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Medicine: Swansea University Research Excellence Scholarships (SURES): Fully Funded PhD Scholarship: Antimicrobial Resistance (RS570)

  • DeadlineDeadline: 10 April 2024 (23:59 GMT)
  • WalesWales

Description

Closing date: 10 April 2024 (23:59 GMT)

Funding provider: Swansea University and Swansea Bay University Health Board (SBUHB)

Subject areas: Microbiology; Bioinformatics; Antibiotic resistance 

Project start date:

  • 1 October 2024 (Enrolment open from mid-September)

Supervisors: 

  • Dr Paul Facey (Swansea University – P.Facey@swansea.ac.uk)
  • Dr Claire Morgan (Swansea University)
  • Dr Phil Coles (SBUHB and Swansea University)

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Microbiology and Immunology

Mode of study: Full-time

Project description:

Swansea University is pleased to offer fully-funded Swansea University Research Excellence Scholarships (SURES) for full-time doctoral students to its fifth cohort, commencing in October 2024.

Antimicrobial resistance, identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the “next major pandemic,” poses a substantial threat, projected to cause 10 million deaths by 2050. Priority pathogens, including multi-drug resistant strains of Enterococcus faeciumStaphylococcus aureusKlebsiella pneumoniaeAcinetobacter baumaniiPseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species (collectively known as ESKAPE pathogens), are recognized as the primary contributors to nosocomial infections. The primary objective of this research project is to address the imminent challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance by developing novel antimicrobials capable of reducing the viability of ESKAPE pathogens. The project specifically aims to identify novel targets and validate the binding efficacy of compounds to these targets. Initial investigations have successfully identified several promising compounds through in silico analyses. These compounds have demonstrated potential by exhibiting binding affinity to crucial proteins within the transcription machinery. The ongoing project focuses on strengthening the initial findings by conducting comprehensive validations of the binding interactions between the identified compounds and their respective target proteins. Experimental assays will be employed to confirm the efficacy of these compounds in inhibiting the essential biological processes of ESKAPE pathogens. The successful completion of this project is anticipated to contribute to the development of novel antimicrobials effective against ESKAPE pathogens. The validated compounds may serve as promising candidates for further preclinical and clinical studies, ultimately addressing the pressing issue of antimicrobial resistance. 

For more details please see here: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/scholarships/research/medicine-sures-sbuhb-phd-antimicrobial-2024-rs570.php

Entry Requirements

Candidates must have attained, or must be expected to attain, a first-class honours degree and/or a distinction at master’s level. If you are eligible to apply for the scholarship (i.e. a student who is eligible to pay the UK rate of tuition fees) but do not hold a UK degree, you can check our comparison entry requirements (see country specific qualifications). Please note that you may need to provide evidence of your English Language proficiency. 

  • Where applicants have multiple master’s degrees, a distinction must be held in the degree that is most relevant to the intended PhD study.
  • If you are currently studying for a master’s level qualification with an expected award date that is later than 01/10/2024, you should hold a minimum of an upper-second-class (2:1) honours degree.
  • You should be able to demonstrate a pass with a minimum grade average of at least 70% for your part-one master’s degree modules (the taught aspect of your master’s course rather than a research-focused dissertation) and submit your dissertation by no later than 30/09/2024.

Applicants must be able to begin their course of study in October 2024. As a cohort-based programme, deferral to an alternative enrolment window within the academic year or to another academic year is not permissible.

Please note that both the degree and language-proficiency entry requirements for SURES are higher than the baseline standard for entry that is stipulated for most of the PhD programmes at Swansea University. 

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA regulations. 

If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with the web-link to the scholarship(s) you are interested in.

Fees

This scholarship covers the full cost of UK tuition fees and an annual stipend at £19,237.

Additional research expenses will also be available.

How To Apply

To apply, please complete your application online with the following information:

1. Course choice – please select Microbiology and Immunology / PhD / Full-time / 3 Year / October

In the event you have already applied for the above programme previously, the application system may issue a warning notice and prevent application, in this event, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk where staff will be happy to assist you in submitting your application.

2. Start year – please select 2024
3. Funding (page 8) –

  • ‘Are you funding your studies yourself?’ – please select No
  • ‘Name of Individual or organisation providing funds for study’ – please enter ‘RS570 – SURES 6

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award.

One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards.

We encourage you to complete the following to support our commitment to providing an environment free of discrimination and celebrating diversity at Swansea University:

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email):

  • CV
  • Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient)
  • A cover letter including a ‘Supplementary Personal Statement’ to explain why the position particularly matches your skills and experience and how you choose to develop the project.
  • Two references (academic or previous employer) on headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form. Please note that we are not able to accept references received citing private email accounts, e.g. Hotmail. Referees should cite their employment email address for verification of reference.
  • Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable).
  • Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable)
  • Confirmation of EDI form submission (optional) 

Informal enquiries are welcome, please contact Dr Paul Facey (P.Facey@swansea.ac.uk).

*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co- funding of a scholarship project is applicable.

Who is eligible to apply?

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA regulations. 

Find out more and apply

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