PhD Studentship: Using ATP to understand AMR: a modelling challenge

Applications Close: 11 November 2019

Contract Length: 3.5 years

This collaborative project will assess the impact of antimicrobials upon ATP metabolism in uropathogenic bacteria. The results will aid the development of a clinical diagnostic test for urinary tract infections (UTIs) that can inform antimicrobial therapy. The student will use a combination of computational biology and molecular microbiology to generate a genome scale metabolic model in E. coli, perform bioinformatic analyses and experimental assays to investigate how ATP is affected by different antimicrobial modes of action. They will also undertake a 3-month placement at the diagnostic company, Test&Treat.

The student will work for 33 months in the new, state-of-the-art laboratories at the Quadram Institute with access to world class computational scientists and research microbiologists. The wider team is a supportive group of biologists and bioinformaticians with close links across the Norwich Research Park and with the Cell Systems modelling group at Oxford Brookes. A 3-month placement at the diagnostic company Test&Treat will provide the student with an opportunity to receive training in the rapid diagnosis of urinary tract infection, the design of clinical diagnostic trials and the quality assurance required in manufacturing clinical diagnostic products.

This project has a start date of: 1st January 2020.

The project is funded by the MRC Doctoral Antimicrobial Research Training Programme (DART). Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed as part of the studentship competition. Interviews will be held on Monday 25th November 2019. Formal invitations to interview will be circulated to shortlisted applicants during the week commencing 18th November 2019.

The MRC DART Management Board approves entry to the programme and studentship offers. Offer letters will be sent to successful candidates as soon as possible after the interview date, usually within 10 working days.

Students will benefit from collaborative training with the Norwich Research Park Doctoral Training Programme, as well as a breadth of training possibilities across UEA and Norwich Research Park partners. Through collaboration with a non-academic partner, iCASE students will spend 3-18 months on a placement with the partner company. Through this placement, students gain access to training, facilities and expertise not available in an academic setting alone, significantly enhancing future employability.

Applicants must meet the minimum eligibility requirements as specified by UKRI-MRC, as well as the entry requirements for UEA postgraduate research degrees. For further information and to apply, please visit https://www.uea.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research-degrees/phds-and-studentships/dart-mrc-icase

Ref: LANGRIDGEQ19DART

Funding Notes

For funding eligibility please visit https://www.uea.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research-degrees/phds-and-studentships/dart-mrc-icase

The studentships are for 3.5 years and cover full tuition fees (Home/EU), a student stipend of £17,509 (2019/20 UKRI stipend £15,009pa & iCASE partner contribution of £2,500pa) and a Research Training Support Grant (£5,000pa) and are available to students who meet the UK residency requirements.

Students from EU countries who do not meet the UK residency requirements may be eligible for a fees-only award.

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