Fixed-term

About the project Despite their importance in driving disease, identifying compounds that bind and regulate membrane protein function can be extremely challenging. In this project, we will develop a high-throughput screening platform that utilises a mammalian two-hybrid system for the identification of modulators of membrane proteins. We are seeking an outstanding student with an interest in chemical biology and mammalian cell biology to work on an industrially sponsored project to develop a platform for the identification of membrane protein modulators. Targeting membrane proteins in drug discovery is extremely challenging. In this project, we will develop a new screening platform for the identification of therapeutic binders of membrane proteins, using a mammalian two-hybrid system. This platform will significantly accelerate the discovery of molecules that bind and modulate membrane proteins. The project will involve constructing the mammalian two-hybrid system, ad using it to screen a library of mini-proteins for active molecules. These compounds will serve as the starting point for the development of potential therapeutics. The project is sponsored in part by UCB and will involve working closely with our pharma partners. The project provides an excellent opportunity to receive high-quality training in a range of techniques at the chemistry/biology interface, especially mammalian cell engineering. The project will be conducted in the Tavassoli lab, in state of the art multidisciplinary laboratories, facilities and equipment at the School of Chemistry, University of Southampton. The School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering is committed to promoting equality, diversity inclusivity as demonstrated by our Athena SWAN award. We welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or age, and will give full consideration to applicants seeking flexible working patterns and those who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy, onsite childcare facilities, and offers a range of benefits to help ensure employees’ well-being and work-life balance. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward. Entry requirements You must have a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent in life science disciplines. Ideally you will have prior experience with mammalian cell culture. Fees and funding We offer a range of funding opportunities for both UK and international students. Horizon Europe fee waivers automatically cover the difference between overseas and UK fees for qualifying students. Competition-based Presidential Bursaries from the University cover the difference between overseas and UK fees for top-ranked applicants. Competition-based studentships offered by our schools typically cover UK-level tuition fees and a stipend for living costs for top-ranked applicants. Funding will be awarded on a rolling basis, so apply early for the best opportunity to be considered. For more information, please visit our postgraduate research funding pages. How to apply Apply now You need to: choose programme type (Research), 2026/27, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences select Full time or Part time search for programme PhD Chemistry (7189) add name of the supervisor in section 2 of the application Applications should include: your CV (resumé) 2 academic references degree transcripts and certificates to date English language qualification (if applicable) Contact us Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences If you have a general question, email our doctoral college (feps-pgr-apply@soton.ac.uk). Project leader If you wish to discuss any details of the project informally, please contact Professor Ali Tavassoli (ali1@soton.ac.uk).

This role will be based on the university campus. We are also open to discussing flexible working arrangements. Are you keen to advance glycoscience research across disciplines? Do you have relevant research experience in chemistry or biochemistry and a keen interest in developing molecular tools to probe complex protein/glycan interactions? Are you eager to develop your expertise, push the boundaries of knowledge, and pursue a PhD in one of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities? GLYCOCALYX is a Horizon Europe Doctoral Network. It offers a multidisciplinary training programme between its academic and industrial partners to research the self-organisation and barrier functions of the mammalian glycocalyx. All mammalian cells are covered with a dense and complex coat of sugar chains known as the glycocalyx. Glycocalyces are essential for multicellular life yet remain the ‘dark matter’ of biology, under-studied owing to the historical lack of preparative and analytical tools to probe the local molecular composition and transient interactions of molecules within glycocalyces, and missing physics rules to interpret experimental observations. The GLYCOCALYX Network will train 15 PhD Fellows in chemistry, physics and biology methods required to resolve the dynamic organisation of glycocalyces; 3 of the 15 PhDs Fellows will be hosted at the University of Leeds. The projects will establish a new level of understanding of how glycocalyces perform their many selective barrier functions. PhD Fellows will receive cutting edge scientific training, alongside industry-relevant transferable skills, to equip them for careers in the medical technology sector