FULLY FUNDED PhD – Vector-imposed constraints on the evolution and diversity of bluetongue virus

We are excited to offer a PhD project in virology, fully funded for UK home students and starting in October 2026. This is a collaboration between groups at The Pirbright Institute and the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research (CVR), the largest centres in the UK for research into viruses of livestock and humans, respectively. Students will be registered at the University of Glasgow.

Applicants will be shortlisted based on an anonymised form, which will be assessed based on their aptitude and enthusiasm for research, and their understanding of how the PhD project would support their personal and professional development. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview at the Pirbright Institute.

Potential applicants may contact the Principal Supervisors informally for more information (doing so will not affect the anonymised shortlisting process). They can be contacted by email (details on the University of Glasgow website), or via the contact forms on the Pirbright Institute website. If you have any questions about the application process please contact cvr-phdprogramme@glasgow.ac.uk

Project description

This project offers an exciting opportunity to explore the intricate dynamics of virus-vector interactions and evolution, while developing a broad skill set that will prepare you for a successful career in science. You will work with bluetongue virus (BTV), an important insect-borne pathogen that can cause severe disease in livestock and wild ruminants. The UK and Europe are currently experiencing outbreaks of multiple strains of BTV. BTV is a segmented RNA virus, and co-infection of the same mammalian-host or insect-vector by two or more strains of BTV, may lead to the emergence of new viral strains with unknown clinical and transmission characteristics, mainly by the mechanism of genome-segment exchange or reassortment.

In this project, you will investigate how virus – virus interactions during co-infection and virus – cell interactions (including work with live insects) influence BTV evolution and diversity. Using a range of molecular biology techniques, including qPCR, fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH), and confocal microscopy, you will characterise the dynamics of co-infection across a variety of BTV strains in cell culture, and in our in vivo vector infection model, Culicoides sonorensis midges. Interesting co-infection scenarios will then be taken forward, and by carrying out insect dissections, genotyping assays and next generation sequencing, you will further characterise the resulting viral diversity and identify potential infection bottlenecks that shape BTV evolution in its Culicoides vector. All findings and generated datasets will be further explored throughmodelling approaches that will start unravelling the complexity of virus-virus and virus-vector interactions and their impact on BTV diversity, evolution and transmission towards a long-term aim of prediction of emergence of new strains of BTV.

This project will give you hands-on experience of working in state-of-the-art high-biological containment (SAPO4/CL3) facilities, using a broad range of techniques and expertise from multiple disciplines, including virology, entomology, and computational and evolution biology. This will allow you ample opportunities to develop specific research directions of interest and scientific independence, while benefitting from unique scientific environments and complementary skills and facilities available at the Pirbright Institute, in Surrey, and the Centre for Virus Research, at the University of Glasgow. At both institutions, you will be part of highly collaborative and vibrant research environments, while investigating an exciting research hypothesis with a real impact in the field of virology and vector-borne diseases and the potential to inform UK disease policy.

Important Notice

All applicants must complete and include the anonymised form in their UofG application: CVR-Pirbright Application Form 2026.docx

References

Nomikou K, Hughes J, et al., Widespread Reassortment Shapes the Evolution and Epidemiology of Bluetongue Virus following European Invasion. PLoS Pathog (2015). Doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005056

Guimera Busquets M, et al., Visualisation of Bluetongue Virus in the Salivary Apparatus of Culicoides Biting Midges Highlights the Accessory Glands as a Primary Arboviral Infection Site. Biol Proced Online (2023). Doi: 10.1186/s12575-023-00221-2.

Carpenter M, et al., Assessing Reassortment between Bluetongue Virus Serotypes 10 and 17 at Different Coinfection Ratios in Culicoides sonorensis. Viruses (2024). Doi: 10.3390/v16020240.

Cavani S M, et al., Modeling cellular co-infection and reassortment of bluetongue virus in Culicoides midges. Virus Evol (2022). Doi: 10.1093/ve/veac094

Funding Notes

This project is co-funded by The Pirbright Institute and the University of Glasgow’s MVLS Industrial Partnership PhD Programme. It is fully funded for 3.5 years including fees, consumables and a stipend set at £2.2K above the UKRI basic rate (a projected starting stipend of £24K p.a.).

This PhD is available for UK home students, who must meet the following criteria:

be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or

have settled status, or

have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or

have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

Applicants who are successful at interview will also be required to pass the Pirbright Institute’s security and occupational health screening processes before a final offer can be issued.