PhD Studentship: Evolutionary and Ecological Impact of the Western Lifestyle on the Gut Microbiome

Overview

This four-year PhD studentship investigates the evolutionary and ecological consequences of the Western lifestyle on the human gut microbiome. The research project uses a dataset of more than 6,000 gut metagenomes and strain-resolved metagenomics to examine how gut bacterial populations adapt across hosts and environments, identify ecological signatures related to industrialisation, and reconstruct bacterial metabolic niches. The supervisory team includes Prof Falk Hildebrand and Dr Wilfried Haerty, based at the Quadram and Earlham Institutes at Norwich Research Park.

Who can apply

Candidates enter a four-year DTP programme within an interdisciplinary research environment covering microbial ecology, bioinformatics, and evolutionary genomics. Previous exposure to programming or statistics is helpful, although specialist methods are taught via mentorship and collaboration.

What you get

The studentship covers full tuition fees paid directly to the university and provides a living expenses stipend at the 2026/27 rate of £21,805 per annum. Additionally, recipients receive a Research Training Support Grant of £5,000 per year for the duration of the four-year programme. The position includes a three-month industrial placement, a research visit with collaborators in Poland, and attendance at international conferences and training courses.

Key dates

The closing date for applications is 30 November 2026.