FULLY FUNDED PhD – Visualising avian influenza virus tropism and co-infection in avian hosts

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

Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) are major pathogens of wild birds and farmed poultry and among the most likely causes of future pandemics in humans. In this PhD project, you will advance our understanding of the threat posed by AIVs by studying how the viruses evolve within their avian hosts. You will explore how the accumulation of mutations allows AIVs to move from infecting the gastrointestinal tract to infecting the respiratory tract, a common change in infected poultry with major implications for viral transmission and pathogenesis. You will also study how the processes of coinfection and reassortment – a form of genetic exchange between influenza viruses which greatly accelerates the emergence of new strains – develop within the infected host. Your work will combine molecular virology methods with advanced light microscopy. You will genetically engineer AIVs to encode fluorescent reporter genes, carry out infection studies in vitro and in vivo, and use advanced microscopy methods including lightsheet microscopy to study the changing behaviour of AIVs as infections develop. Your work will advance our fundamental understanding of infection biology in a way that is relevant for risk assessment and control of a serious pathogen.

Your PhD will be registered at the University of Glasgow and will be co-supervised across three collaborative, multi-disciplinary and well-resourced research centres. The Pirbright Institute and the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research are the largest centres in the UK for research into viruses of livestock and humans, respectively, and CRUK Scotland is a major centre for cancer biology and immunology. Your research will predominantly be based at the Pirbright Institute but will be supported by regular research visits to the University of Glasgow, with support from the PhD communities at both sites.

Important Notice

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

References

Dholakia, V. et al. Polymerase mutations underlie early adaptation of H5N1 influenza virus to dairy cattle and other mammals. Nature Communications (2026).

Peacock, T. P. et al. Genetic determinants of receptor-binding preference and zoonotic potential of H9N2 avian influenza viruses. J Virol 95 (2021).

Sims, A. et al. Superinfection exclusion creates spatially distinct influenza virus populations. PLoS Biology, 21(2), e3001941 (2022).

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.