Chemistry: Fully Funded EPSRC and Swansea PhD Scholarship: Patchy sweet bullets against bacteria

Funding providers: EPSRC and Swansea University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering

Subject areas: Polymer and Glyco Chemistry, Biomaterials, Antimicrobials

Project start date: 

• 1 January 2025
• 1 April 2025
• 1 July 2025

Project supervisors: 

• Dr Sumati Bhatia (sumati.bhatia@swansea.ac.uk)
• Dr Joel Loveridge
• Professor Thomas Wilkinson

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Chemistry

Mode of study: Full-time

Project description: 

A significant phenotypic heterogeneity exists within the clonal bacterial population for adhesion to different surfaces. Bacteria even lacking adhesive lectins can bind to cells and cause infections. The objective of this studentship is focused on engineering heterogeneous glycosystems with patchy attributes to simultaneously target varied bacterial populations with high selectivity index. 

The candidate will employ an exciting interdisciplinary approach, commencing with polymer and glycochemistry to engineer patchy glycosystems. These systems will be thoroughly characterized in our modern University laboratory using SEM, AFM, and TEM. The efficacy of these materials will be assessed against different bacterial strains in the Institute of Life Sciences at Swansea University. A comprehensive training programme will be provided by an interdisciplinary supervisory team’s expertise in chemistry (Dr Bhatia), natural products (Dr Loveridge), and microbiology (Professor Wilkinson).  

Eligibility

Candidates must hold a UK bachelor’s degree with a minimum of Upper Second Class honours in chemistry or a related subject or overseas bachelor’s degree deemed equivalent to UK Bachelor (by UK ECCTIS) and achieved a grade equivalent to UK Upper Second Class honours in chemistry or a related subject; 

Or a master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’ in chemistry or a related subject (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) – see country specific qualifications.

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.  

Please note that you may need to provide evidence of your English Language proficiency.

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.