EastBio: The Evolutionary and Ecological Role of Plasmids across different species

Details

This fully funded, 4-year PhD project is part of a competition funded by the BBSRC EASTBIO Doctoral Training Partnership.

Plasmids are major drivers of prokaryotic evolution and ecology, carrying traits ranging from antibiotic resistance to novel metabolic functions. However debate continues about what exact traits are enriched on plasmids compared to their hosts. There is some evidence that plasmids are enriched for cooperative genes, but this may only be true in certain ecological niches. Other work suggests the environment a plasmid is isolated from is the key driver of the genes they carry. This bioinformatic project will address the role of plasmid size, plasmid frequency, and host ecology in shaping the traits carried by plasmids. More specifically:

• What specific traits are systematically enriched on plasmids versus host chromosomes across different ecological niches?
• How do plasmid characteristics (such as size or frequency) shape their distribution across the host phylogeny?
• Are multi-species plasmids fundamentally different from species-specific ones?
• How do the traits of a plasmid influence how it is distributed across its host’s phylogeny?

This project aims to address these questions, resolving whether small and large plasmids play distinct roles and how plasmid frequency within a species influences the traits they carry.

Training & development

Based in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Aberdeen, you will receive comprehensive training at the intersection of prokaryotic genomics and evolutionary theory, including:

• Prokaryotic genomics & evolutionary theory: mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer, life history trade-offs, host-symbiote relationships
• Genomics & Bioinformatics: De novo assembly, annotation, and pan-genomic analyses.
• Evolutionary Statistics: Phylogenetic signal analysis, phylogenetic independent contrasts, and co-phylogeny analysis.

Ideal Qualifications:

• An undergraduate or postgraduate degree in Biological Sciences (or a related discipline) with a focus on bioinformatics, evolutionary biology, or microbiology.
• A strong interest in prokaryotic genomics and the application of evolutionary theory.
• Previous experience with computational biology or programming (e.g., Linux, Python, R, Bash) is desirable but not essential.

Further details

• Location: School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen
• Supervisors: Dr. Tom Vogwill and Dr. Marius Wenzel

This project is available for part-time study (Home/UK students only).

Interested applicants should contact the lead supervisor to discuss the project prior to applying. You can do this by selecting the first listed name at the top of this advert and sending your enquiry. Alternatively, you can search for the supervisor through the University of Aberdeen staff directory and email them directly.

ELIGIBILITY:

Applicants should hold a minimum of a 2:1 UK Honours degree (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject. Those with a 2:2 UK Honours degree (or international equivalent) may be considered, provided they have (or are expected to achieve) a Distinction or Commendation at master’s level.

We encourage applications from all backgrounds and communities, and are committed to having a diverse, inclusive team.

All students must meet the eligibility criteria as outlined in the UKRI guidance on funding for postgraduate training and development. This guidance should be read in conjunction with the Terms and conditions for training funding – UKRI.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

For full details and to download the application form, visit: https://biology.ed.ac.uk/eastbio/how-to-apply

Please note that you may only apply for one EASTBIO project.

1. Application submission

Submit your complete application by 23:59 GMT on 16th November 2026 to smmsn-pgrenquiries@abdn.ac.uk.

Send your application as a single email with the subject line:

“EASTBIO Application – [Your Name]”

2. Required documents

Your application email must include the following:

• Completed EASTBIO application form
• Academic certificates and transcripts
• Two references (one reference may be non-academic)

3. References

All references must be provided using the official EASTBIO reference form (available here).

References can be either:

• Included with your application, or
• Sent directly by referees to smmsn-pgrenquiries@abdn.ac.uk with the subject line: “EASTBIO Reference – [Your Name]”

All references must be received by 23:59 GMT on 16th November 2026.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure both references are submitted by the deadline, as we cannot request them on your behalf.

Important notes

• No research proposal is required.
• Do not include any additional documents (for example, school certificates, conference papers, or dissertations).
• Incomplete applications or those including unnecessary materials will not be considered.
• Due to workload constraints, we are unable to follow up on missing documents or process incomplete applications.
• All candidates will be notified of the outcome of their application.
• For any questions or assistance with the application process, please contact smmsn-pgrenquiries@abdn.ac.uk.

Funding Notes

This fully funded, four-year PhD project is offered as part of a competition within the EASTBIO BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership. The opportunity is open to both UK and international applicants, although the proportion of international students recruited through the EASTBIO DTP is capped at 30% by UKRI BBSRC.

EASTBIO studentships provide a tax-free UKRI doctoral stipend (estimated at £22,437 for the 2027/28 academic year), a training grant of £5,000 per year for the first three years (and £1,500 in the fourth year), and a travel and conference allowance of £230 per year.

Please note that EASTBIO is unable to fund visa costs or associated healthcare surcharges for international students.