Cardiff University PhD: bacterial biofilms and in vivo wound biofilm disruption
PhD Studentship: Molecular analysis of the antimicrobial effects of epoxy-tiglianes on in vitro dysregulation of bacterial biofilms and in vivo wound biofilm disruption.
The Advanced Therapies Group at Cardiff University have a BBSRC/NBIC PhD studentship focused on designing and delivering improvement in the ability to effectively treat multi-drug resistant bacterial biofilms.
Background
Working in close collaboration with Cardiff’s Australian industrial partner, QBiotics this exciting interdisciplinary PhD project will directly address an un-met societal and industrial need i.e. resistance to antimicrobial and anti-biofilm therapies (AMR). The project will work within the Advanced Therapies Group at Cardiff University in an established team of microbiologists, chemists, engineers and clinicians. The studentship will underpin the development of novel therapeutics based upon epoxy-tigliane structures from the Australian rainforest. The results from the study will be used to inform the design and delivery of new synthetic and semi-synthetic structures for the treatment of biofilm-related disease. The student will have the opportunity to spend time working at the QBiotics laboratory in Queensland.
This PhD brings together expertise in biological/biofilm sciences and molecular microbiology, alongside clinical research translation. Using a molecular approach, the global bacterial transcriptome response to EBC-1013 treatment will be elucidated using RNAseq/deep-sequencing technologies. The student will employ 16S rRNA Next Generation Sequencing and qPCR to identify the impact of treatment on chronic wound microflora in wounds during resolution of inflammation and healing associated with treatment. The study will also involve biofilm analysis using direct imaging with PNA FISH and immunohistochemistry. The successful student will acquire expertise in conventional- and biofilm microbiology, molecular biology, bioinformatics and experience in research translation and industrial collaboration.
Project location: Cardiff University School of Dentistry, Heath Park.
Training: At Cardiff in Year 1, the student will obtain mandatory training in cellular microbiology, research ethics and data analysis, as well as enrolling in the NBIC Doctoral Training Centre, which provides interdisciplinary training in biofilm science, engineering and technology.
Stipend/Fees: 4 years funding available for eligible candidates.
Eligibility: UK or (a limited quota of) EU students only, with at least a 2.1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in Biosciences, Microbiology, Biophysics, or Engineering.
Apply: Please submit an up-to-date CV and cover letter with the names of at least two academic referees to Prof. David Thomas at thomasdw2@cardiff.ac.uk.
Apply by: Friday 1 December 2023.