Microevolution of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium – molecular basis of emerging threats to human health (KINGSLEY_Q23MMB)

How and why do new strain variants of foodborne bacterial pathogens emerge and replace pre-existing strains? The answer to this question is important to intervening in the spread of the bacterial pathogen Salmonella within livestock and wild animals that are reservoirs of infection in people. You will employ computational approaches to identify newly emerging strains of Salmonella and molecular biology to understand the consequences of microevolution on key characteristics associated with emergence. You will be working within multidisciplinary teams of computational, epidemiology and molecular biology scientists where you will be trained in complementary skills to address these questions and that will equip you for a multitude of potential career paths. Training in bioinformatics and molecular biology will form the basis of the project but you will be expected to attend training and develop diverse skills related to communication and project management. 

The project will be based at the Quadram Institute Bioscience under the primary supervision of Professor Rob Kingsley and Dr Andrew Page. The Quadram Institute is engaged in diverse research focussing on food and gut health with sophisticated infrastructure for computation and molecular microbiological research. The project is in collaboration with Dr Liljana Petrovska at the Animal and Plants Health Agency (APHA) and you will have the opportunity to spend time working closely with national pathogen surveillance teams to deliver impactful science with a One Health focus, including a period of three months’ placement.

The Microbes, Microbiomes and Bioinformatics (MMB) Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) is open to UK and international candidates with relevant undergraduate degrees for entry in October 2023 and offers the opportunity to undertake a 4-year PhD research project funded by the UKRI Medical Research Council in microbiology and microbial bioinformatics.

Our unique and comprehensive training programme empowers students to feel comfortable running sophisticated computer analyses alongside laboratory work and emphasises problem-based learning in microbial bioinformatics, professional development and research skills. All students will undertake a Professional Placement.

Interviews for shortlisted candidates will take place on Wednesday 15 February or Tuesday 16 February 2023.

The MRC DTP is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. Students are selected without regard to age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, ethnicity, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation or social background. We value curiosity, independence of thought, plus an aptitude for research that combines laboratory work and bioinformatics.

For information on eligibility and how to apply: www.uea.ac.uk/phd/mmbdtp