GlycoCell: funded PhD studentship applying Engineering Biology to microbial production of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics

We are delighted to welcome applications for a PhD student to join us at the Nottingham Engineering Biology Labs, as a core member of the new GlycoCell UKRI Engineering Biology Mission Hub!

This is an exceptional opportunity to do exciting, high-impact research as part of the UK’s flagship new initiative and large investment in transformative Engineering Biology. GlycoCell is applying synthetic biology approaches with glycoscience to develop vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.

https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/glycocell-engineering-biology-mission-hub

https://www.ukri.org/news/new-100m-fund-will-unlock-the-potential-of-engineering-biology/

GlycoCell is a collaborative, multidisciplinary consortium spanning six UK academic institutions and three industrial partners which will interact extensively as part of the research programmes. This is an excellent career and professional network development opportunity for the successful candidates. Dr John Heap is Principal Investigator and Co-Director of GlycoCell, and the University of Nottingham is the lead university.

About the studentship

The PhD student will work on research led by Dr John Heap and Dr Alex Faulds Pain, using Engineering Biology approaches (high-throughput genetic design, DNA assembly, analysis and optimisation) to construct many bacterial strains safely producing glycans and glycoproteins as vaccine candidates and therapeutics.

The studentship builds on established strengths in our labs and involves collaboration with our partners in the GlycoCell consortium. The successful candidate will be part of a large team of Research Associates/Fellows, PhD students, technical specialists and academics with real capacity to deliver on ambitious objectives leading to excellent outputs and impacts, and the opportunity to learn from a supportive, diverse and experienced team. We intend to develop future leaders in our field here.

The PhD student will be aligned with the BBSRC DTP based at Nottingham, and receive the same excellent and well-established training programme as DTP CASE PhD students.

https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/bbdtp

About us

We are passionate about impact, so as well as doing and publishing excellent research, we often work with industry, and we undertake all steps of the innovation pipeline from ideation and invention through to commercialisation, including licensing our technologies to industry and founding startup companies to drive impact. Our research environment provides great opportunities for candidates interested in these aspects.

We are housed in the Biodiscovery Institute, the University of Nottingham’s flagship 800-researcher research complex on the leafy University Park campus. This very well-equipped and well-resourced facility is the perfect home for our research cluster.

Our Nottingham Engineering Biology Labs research cluster is a friendly, welcoming, inclusive and supportive research environment, with a great positive culture. Our members engage with furthering equality, diversity, and inclusion through our activities both within Nottingham and nationally. We are proud that both the University of Nottingham and our home School of Life Sciences hold Athena Swan Gold awards for advancing gender equality.

Studentship details

The PhD studentship is funded by the University of Nottingham, is expected to start October 2024, and includes stipend and UK level tuition fees.

To apply, please send a CV and cover letter to Dr John Heap john.heap@nottingham.ac.uk and Dr Alexandra Faulds-Pain alexandra.faulds-pain1@nottingham.ac.uk. Informal enquiries to the same email addresses are also welcome.