Fixed-term
SLS-1: Producing improved HIV-immunotherapies by integrating AI with plant molecular farming
We are seeking a highly motivated PhD student to develop next-generation HIV immunotherapies by combining artificial intelligence with plant molecular farming. HIV remains a major global health challenge, and current treatments are expensive and difficult to deliver in low-resource settings. This project will use AI approaches to predict novel broadly neutralising antibodies capable of targeting conserved regions of the HIV envelope, inspired by rare “elite controllers”. Candidate antibodies will be rapidly produced using low-cost plant expression systems and evaluated in vitro to determine whether their efficacy matches or exceeds existing therapies. The project offers interdisciplinary training across AI, molecular biology, plant biotechnology, and immunology, and is ideal for graduates with interests in computational biology, bioengineering, and global health research. Please contact Dr Cathy Moore to discuss: c.moore@westminster.ac.uk. Entry requirements and how to apply Candidates should have a minimum classification of 2.1 in their Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, and preferably a Master’s degree. Applicants whose secondary level education has not been conducted in the medium of English should also demonstrate evidence of appropriate English language proficiency normally defined as IELTS: 6.5 (overall score with not less than 6.0 in any of the individual elements). Read more about: Our entry requirements How to apply What should be in a PhD research proposal Our Graduate School and the support they provide To make an application: Visit the School of Life Sciences page to apply for the programme most appropriate to your research. Application deadline: Applications should be submitted by 5pm on Friday 15 May 2026. Interviews will take place in June. You must include the code and title of the studentship you are applying for in your application header, ie “SLS-1 Studentship”. For queries about any aspect of the application process or informal enquiries, contact our Doctoral Coordinator, Dr Polly Hayes at p.hayes@westminster.ac.uk. * Minimum full-time enrolment before submission is 33 months. Fee waivers and maintenance are in place for the three-year studentship. Following that, there is a six-month no-fee period for writing up. If a doctoral research student has not submitted by the end of the no-fee period, a £1,500 fee applies.
SLS-2: Democratising Prenatal Screening: Evaluating finger prick Dried Blood Spots as a Simplified Alternative to Plasma-Based Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing for Common Aneuploidies
We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to pioneer a simplified approach to non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for fetal chromosomal abnormalities. This innovative project investigates alternative sources of DNA, such as blood spot samples, that could potentially replace blood plasma for accurate detection of common trisomies (Down’s, Edwards’, and Patau syndromes), potentially revolutionising prenatal screening accessibility worldwide. You will develop and validate a novel NIPT assay using cutting-edge molecular techniques, including next-generation sequencing (NGS), cell-free DNA (cfDNA) extraction, and fetal fraction quantification. This combined wet-lab and dry-lab project offers hands-on experience with advanced genomic technologies while conducting a comprehensive cost-effectiveness analysis to assess the feasibility of implementing blood-spot screening in clinical settings. The research addresses a critical healthcare challenge: current plasma-based NIPT requires specialised equipment, trained phlebotomists, and cold-chain transport, limiting accessibility in resource-constrained settings. Your work could enable self-collection, reduce NHS costs, and democratize access to gold-standard prenatal screening globally. Requirements Undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in molecular biology, genetics, bioinformatics, or related biomedical sciences. Strong organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail. Commitment to completing mandatory Human Tissue Act (HTA) training. Enthusiasm for collaborative research with clinical partners. Desirable skills Experience in omics technologies or bioinformatics data analysis. Knowledge of prenatal diagnostics or reproductive health. Statistical analysis experience. Note: Training in NGS, cfDNA analysis, and data interpretation will be provided during Year 1. This research directly contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 5: Gender Equality, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities) by developing accessible diagnostic tools that empower women to make informed reproductive decisions. By simplifying prenatal screening, you will help eliminate healthcare disparities and improve maternal-fetal outcomes in underserved communities. Join us in transforming women’s health through innovative biomedical research that bridges laboratory science and real-world clinical impact. This is your opportunity to develop expertise in advanced molecular diagnostics while addressing a critical global healthcare need. Please contact Dr Maria Neofytou to discuss: m.neofytou@westminster.ac.uk. Entry requirements and how to apply Candidates should have a minimum classification of 2.1 in their Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, and preferably a Master’s degree. Applicants whose secondary level education has not been conducted in the medium of English should also demonstrate evidence of appropriate English language proficiency normally defined as IELTS: 6.5 (overall score with not less than 6.0 in any of the individual elements). Read more about: Our entry requirements How to apply What should be in a PhD research proposal Our Graduate School and the support they provide To make an application: Visit the School of Life Sciences page to apply for the programme most appropriate to your research. Application deadline: Applications should be submitted by 5pm on Friday 15 May 2026. Interviews will take place in June. You must include the code and title of the studentship you are applying for in your application header, ie “SLS-1 Studentship”. For queries about any aspect of the application process or informal enquiries, contact our Doctoral Coordinator, Dr Polly Hayes at p.hayes@westminster.ac.uk. * Minimum full-time enrolment before submission is 33 months. Fee waivers and maintenance are in place for the three-year studentship. Following that, there is a six-month no-fee period for writing up. If a doctoral research student has not submitted by the end of the no-fee period, a £1,500 fee applies.
