EPSRC CASE Bioinformatics studentship: Development of novel statistics to study the human microbiome

Start date 1st October 2015 – 4 years fully funded to UK and EU applicants

Principal supervisor: Dr Christopher Quince (Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick)

Secondary supervisors: Dr Umer Ijaz (U. of Glasgow), Dr Barry Murphy and Adrian Smith (Unilever)

Microbiomics is one of the most exciting areas of current research. New tools, in particular next generation sequencing, have transformed our understanding of the microbial world. We now appreciate that the human microbiome plays a key role in both maintaining health and in preventing disease. It is also central to Unilever’s research, for instance, understanding the response of the skin microbiome to personal care products.

This studentship is an opportunity to collaborate with Unilever in developing novel algorithms for interpreting sequence data from microbial communities. We will address the problem of removing sequencing errors from PCR amplicons. The methods used to do this will derive from Bayesian statistics and machine learning.

The studentship would suit an applicant with a strong quantitative background with experience or interest in Bayesian statistics and computer programming. Some biological knowledge may be a bonus but is not essential. Suitable first degrees would include Mathematics, Physics and Engineering.

Applications comprising a CV and letter of motivation should be sent to Dr Christopher Quince ([Email Address Removed]). Both UK and EU students are eligible for funding.

This studentship includes full fees for UK registered students and the EPSRC stipend (currently £13,863 p.a.) and an additional Unilever top-up (£4,000 p.a.).

For more information about Dr Christopher Quince see:
http://search.warwick.ac.uk/profile?id=MTM3NTAzOGYxODJlYmU%3D
http://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=0yKnJ2wAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao