PhD Studentship: From Defence to Antibiotic production: Uncovering New Roles for NLR Signalling in Multicellular Bacteria

Overview

This four-year PhD studentship focuses on uncovering new roles for nucleotide-binding and oligomerisation domain-like receptors in multicellular, antibiotic-producing Streptomyces. Traditionally known for driving plant and animal immune responses, bacterial NLRs are investigated here to challenge the paradigm that they solely function in phage defence. The research combines computational mining with hands-on experimental biology to explore the Streptomyces NLRome, aiming to understand their broader roles in multicellular development, complex signalling networks, and natural product regulation.

What you get

The studentship provides coverage of tuition fees directly to the University along with a stipend to cover living expenses, utilizing the 2026/27 stipend rate of £21,805 per annum. Additionally, recipients receive a Research Training Support Grant of £5,000 per year for each year of the studentship. Researchers gain interdisciplinary training across computational biology, molecular microbiology, and protein biochemistry while working in a collaborative research environment supported by platform facilities and experts.

Requirements

Applicants must hold at least a UK equivalent Bachelors Honours 2:1 degree. Candidates are also required to meet the English Language requirement equivalent to the Faculty of Science standard of IELTS 6.5 overall with 6 in each category.

Key dates

The closing date for applications is 2026-11-30. The program has a start date of 1 October 2027.