Early, reliable, and quick detection of bacteria is a critical tool for the correct and timely use of antibiotics to fight infections. With the growth of antimicrobial resistance, the need for more careful use of narrow spectrum antibiotics is growing, so is the need for the associated novel accurate methods of detection.
The project will investigate novel molecules that can indicate the presence of specific bacteria in a medium, with a focus on prevalent infection risks and resistant strains. These molecules are designed to produce a measurable change of colour upon action of enzymes specific to the targeted bacteria. For example, nitroreductase, phosphatase, aminopeptidases have been used in the past. The industrial partner is interested in the commercialisation the most promising molecules identified in these projects for use in hospital laboratories and QC laboratories.
Additionally, development of suitable media and conditions for growth of these pathogens to limit interference and unreliable results is part of the remit of this project.
The PhD student will contribute to the identification of suitable novel substrates, to the design of their synthesis, perform these syntheses, and assess their efficacy at detecting bacteria.
The project is a collaboration with the industrial partner and several local academic labs that has been running continually for over two decades. This project is a continuation of previous projects undertaken at N.U.
Eligibility and How to Apply:
Please note eligibility requirement:
· Academic excellence of the proposed student i.e. 2:1 (or equivalent GPA from non-UK universities [preference for 1st class honours]); or a Masters (preference for Merit or above); or APEL evidence of substantial practitioner achievement.
· Appropriate IELTS score, if required.
· Applicants cannot apply for this funding if currently engaged in Doctoral study at Northumbria or elsewhere.
For further details of how to apply, entry requirements and the application form, see
https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/research/postgraduate-research-degrees/how-to-apply/
Please note: All applications must include a covering letter (up to 1000 words maximum) including why you are interested in this PhD, a summary of the relevant experience you can bring to this project and of your understanding of this subject area with relevant references (beyond the information already provided in the advert). Applications that do not include the advert reference (e.g. RDFC23/…) will not be considered
Deadline for applications: 17 April 2023
Interviews: May 2023
Start Date: 1 October 2023
Northumbria University is committed to creating an inclusive culture where we take pride in, and value, the diversity of our doctoral students. We encourage and welcome applications from all members of the community. The University hold a bronze Athena Swan award in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality, we are a Disability Confident Employer, a member of the Race Equality Charter and are participating in the Stonewall Diversity Champion Programme. We also hold the HR Excellence in Research award for implementing the concordat supporting the career development of researchers.
Supervisors:
Dr David Tétard, Assistant Professor, Northumbria University ([Email Address Removed]),
Dr Graeme Turnbull, Assistant Professor, Northumbria University ([Email Address Removed]).
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