New strategies for pest insect control by population suppression (CHAPMAN_U25DTP1)

Primary Supervisor – Professor Tracey Chapman 

Pioneering solutions for pest insect control are urgently needed, as climate change is increasingly driving pests into new geographic areas. The student will address this critical challenge for innovative control solutions by developing new methods for managing key insect pests. The focus will be the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata, medfly), which is moving into new environments including the UK, and poses a growing threat to agriculture and food security. 

The student will harness the potential for insect control of merging CRISPR/Cas9 ‘homing’ gene drives with genetic sex conversion. This strategy can achieve reductions in pest population sizes by driving into a population the means to transform harmful (crop-damaging) females into harmless fertile males. However, a key gap is the absence of any systematic investigation of the relative fitness or effect of competition between XX versus XY males. 

This challenge forms the focus of this PhD project, which the student will tackle in two major aims: 

(i) Compare the fertility and reproductive success of gene-edited and non-edited XX versus XY males. This objective exploits the natural ability of mothers to start the process of sex determination through maternaly deposited tra. Interruption of this biological process enables the potential for non gene-edited as well as gene-edited sex conversion male offspring. 

(ii) Analyse the detailed courtship and behavioural effects of sex conversion using detailed AI and machine learning algorithms. 

The student will be immersed within a tailored training environment designed to foster innovation and independence. This will equip the student with state-of-the-art skills in gene editing, bioinformatics and advanced AI analysis, giving them a strong set of varied skills for future career development within pest management or beyond. The student will harness cutting-edge genetic engineering and gene drive technologies to create novel population suppression strategies, with the potential to be applied across multiple pest species. 

The Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Programme (NRPDTP) is offering fully funded studentships for October 2025 entry. The programme offers postgraduates the opportunity to undertake a 4-year PhD research project whilst enhancing professional development and research skills through a comprehensive training programme. You will join a vibrant community of world-leading researchers. All NRPDTP CASE students undertake a three to 18-month placement with the non-academic partner during their study. The placement offers experience designed to enhance professional development. Full support and advice will be provided by our Professional Internship team. Students with, or expecting to attain, at least an upper second-class honours degree, or equivalent, are invited to apply. 

This project has been shortlisted for funding by the NRPDTP. Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed on 28, 29 or 30 January 2025.  

Visit our website for further information on eligibility and how to apply: https://biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/ 

Our partners value diverse and inclusive work environments that are positive and supportive. Students are selected for admission without regard to gender, marital or civil partnership status, disability, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age or social background.

Entry requirements

At least UK equivalence Bachelors (Honours) 2:1 or UK equivalence Master’s degree. English Language requirement (Faculty of Science equivalent: IELTS 6.5 overall, 6 in each category). 

Mode of study

Full time

Start date

1 October 2025