Determining the diversity and functionality of antimicrobial resistance genes encoded by Klebsiella spp
Project overview Klebsiella spp. are found in a range of different environments. They are early colonisers and commensals of human skin, oral, nasal, throat and gut microbiotas, but also contribute to a wide range of nosocomial infections (e.g. pneumonia, wound, urinary tract or bloodstream infections, sepsis). Infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae are increasingly associated with multidrug resistance, with Klebsiella pneumoniae the most studied species of the genus Klebsiella because of its contribution to the global burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). However, reports on AMR in all Klebsiella spp. are increasing, and most members of the genus Klebsiella have been reported as emerging opportunistic pathogens of humans and other animals. The beta-lactamases SHV and OXY are core to members of the Klebsiella pneumoniae and Klebsiella oxytoca complexes, respectively, providing these bacteria with intrinsic resistance to antibiotics such as ampicillin. Recent work in our laboratory has shown that known and novel members of the Klebsiella planticola and Klebsiella terrigena complexes also encode core beta-lactamases conferring resistance to penicillins. beta-Lactamases encoded by KPC, OXA-48 and NDM genes are found in some clinical isolates of Klebsiella, are associated with multidrug resistance and contribute directly to treatment failures in clinical settings. We have found that Klebsiella spp. encode a range of uncharacterized AMR genes. Some, or all, of these genes may be functional. If they are functional, they may represent an unrecognized contributor to the global burden of AMR. This project will combine computational- and laboratory-based approaches to characterize the full range of beta-lactamases encoded by Klebsiella spp. Full training will be provided in relevant bioinformatics and data science skills to the student who takes on this exciting and ambitious project. You will be part of the Antimicrobial Resistance, Omics and Microbiota (AROM) research theme based on the Clifton Campus of Nottingham Trent University (NTU). In addition to attending weekly AROM meetings, where you will have the opportunity to present your work, you will be encouraged to present your work at national and international scientific conferences and to publish your research findings in peer-reviewed journals. You will also receive additional relevant training through events and activities organised through NTU’s Doctoral School and the School of Science and Technology. Entry qualifications Applicants should hold, or be expected to hold, a UK Master’s degree (or UK equivalent according to NARIC) with a minimum of a commendation, and/or a UK 1st Class / 2.1 Bachelor’s Honour’s Degree (or UK equivalent according to NARIC) in Microbiology, Biochemistry or Molecular Biology. How to apply How to apply: Please visit our how to apply page for a step-by-step guide. Applications are open all year round. Fees and funding This is a self-funded opportunity for UK and International applicants. Still need help? Contact Professor Lesley Hoyles on: Email: lesley.hoyles@ntu.ac.uk Apply Now
Postdoctoral Research Fellow Ref: 43332 (Fixed Term)
About the role Applications are invited for a postdoctoral research fellow position in the Systems Neurodevelopment laboratory headed by Dr Varun Sreenivasan at the University of Sussex. The successful candidate will work on an exciting research project at the interface of developmental neurobiology and circuits neuroscience. They will integrate in-vivo whole cell recordings during postnatal development with optogenetics, viral tracing and behavioural filming to study how developmental expansion of motor cortex into non-motor regions will rewire sensorimotor circuits. About you You will have either completed or submitted a PhD in neuroscience. You will have previous experience in carrying out either in-vivo electrophysiology or two-photon imaging, optogenetics and behaviour in mice. You will be confident in handling the relevant data and be competent in programming on either MATLAB or Python. You will also be enthusiastic about building and troubleshooting your experimental rig. You will have the skills to manage your own workload and at times, support other colleagues in their research. You will clearly communicate your research and progress to internal and external audiences. About our School In the School of Life Sciences we strive to understand the mechanisms that drive biological and chemical processes and to develop innovative and diverse approaches to enhance human health, technology and the environment. We undertake multidisciplinary research, teaching and engagement across a wide range of subjects, from Chemistry through Cellular and Molecular Biosciences to Conservation Biology. The School comprises five Departments: Biochemistry & Biomedicine, Genome Damage and Stability Centre, Neuroscience, Ecology & Evolution and Chemistry. We also house the Sussex Drug Discovery Centre which works to deliver the bench-to-bedside translation of our discoveries. The breadth and depth of our cutting-edge research and innovative teaching practice is delivered by a diverse community who work across boundaries to deliver excellence, engage with real world problems and produce impact. We pride ourselves on our world-leading research and have a strong research economy, with approximately 50% of our income stemming from research and an active grant portfolio of over £50 million. We host or form part of three University Centres of Excellence: the Genome Damage and Stability Centre, Sussex Neuroscience and Sussex Sustainability Research Programme. In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, 90.6 % of our Biological Sciences outputs and 84.8% of our Chemistry outputs were rated as world-leading or internationally excellent. We are proud that in both areas, 100% of our Impact cases were rated as