and its underpinning research. As MSCA PhD Fellow (DC3) in Leeds, you will develop modular, multivalent glycocalyx probes to study density‑dependent lectin–glycan interactions in molecularly defined model systems, and elucidate the physical and chemical rules underlying superselective targeting. This knowledge will enable the rational design of probes for super‑resolution imaging of glycocalyx organisation and for targeted delivery with exceptional cellular selectivity. You will interact and develop research collaborations with our GLYCOCALYX academic and industrial partners, and in addition you will participate in activities of the Doctoral Network, including attending training courses and work placements at other sites. Eligibility rules. To meet the requirements of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network, you must be eligible to enrol in a first doctoral degree (PhD), and must not have lived or worked in the UK for more than 12 months in the 3 years prior to recruitment date. Alongside previous research experience you will have a Masters (or equivalent qualification) in Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, Neuroscience, Physics in Biology, or a related discipline. To engage in paid employment you must have the necessary right to work in the UK. This may involve obtaining an appropriate visa. Salary. The Marie Skłodowska-Curie PhD Fellow salary is fixed at £53,780 per annum (plus family allowance if applicable), in line with MSCA Doctoral Network requirements, subject to tax and National Insurance deductions. Salary Requirements of the Skilled Worker Visa Route This post may be suitable for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route but first-time applicants might need to qualify for salary concessions. For more information, please visit the Government’s Skilled Worker visa page. For research and academic posts, we will consider eligibility under the Global Talent visa. For more information, please visit the Government’s page, Apply for the Global Talent visa. Further info: please contact: Bruce Turnbull, Professor of Biomolecular Chemistry, and project primary supervisor Email: w.b.turnbull@leeds.ac.uk

Project summary An exciting opportunity is available to join a multidisciplinary research programme across the laboratories of Dr Salah Mansour, Dr Ali Roghanian and Dr Andres Vallejo at the University of Southampton. We are seeking a collaborative and motivated postdoctoral scientist to work on our Blood Cancer UK-funded programme developing next-generation, off-the-shelf immunotherapies for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). This three-year project will harness cytotoxic invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) cells for precision targeting of AML, an aggressive leukaemia with poor survival outcomes. Building on strong preliminary data, it combines mechanistic and translational immunology with bespoke in vivo models to define and exploit therapeutically relevant subsets. The Research Fellow will lead studies on cytotoxic T cell mechanisms, oversee preclinical validation, and advance CAR-iNKT platforms optimised for AML immunotherapy. The role bridges basic and translational research and suits a creative scientist with interests in tumour immunology, T cell engineering, and immunotherapy. You will join a multidisciplinary team spanning immunology, and bioinformatics, with access to advanced flow cytometry, 10X Genomics, in vivo imaging platforms. Key responsibilities To work within the Mansour and Roghanian labs, and with collaborators at Southampton and beyond. To design, conduct, and analyse in vitro and in vivo immunology experiments. To lead the optimisation and functional assessment of human T cells and CAR T cells. To liaise and coordinate between project collaborators and core facilities. To record analyses accurately and present results at group meetings, national, and international conferences. To contribute to dissemination of findings through publications and grant applications. To supervise and support junior researchers and students. Any other duties appropriate to the scope and grade of the post. Postdoctoral Fellows are expected to lead their own projects, collaborate on others, and guide PhD and Master’s students. Essential qualifications, experience and competencies PhD (or near completion) in human T cell immunology, cancer biology, or a related discipline. Strong practical experience with core immunological assays (e.g. FACS, ELISA, T cell assays). Proven competence in the design and execution of experiments using mouse models of cancer. Ability to manage projects to timelines, supervise junior staff, and work both independently and collaboratively. Excellent communication and presentation skills, including at conferences. Desirable Experience with single-cell or bulk sequencing (e.g. 10X Genomics, RNA-seq). Familiarity with bioinformatics pipelines and large dataset interpretation. Experience in engineering human T cells, viral transduction, or related approaches. Home Office Personal Licence. About us The University of Southampton offers a strong environment for translational immunology. Clinical and Experimental Sciences (CES) is a hub for infection and immunology, while the Centre for Cancer Immunology (CCI) is the UK’s first dedicated cancer immunology centre. Together, they unite expertise in T cell biology, multiomics, immunotherapy, preclinical modelling, and clinical translation, supported by an embedded Clinical Trials Unit and close links with NHS and industry partners. Working at the University of Southampton: Check out the staff benefits and why you should join us at The University of Southampton! Applicants should provide: A CV A cover letter outlining suitability for the role Contact details for at least two recent referees Apply Now

