We are looking for a highly motivated and scientifically minded student, to work in a hybrid wet lab (60%) and bioinformatics (40%) project on cutting edge metagenomics.
In the 4-year PhD project, the candidate will explore fungal and bacterial strains in the human gut, their evolution and persistence using metagenomics. We will be using the latest technologies to develop the experimental protocols as well as bioinformatic methods to unlock ultra-resolution metagenomics and improve species coverage. In the second part of the project, the candidate will analyse microbial transmission chains between human hosts, in a clinical as well as domestic setting.

If you are interested in the molecular biology used in metagenomics, understanding the evolutionary fate of bacteria in the human gut, learning and applying Oxford Nanopore and PacBio sequencing technologies, then this PhD will be right for you. The ideal candidate will enjoy developing wet lab protocols and have a strong interest in acquiring/improving their computational skills (R, python and Linux). The candidate will learn about different flavours of metagenomic sequencing, and how to analyse and interpret this data by using the latest bioinformatics tools. Visiting international conferences and training courses as well as exchanges with international collaborators are part of student training.

The candidate will be supervised by Dr Hildebrand (Quadram Institute), Prof Nieduszynski and Dr Leggett (both Earlham Institute) in Norwich. Both Institutes are part of the large, multinational Norwich Research Park (NRP), that hosts a vibrant and active research community adjacent to the University of East Anglia (UEA). Norwich is a mid-sized historical, medieval city with a large student community, situated at the Norfolk coast.

References

Hildebrand F, Gossmann TI, Frioux C, Özkurt E, Myers PN, Ferretti P, Kuhn M, Bahram M, Nielsen HB, Bork P. 2021. Dispersal strategies shape persistence and evolution of human gut bacteria. Cell Host Microbe 29:1167-1176.e9.

Hildebrand F, Moitinho-Silva L, Blasche S, Jahn MT, Gossmann TI, Huerta-Cepas J, Hercog R, Luetge M, Bahram M, Pryszlak A, Alves RJ, Waszak SM, Zhu A, Ye L, Costea PI, Aalvink S, Belzer C, Forslund SK, Sunagawa S, Hentschel U, Merten C, Patil KR, Benes V, Bork P. 2019. Antibiotics-induced monodominance of a novel gut bacterial order. Gut 68:1781–1790.

Bahram M, Netherway T, Frioux C, Ferretti P, Coelho LP, Geisen S, Bork P, Hildebrand F. 2021. Metagenomic assessment of the global diversity and distribution of bacteria and fungi. Environ Microbiol 23:316–326.

Entry Requirements

Candidates for academic admission to a doctoral degree at UEA and for entry to the NRPDTP programme must have obtained (or be about to obtain), a First or Upper Second-class UK Honours degree, or qualifications gained outside the UK that are considered to be equivalent. Applicants with a Lower Second-class degree will be considered if they also have a Master’s degree, or have significant research or non-academic experience relevant to the proposed field of research. Studentships awarded based on predicted grades will be conditional upon final results.

English Language requirement (UEA Faculty of Science equivalent: IELTS 6.5 overall, 6 in each category).

Funding

This project is awarded with a 4-year Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (NRPDTP) PhD studentship. The studentship includes payment of tuition fees (directly to the University), a stipend for each year of the studentship (2021/22 stipend rate: £15,609), and a Research Training Support Grant for each year of the studentship of £5,000 p.a.

More information on eligibility and funding can be found here.

About The Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (NRPDTP)

The Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (NRPDTP) is open to UK and international candidates for entry October 2021 and offers postgraduates the opportunity to undertake a 4-year PhD research project whilst enhancing professional development and research skills through a comprehensive training programme. You will join a vibrant community of world-leading researchers. All NRPDTP students undertake a three-month professional internship placement (PIPS) during their study. The placement offers exciting and invaluable work experience designed to enhance professional development. Full support and advice will be provided by our Professional Internship team. Students with, or expecting to attain, at least an upper second class honours degree, or equivalent, are invited to apply.

This project has been shortlisted for funding by the NRPDTP programme. Shortlisted candidates can expect to be interviewed on either Tuesday 25th, Wednesday 26th or Thursday 27th January 2022. Shortlisted candidates will be notified of their interview times by email no later than 12 January 2022.

Visit our website for further information on eligibility and how to apply: https://biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/

Our partners value diverse and inclusive work environments that are positive and supportive. Students are selected for admission without regard to gender, marital or civil partnership status, disability, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age or social background.