Bicyclic peptides: targeting toxins and pathogens to accelerate anti-infective discovery

PhD in Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research

Fully funded studentship available for entry in September 2019

This Industrial Collaborative Award in Science and Engineering (iCASE) studentship is offered by Warwick’s MRC Funded Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP). This training program involves an exciting one-year MSc in Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research and then a three-year PhD project which is co-supervised by experts from both academia and industry. The student will benefit from a comprehensive training program that offers advanced workshops, career planning, transferable skills training and cohort learning events and conferences with ~ 50 other PhD students.

Title: Bicyclic peptides: targeting toxins and pathogens to accelerate anti-infective discovery

University of Warwick and Industry Supervisors: Prof. Christopher Dowson (University of Warwick) and Dr Mike Dawson (Bicycle Therapeutics Ltd)

Project summary

Infectious diseases are a global problem, particularly the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We are using bicyclic peptides, which are structurally similar to many of the commonly prescribed natural product cyclic peptide antibiotics, for the generation of a new class of anti-bacterial drugs. In this project the student will use molecular microbiology, biochemistry, structural biology and synthetic technologies available at Bicycles Ltd to develop new compounds that target essential cell division proteins and toxins to tackle Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus infections.

Applicants should have a good undergraduate degree in molecular microbiology, biochemistry, or structural biology.

Warwick’s MRC DTP Overview

MSc Course (Year One)
A one-year taught MSc in Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research, including taught modules (e.g. frontier techniques and research skills in biomedicine, principles and techniques in molecular biology, advanced microscopy and imaging, molecular modelling and physical biology of the cell) and two 11-week research projects.

PhD Project (Years Two – Four)
A three-year PhD project. Students will be supervised jointly by a Warwick Principal Investigator and an industry partner, and will undertake a minimum of three months’ placement with the industry partner.

If you are interested in joining our dynamic DTP community please apply at www.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/med/study/mrcdtp/theprogramme/icase/ by Thursday 14 February 2019.

Interviews will take place on Monday 8 April 2019.