Antibiotics are our main defence against bacterial infections, but rising levels of resistance risks rendering antibiotics ineffective. The most effective solution to the AMR crisis would be to prevent resistance from evolving at all. However, we do not yet understand how resistance evolves within human infections, or why resistance evolves in some treated individuals but not in others. A better understanding of what drives between patient variation in the emergence of AMR could help improve the targeting of treatments to minimise resistance evolution, and thus lead to better antibiotic stewardship. In this project, we will combine high-throughput genomic screening of antibiotic resistant bacterial genotypes isolated from human infections together with laboratory evolution experiments to test how changes in the microenvironment of infection sites alter the trajectory of AMR evolution. In particular, we will focus on how key effectors of the inflammatory immune response alter selection for antibiotic resistance in an in vitro model of human lung infection previously developed in our labs (Davies et al. 2017 PNAS 113:8266-8271). This PhD project will provide broad training in microbiology, evolutionary biology, genomics and bioinformatics, experimental design and statistics.
Candidates are expected to hold (or be about to obtain) a minimum upper second class honours degree (or equivalent) in a related area / subject. Candidates with experience in microbial evolution or with an interest in the evolution of antimicrobial resistance are strongly encouraged to apply.
For information on how to apply for this project, please visit the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health Doctoral Academy website (
https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/research/apply/). Informal enquiries may be made directly to the primary supervisor. On the online application form select PhD Microbiology.
For international students we also offer a unique 4 year PhD programme that gives you the opportunity to undertake an accredited Teaching Certificate whilst carrying out an independent research project across a range of biological, medical and health sciences. For more information please visit
http://www.internationalphd.manchester.ac.uk
