This PhD project will be based in the School of Chemical Engineering which is part of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences.
The deadline for applications is 23:59 (UK time) on Tuesday 30 April 2024.
Bacteria constantly adapt to their environment and respond to stresses and toxic compounds that they encounter. Without this adaptation, bacteria would die. A common mechanism that protects bacteria against toxic molecules such as antibiotics and biocides are efflux pumps, molecular machines that pump such molecules out of the cell. It is known that efflux of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance, and more recently efflux pumps have also been used to protect bacteria against organic solvents and other chemicals in industrial processes.
We have recently found that there is a fundamental link between the way in which bacteria generate energy (needed for growth and cellular functions) and efflux pumps (required for removing harmful chemicals) [Whittle et al. 2023]. Energy is needed to drive efflux pumps, but we have discovered that the energy level within the cell is responsible for regulating fundamental behaviours, and that efflux pumps impact on these behaviours.
We think that this is very important in understanding how bacteria are able to survive in different environments, including during infections and in industrial processes. In this project we will explore this link and aim to understand how we might use this knowledge to kill pathogenic bacteria via better use of antibiotics and improve industrial processes.
We will use a combination of approaches, grounded in single-cell analysis of bacteria using flow cytometry and microscopy that we have previously developed [Whittle et al. 2019]. This will allow us to measure how individual bacteria respond to stresses, regulate their energy state, and control efflux pumps. We will also use a variety of molecular biology methods to generically modify bacteria in order to better understand mechanisms of energy metabolism, efflux, and their regulation.
This topic is incredibly important as antibiotic resistance is an urgent and growing problem that threatens global health. The World Health Organisation estimate that 1.3 million deaths were caused by AMR in 2019, and AMR contributed to 5 million deaths; and these numbers are growing year on year. There are already bacteria causing disease that cannot be treated using antibiotics. In addition, antibiotics are required for preventing infection following operations and chemotherapy, meaning that many aspects of modern medicine would fail if antibiotics became less effective.
This interdisciplinary project will be supervised by Dr Tim Overton (School of Chemical Engineering), who is an expert on single-cell analysis of bacteria and bacterial physiology, and Professor Jessica Blair (Institute of Microbiology and Infection), an expert on bacterial efflux pumps and antimicrobial resistance.
We welcome informal enquiries and discussions about the project – please contact Tim Overton (t.w.overton@bham.ac.uk).
Applicants will be expected to have a good Honours degree (First Class or Upper Second Class Honours degree) awarded by a recognised University in life science (e.g. Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Microbiology) or physical science (e.g. Chemistry, Chemical Engineering) disciplines.
These scholarships are designed to create opportunities and address the underrepresentation of talented Black or Black mixed heritage students in academia. Applicants who meet all of the following criteria are eligible to apply:
1. UK nationals and eligible for registration as Home students
2. Members of one of the following ethnic groups:
3. Not already enrolled on a PhD programme at the University of Birmingham
1. Financial Support: Recipients of these scholarships will receive substantial financial support, including a stipend at UKRI rates, which is set at £18,622 per year. This support covers tuition fees, living expenses, and research-related costs, including bench fees. This support is designed to alleviate the financial burden often associated with pursuing a doctoral degree.
2. Mentorship and Guidance: Scholarship recipients will benefit from mentorship opportunities and guidance from accomplished faculty members who are dedicated to helping them succeed in their academic and research endeavours.
3. Research Opportunities: We are committed to providing an exceptional research environment. Students will have access to state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge resources, and a vibrant scholarly community.
4. Community Building: A key component of the scholarship programme is the creation of a supportive community of Black British researchers pursuing PhDs. This network will foster collaboration and peer support among scholars.
5. Research Training Support Grant: In addition to financial support, scholarship recipients will receive a research training support grant. This grant is intended to support conference attendance, fieldwork, and other essential activities that enhance their research and academic growth.
6. Commitment to Inclusivity: We are dedicated to building an inclusive academic environment that values diversity and ensures equitable access to education.
Once applicants have familiarised themselves with the above project details, they are encouraged to contact the lead PhD supervisor to discuss the project and the applicant’s suitability for the project. This is recommended before you submit an application to the PhD project.
After applicants have made contact with the lead PhD supervisor, you will then need to apply to the PhD project using our online application portal: you should select ‘125th Anniversary Scholarships (EPS)‘. You will need to create an account for the online application portal and you will be prompted to sign-in upon your return to the portal.
You do not need to complete your application in one session; you can save your application at each stage and return to the portal at any stage before submission, particularly if you do not have all of the necessary documents when you begin your application.
As this is an ‘advertised PhD’, in which you will studying the above project that has already been provided by the academic supervisor(s), you do not need to submit a research proposal. Your personal statement will suffice for determining your suitability for the PhD project as well as your previous academic, professional and personal experiences.
The deadline for applications is 23:59 (UK time) on Tuesday 30 April 2024.
For your application you will need to submit the following documents:
For your application you will need to submit the following documents:
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