Viruses cause some of the most significant infectious diseases of humans and animals. Understanding provenance of an emerging virus is crucial for mitigating the impact. Viruses depend on living cells for replication, adopting host machinery for protein translation and cell membranes to package the progeny viral genome. This project will build on knowledge of integration of host components into the virion to test the hypothesis that virus origin is detectable with a better understanding of these processes.
Using Semliki Forest virus, which replicates in mammals and mosquitoes; we will test differences in viral particles depending on origin, be it vertebrate or invertebrate, in vitro or in vivo, synthetic or natural.
The successful candidate will learn and use a suite of tools to study differences in viral structure, genome and physiochemistry to determine provenance. Better understanding host factors within the virion will improve abilities to rapidly respond to natural and synthetic emergence events.
The successful candidate will benefit from training and support at both the University of Surrey, and in the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) - an national asset and one of the principal government organisations dedicated to science and technology in the defence and security field.
The principal supervisors are Professor Dan Horton (Surrey [Email Address Removed]) and Dr Sarah Lumley (Dstl).
More information on the School of Veterinary Medicine and Dstl.
Entry requirements
Open to UK national only, with the project starting in October 2023.
You will need to meet the minimum entry requirements for our PhD programme https://www.surrey.ac.uk/postgraduate/veterinary-medicine-and-science-phd#entry.
How to apply
Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the relevant principal supervisor(s) to discuss the project(s) before submitting their application.
Applications should be submitted via https://www.surrey.ac.uk/postgraduate/veterinary-medicine-and-science-phd programme page (N.B. Please select the October 2023 start date when applying).
You may opt to apply for a single project or for 2 of these Pathogens and Host Defences Doctoral Training Partnership studentship projects.
When completing your application, in place of a research proposal, please provide a brief motivational document (1 page maximum) which specifies:
- the reference numbers(s) for the project or two projects you are applying for,
- the project title(s) and principal supervisor name(s)
- if apply for two projects, please also indicate your order of preference for the projects
- an explanation of your motivations for wanting to study for a PhD
- an explanation of your reasons for selecting the project(s) you have chosen
Additionally, to complete a full application, you MUST also email a copy of your CV and 1-page motivational document directly to the relevant project principal supervisor of each project you apply for. Due to short turnaround times for applicant shortlisting, failure to do this may mean that your application is not considered.
Please note that online interviews for shortlisted applicants are expected to take place during the week commencing 30th January.
Project ref number FHMS-DTP-05 VET
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