Funded PhD: Evaluating the health risks of zoonotic diseases in agricultural run-off: implications for human and animal well-being in the context of climate change

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This PhD project explores how climate change affects the persistence, evolution, and spread of zoonotic bacterial pathogens, focusing on Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) and Salmonella Typhimurium in agricultural settings. These pathogens, which often carry antimicrobial resistance (AMR), pose significant risks to both human and animal health. Climate change, coupled with urbanisation and agricultural intensification, is increasing interactions between humans, animals, and pathogens. Extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall, lead to more frequent agricultural runoff and sewage overflows, releasing pathogens and pollutants including plastics and organic waste into the environment, which can facilitate pathogen spread.

Using advanced climate simulation technologies, this project will examine how pathogens persist on agricultural materials and how climate-driven stressors impact their virulence, genetic adaptation, and genetic exchange. The aim is to understand how these changes could lead to the emergence of more virulent or resistant strains, increasing public health risks.

The research will inform strategies to reduce zoonotic disease transmission in agriculture, contributing to global efforts to combat AMR and improve food system sustainability. The candidate will receive training in environmental microbiology, genomics, and bioinformatics, gaining expertise in field sampling, laboratory techniques, and complex data analysis for real world applications in global health and food security. 

This funded PhD project is part of the MVLS College Futures PhD Programme. The MVLS College Futures PhD Programme is an ambitious initiative from The College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences (MVLS) at the University of Glasgow, designed to cultivate the next generation of research leaders. Commencing in October 2025, this programme offers up to 12 fully-funded PhD studentships, each spanning 3.5 years and providing a comprehensive package that includes a stipend at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) rates, coverage of home tuition fees, and a generous allocation of up to £17,500 for research consumables.

The MVLS College Futures PhD Programme is intricately aligned with the MVLS 2033 vision, focusing on four pivotal research themes:

1. Fundamentals of Life: Aiming to position the University as a globally recognized center for discovery bioscience, this theme emphasizes groundbreaking fundamental research.
2. Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics: Dedicated to pioneering the development and implementation of next-generation clinical interventions for both human and animal health.
3. Health Inequalities: Focused on unraveling the root causes and consequences of health disparities, this theme seeks to devise and apply scalable solutions to bridge health gaps.
4. Planetary Health: Exploring the intricate relationships between environmental changes and the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems, this theme strives to identify and assess innovative strategies to mitigate emerging threats.

Read more about the MVLS College Futures PhD Programme: https://www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/mvls/graduateschool/phd-research-opportunities/futures-programme/

Application closing date: March 5, 2025

Programme start date: October 2025