acquired and antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Traditional antibiotics face challenges in treating severe or recurrent CDI, with rising concerns about antibiotic-resistant C. diff strains. This PhD studentship aims to explore the potential of phage therapy, leveraging recent breakthroughs in isolating lytic phages and employing CRISPR/Cas genome editing tools. The project will involve designing synthetic phage cocktails targeting prevalent outbreak strains, with a focus on both lytic and lysogenic platforms. The research encompasses various fields, including microbiology, synthetic biology, electron microscopy, bioinformatics, in vivo testing, and biochemistry.
How to Apply: To apply, submit the following documents to nigel.minton@nottingham.ac.uk:
- Cover letter outlining your research interests and motivation for pursuing this project.
- Curriculum vitae detailing your academic background, research experience, and relevant skills.
- Academic transcripts of previous degrees.
Last Date: The application deadline is Sunday, 31st March 2024. Early application is encouraged as screening of applicants will begin upon receipt. For informal inquiries, contact Professor Nigel P Minton at nigel.minton@nottingham.ac.uk. Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in combating C. difficile infections through phage therapy.
