York YBDTP project: Mechanistic study of the assembly and repair of unique bacterial telomeres in Streptomyces

Lead supervisor: Dr Purba Mukherjee

Co-supervisors: Dr Paul Fogg - Biology and Dr Steven Quinn - PET

The student will be registered with the Department of Chemistry (University of York)

Streptomyces are filamentous, spore-forming bacteria ubiquitous in soil and marine environments, known to be natural producers of a vast range of products relevant in medicine and industry – ranging from antibiotics such as streptomycin, clindamycin to antitumor therapeutics like doxorubicin. In nature, the secondary metabolites made by Streptomyces help maintain a balance in the microbial community and influence plant growth. Streptomyces are unique among bacteria in two ways: (i) they have linear DNA like humans, but are unlike most bacteria that have circular genomes, and (ii) Streptomyces genomes have proteins attached at their ends! Intriguingly, the DNA sequence at the genome ends (telomeres) is variable and also harbours gene clusters for the multitude of beneficial products made by these bacteria. This PhD project will focus on answering the following questions:

(i) How does Streptomyces replicate and maintain its telomeres?

(ii) How does a protein get recruited and attached to these DNA ends?

(iii) Are there features within Streptomyces’ telomeric DNA that make the process possible? If so, what are they?

(iv) Can we use this unique method of DNA synthesis to develop enzymatic tools for bioconjugate synthesis?

This is an exciting opportunity to join a diverse, inclusive, multidisciplinary team working at the interface of biochemistry, microbiology, biophysics and chemical biology under the supervision of Dr. Purba Mukherjee (YSBL, Department of Chemistry), Dr. Paul Fogg (Department of Biology) and Dr. Steven Quinn (School of Physics, Engineering and Technology) to develop a paradigm-shifting understanding of a fundamental process. We are seeking a talented and highly-motivated individual with a background in biochemistry, chemistry or chemical biology. In this project you will be trained in protein engineering, microbiological techniques for Streptomyces strains, biophysical approaches including single-molecule FRET spectroscopy and bioanalytical methods including enzyme kinetics, SPR, mass photometry, peptide synthesis, HPLC, LC-MS.

The Departments of Biology and Chemistry both hold an Athena SWAN Gold Award. We are committed to supporting equality and diversity and strive to provide a positive working environment for all staff and students.

The YB DTP and the University of York are committed to recruiting future scientists regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or career pathway to date. We understand that commitment and excellence can be shown in many ways and we have built our recruitment process to reflect this. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, particularly those underrepresented in science, who have curiosity, creativity and a drive to learn new skills.

Entry Requirements: Students with, or expecting to gain, at least an upper second class honours degree, or equivalent, are invited to apply. The interdisciplinary nature of this programme means that we welcome applications from students with any biological, chemical, and/or physical science backgrounds, or students with mathematical background who are interested in using their skills in addressing biological questions. 

Programme: PhD in Biological Chemistry (4 years)

How to apply

To submit your application, click on apply now below. You can apply for up to 3 YBDTP projects (which can be at different universities).

We advise you to read the questions in the form before submitting your application. Inside the form there is a link to a document for you to see the questions in advance.

If you have questions about the application process, please email [Email Address Removed].

If you have questions about the project you are interested in, please email the project supervisor (see project description).

How we allocate:

Shortlisting will take place shortly after the closing date and successful applicants will be notified promptly. If you're shortlisted, you'll be invited for an interview on a date to be confirmed in February 2025. You'll be notified shortly after the interview dates whether your application has been successful, placed on a reserve list or unsuccessful. If you are successful, you'll be required to confirm your intention to accept the studentship within 10 days.

APPLY NOW

Application deadline: Friday 14th March 2025