This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the GW4 BioMed2 MRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) which is offering up to 20 studentships for entry in October 2022.
The DTP brings together the Universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter to develop the next generation of biomedical researchers. Students will have access to the combined research strengths, training expertise and resources of the four research-intensive universities. More information may be found here: https://www.gw4biomed.ac.uk/.
Supervisory Team:
Prof Samuel Sheppard (lead), University of Bath, Department of Biology & Biochemistry
Prof Andrew Dowsey, University of Bristol, Department of Population Health
Dr Ben Pascoe, University of Bath, Department of Biology & Biochemistry
Dr Jahangir Hossain, Medical Research Council Unit – The Gambia, Disease Control and Elimination
The Research:
A GLOBAL CHALLENGE
Diarrhoeal disease as the second most common cause of mortality among children under five in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), accounting for 10.6 million annual infant deaths. Caused by enteropathogenic bacteria, the major infection sources in the UK are well defined but transmission routes in LMICs are often unknown. This means that children at highest risk are least studied. House crowding, cohabitation with animals and poor sanitation/food safety are all potential risk factors, but effective interventions depend upon quantitative estimates of infection sources. So why are many enteropathogenic bacteria largely overlooked in LMICs? While the answer to this question, in part, relates to the perceived sub-clinical sporadic nature of some infections, a more unsettling reason is that the countries where people are at the greatest risk have low economic and development status. This realisation led to the development of this PhD program devoted to combating diarrhoeal disease.
AN INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAM
Joining a large Medical Research Council (MRC) funded program you will be trained to sequence and analyse gut bacteria (metagenome) samples and quantify different antimicrobial resistant pathogens to human infection. Time spent in Bath University, Bristol University and The MRC Unit in the Gambia will support an interdisciplinary program involving genomics, bioinformatics and laboratory microbiology to untangle complex disease transmission networks.
A FLEXIBLE RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT
This program provides an ideal context for a student to tailor their PhD towards their own interests. From the outset, the project builds on established international network, substantial funding and a detailed project plan. This gives the student the opportunity to focus their efforts towards their preferred specialism(s). In the initial 3 months you will experience all aspects of the project. Commencing with a visit to The Gambia, you will take part in environmental and cross-sectional sampling with patients and local clinical leads. Next, you will culture isolates, differentiate species, conduct antimicrobial resistance assays, and extract DNA (including metagenomes). In Bath you will be trained in genome sequencing/assembly and sophisticated bioinformatic analyses. Finally, study in Bristol will teach artificial intelligence analyses and machine learning. The supportive and stimulating training environment will guide you through the challenges and rewards of this project – the results of which will have a profound impact on children’s health in Africa.
SPECIFIC TRAINING ADVANTAGES
- Joining the brand new Milner Centre for Evolution with state-of-the-art laboratories and genome sequencing facilities. (https://www.bath.ac.uk/research-centres/milner-centre-for-evolution/).
- Joining a large, well funded, internationally recognized research group (https://sheppardlab.com/) where 100% of PhD students publish papers within a 3 year program.
- Flexibility to drive research in your preferred direction based on strengths and interests (eg. from lab microbiology to bioinformatics).
- Direct access to the world’s largest cloud computing system dedicated to microbial bioinformatics (https://www.climb.ac.uk/).
- You will receive core training from world experts in microbiology, genomics and bioinformatics.
- Work within leading universities (Bristol Population Health Science Institute — University of Bristol) (Department of Biology & Biochemistry (bath.ac.uk)).
- You will work directly with MRC Gambia (Home | MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM).
Requirements:
Applicants must have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in an area appropriate to the skills requirements of the project.
Non-UK applicants will also be required to have met the English language entry requirements of the University of Bath.
Enquiries and Applications:
Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Prof Samuel Sheppard on email address [Email Address Removed].
Formal applications must be made direct to the GW4 BioMed2 DTP using their online application form.
A list of all available projects and more guidance on how to apply may be found on the DTP’s website. You may apply for up to 2 projects.
APPLICATIONS CLOSE AT 17:00 (GMT) ON 26 NOVEMBER 2021.
IMPORTANT: You do NOT need to apply to the University of Bath at this stage – only those applicants who are successful in obtaining an offer of funding from the DTP will be required to submit an application for an offer of study from Bath.
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