PhD Studentship: Scratching an Itch: Identifying Novel Antifungal Targets to Overcome Drug Resistant Fungal Skin Infections

Major supervisor – Dr Stefan Bidula

Superficial fungal infections corresponding to these of the pores and skin, hair, and nails have an effect on greater than 1 billion individuals yearly. Though often thought-about a nuisance, fungal pores and skin infections are notoriously troublesome to deal with and may be debilitating. In uncommon circumstances, pores and skin pathogens can enter wounds and result in fungal sepsis and dying. The worldwide emergence of the drug-resistant species Trichophyton indotineae is trigger for concern, notably as our choices to deal with fungal infections are already severely restricted. Due to this fact, we have to establish new drug targets if we’re to beat these prevalent infections.  

We’re in search of a PhD pupil to discover the organic roles of four-stranded DNA/RNA buildings in fungal pores and skin pathogens and establish whether or not they symbolize a brand new therapeutic goal. The undertaking can have a specific deal with characterizing the formation of those uncommon buildings in fungal pores and skin pathogens and assessing the antifungal potential of medicine focusing on these buildings in vitro and in 3D pores and skin fashions.  

This 4-year MRC MMB DTP undertaking employs a various combination of strategies spanning biophysics, molecular microbiology, high-resolution fluorescence microscopy, medical microbiology, transcriptomics, immunology, and 3D an infection fashions. Coaching in these strategies can be supplied by the supervisory crew and their collaborators.  

We’re in search of a pupil with a eager curiosity in medical microbiology or drug discovery and a willingness to be taught. The flexibility to grasp and talk complicated concepts each in writing and orally is crucial. The scholar can be anticipated to current their work at nationwide and worldwide conferences and contribute to the writing of manuscripts for publication. The scholar can be becoming a member of a newly established however rising group and can be anticipated to be able to working independently and as a part of a collaborative crew.

The Microbes, Microbiomes and Bioinformatics (MMB) Doctoral Coaching Partnership (DTP) is open to UK and Worldwide candidates with related undergraduate levels for entry in October 2024 and gives the chance to undertake a fully-funded 4-year PhD analysis undertaking supported by the UKRI Medical Analysis Council in microbiology and microbial bioinformatics.

Our distinctive and complete coaching programme empowers college students to really feel snug operating subtle laptop analyses alongside laboratory work and emphasises problem-based studying in microbial bioinformatics, skilled growth and analysis expertise. All MMB DTP college students undertake a Skilled Placement.

Interviews for shortlisted candidates will happen on Wednesday 15 Might 2024.

The MRC DTP is dedicated to equality, range and inclusion. College students are chosen with out regard to age, incapacity, gender id, marriage or civil partnership, being pregnant or maternity, ethnicity, faith or perception, intercourse or sexual orientation or social background. We worth curiosity, independence of thought, plus an inherent ability for analysis that mixes laboratory work and bioinformatics.

For data on eligibility and the right way to apply: www.uea.ac.uk/phd/mmbdtp

Further Funding Data

This undertaking is awarded with a 4-year fully-funded studentship together with direct cost of tuition charges to the College, stipend for dwelling bills (2023/4 fee: £18,622) and a Analysis Coaching Help Grant for annually of the studentship.