world-leading or internationally excellent. The School is committed to the University’s core values of kindness, integrity, inclusion, collaboration and courage. We believe that equality, diversity and inclusion is everyone’s responsibility and aim to provide a friendly and supportive environment for all who work, study and visit the School of Life Sciences. Please find further information regarding the School of Life Sciences on our website. The School of Life Sciences is proud to hold a Silver Athena Swan Award. Why work here Our university is situated off the A27, next to the beautiful South Downs where you will enjoy everything that our 150-acre campus has to offer. We are accessible by public transport; Falmer train station is a five-minute walk to campus and several bus stops are located within campus. We also have dedicated cycling paths and encourage our staff to use these with our offering of a cycle to work scheme. Sussex is a renowned, multi-accredited, research-led International University and this is only possible because of the people that work here. Whether you are a member of Faculty, part of a Professional Services team or a Student, it’s our people that make us great and we want you to be part of that. Find out more about our reward and benefits package. Find out about our equality, diversity and inclusion. Further Key Information Please contact Dr Varun Sreenivasan at v.sreenivasan@sussex.ac.uk for informal enquiries. Further details on the lab can be found at https://www.sysneurodevlab.org/ The University is committed to equality and valuing diversity, and applications are particularly welcomed from women and black and minority ethnic candidates, who are under-represented in academic posts in Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine and Mathematics (STEMM) at Sussex. The University of Sussex values the diversity of its staff and students, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds. Eligibility Visa Sponsorship Queries: This role has been assigned an eligible SOC code and meets the salary requirements for Skilled Worker Sponsorship if full time and appointed at Grade 7.4. Please consult our Skilled Worker Visa information page for further information about Visa Sponsorship. Please note that this position may be subject to ATAS clearance if you require visa sponsorship. The University requires that work undertaken for the University is performed in the UK. Apply Now
Fully Funded PhD – Uncovering the Origins of Crohn’s Disease: How Does Gut Inflammation Begin?
Summary The gut wall contains specialised immune structures called Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissues (GALT), which protect us from harmful bacteria. In Crohn’s disease (CD), however, GALT become dysregulated, forming microscopic ulcers that precede widespread inflammation throughout the gut. Crohn’s disease affects around half a million people in the UK, causing debilitating symptoms and posing one of the most stubborn challenges in modern gastroenterology. Despite their central role in disease initiation, remarkably little is known about what drives GALT to become overactive. This project will investigate the very earliest immune events at these sites, characterising how the mucosal immune system and the gut microbiome interact within GALT to trigger and propagate inflammation. The goal is to identify specific cellular or molecular targets that could form the basis of a new generation of therapies. Project overview This project is focused on basic biology of GALT in CD. You will work with clinical samples from Crohn’s disease patients, applying cutting-edge spatial, imaging, and immunological techniques to map immune cell behaviour within the gut wall in unprecedented detail. Mouse models of intestinal inflammation will complement this work, providing mechanistic insight into key findings from the human tissue studies. Methods Immunofluorescence microscopy: visualising immune cell populations and their spatial organisation within gut tissue Spatial transcriptomics: profiling gene expression across tissue sections to understand how immune responses vary across microenvironments Spectral flow cytometry: deep phenotyping of immune cell populations from clinical samples Bioinformatics: integrating and interpreting complex multi-dimensional datasets Microbiology: characterising microbial communities associated with GALT sites Training and career development You will be based in the School of Infection & Immunity (SII) at the University of Glasgow, a world-leading research environment with outstanding infrastructure for mucosal immunology, spatial biology, and clinical research translation. Over the course of your PhD, you will receive: Hands-on training in all techniques listed above, with dedicated support from experienced postdoctoral researchers Bioinformatics training tailored to the analysis of spatial and single-cell datasets Opportunities to present your work at national and international conferences Engagement with clinical collaborators, giving you exposure to translational and patient-facing research Mentorship focused on your longer-term career goals, whether in academia, industry, or beyond Support from a large network of highly collaborative immunologists and clinicians within the School of Infection & Immunity and the wider Glasgow research community Who We Are Looking For We are looking for a curious, motivated scientist who is excited by the challenge of understanding human disease. Essential: A first-class or upper second-class honours degree (or international equivalent) in immunology, biochemistry, biomedical science, or a related discipline A strong interest in mucosal immunology and host-microbiome interactions Desirable: Laboratory experience in immunofluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, bioinformatics, or cell culture Familiarity with analysis of high-dimensional or imaging datasets Funding Notes UK tuition fees covered, total £15,906. Stipend for full PhD: total £77,676. Apply Now