Prof Melanie Hezzell Application Deadline: 30 June 2026 Details In human patients, venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major cause of mortality, often driven by altered haemodynamics in the context of venous insufficiency and stenosis. Notably, coronary artery stenosis (CAS) caused by atherosclerotic disease may predispose individuals to venous thrombosis,[1] suggesting a systemic link between arterial pathology and venous risk. Evidence suggests that reduced blood flow enables a prothrombotic vicious circle where IgM and IgG deposition triggers complement activation and platelet recruitment.[2] This is exacerbated by chronic infections leading to antibody inflation.[3], [4], [5] This project addresses the translational gap by analysing molecular signatures from animal models, comparing antithrombotic treatment against controls, to identify how drug efficacy is modulated by flow conditions and immune status. By integrating these signatures with imaging datasets of stenotic vessels,[6] we will build 3D Digital systems to simulate how vascular stasis interacts with antibody levels to trigger VTE. Aims and objectives: To identify molecular signatures of antithrombotic response in animal models and characterise their variation in relation to flow-stasis and immune profiles. To investigate how venous insufficiency, stenosis, and systemic factors linked to CAS facilitate antibody-driven thrombosis (IgM/IgG/Complement) using 2D/3D in vitro flow models. To develop a 3D Digital Twin framework that utilises human MRI to simulate the impact of vascular geometry on immunothrombosis, enabling clinical guidance. Methods: ·        Bioinformatic pipeline comparing animal datasets (antithrombotic vs. control) to identify biomarkers of treatment success modifiable by flow conditions and immune shifts. ·        Development of 3D cell models (endothelial/platelet co-cultures) to study the vicious circle of IgG/IgM deposition under flow conditions mimicking venous insufficiency and stenosis. ·        Quantify antibody titers and validate protein-level expression of FcμR and pIgR receptors in relation to immune-driven antibody inflation. ·        Processing human MRI data (e.g., Phase-Contrast MRI) to extract vascular geometries from patients with venous insufficiency and CAS. Using the Digital systems to model how different grades of stenosis and immune profiles interact to accelerate thrombus formation, enabling personalised clinical guidance for intervention. Supervisors: Prof Melanie Hezzell and Dr Tim Dong How to apply: Please make an online application for this project at http://www.bris.ac.uk/pg-howtoapply. Please select <programme title> on the Programme Choice page. You will be prompted to enter details of the studentship in the Funding and Research Details sections of the form. In the funding section of the application form, select ‘Studentship’ as the main source of funding and enter ‘Studentship title’.  Candidate requirements: Standard University of Bristol eligibility rules apply. Please visit PhD Veterinary Sciences | Study at Bristol | University of Bristol for more information. Contacts: please contact fohs-pgadmissions@bristol.ac.uk with any queries about your application. Please contact the project supervisor for project-related queries: Melanie Hezzell (mh16511@bristol.ac.uk) Start date: September 2026 Funding Notes This project is unfunded, so only available to self-funding students. Overseas students are welcome to apply but must be able to fund the difference between UK and Overseas tuition fees. Optional bench fees £5000 to allow additional lab work, but not essential. References Y. Ma et al., ‘Coronary artery stenosis associated with right ventricular dysfunction in acute pulmonary embolism: A case-control study’, Chinese Medical Journal, vol. 138, no. 16, p. 2028, Jul. 2025, doi: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000003729. [2] K. Stark et al., ‘Antibodies and complement are key drivers of thrombosis’, Immunity, vol. 57, no. 9, pp. 2140-2156.e10, Sep. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2024.08.007. [3] J. M. Issac et al., ‘Induction of Hypergammaglobulinemia and Autoantibodies by Salmonella Infection in MyD88-Deficient Mice’, Front. Immunol., vol. 9, Jun. 2018, doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01384. [4] S. P. M. Welten, A. Redeker, R. E. M. Toes, and R. Arens, ‘Viral Persistence Induces Antibody Inflation without Altering Antibody Avidity’, J Virol, vol. 90, no. 9, pp. 4402–4411, Apr. 2016, doi: 10.1128/JVI.03177-15. [5] ‘Hypergammaglobulinemia – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics’. Accessed: Feb. 09, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/immunology-and-microbiology/hypergammaglobulinemia [6] S. Qian et al., ‘Developing cardiac digital twin populations powered by machine learning provides electrophysiological insights in conduction and repolarization’, Nat Cardiovasc Res, vol. 4, no. 5, pp. 624–636, May 2025, doi: 10.1038/s44161-025-00650-0.