PhD Studentship: The Oesophageal Microbiome in Health and Disease

Major supervisor – Prof Mark Pallen

The human oesophagus is house to a posh however poorly understood resident microbial group, the oesophageal microbiome. By analogy with different websites within the intestine, this group is predicted to play key roles in well being and illness, together with influencing development to oesophageal most cancers. Nonetheless, regardless of a long time of labor, microbiologists have solely a poor, low-resolution view of this microbial group, making it unattainable to evaluate its function within the upkeep of well being throughout the human lifespan.

This PhD challenge will ship an thrilling multidisciplinary exploration of the oesophageal microbiome, bridging the hole between primary science and translational medication and between laboratory analysis and superior computational analyses.

The coed will conduct a pioneering genome-resolved census of the oesophageal microbiome in well being and illness, leveraging cutting-edge culturomics, genome sequencing and metagenomics to revolutionize our understanding of this uncared for microbial group.

The coed will work in a supportive multi-disciplinary analysis and medical surroundings with—housed below one roof—a strategically funded analysis institute, with world-leading laboratory, sequencing and bioinformatics services and a state-of-the-art Endoscopy Unit, one of many largest in Europe, performing at the very least 40,000 endoscopic procedures a yr. The PhD candidate will work wtihin a multidisciplinary workforce that features a clinician, specialists in microbial genomics and metagenomics and a core bioinformatician.

The coed will achieve hands-on expertise in amassing and analyzing oesophageal samples, optimising tradition of microbes, genome and metagenome sequencing and cutting-edge bioinformatics analyses to realize an built-in view of the oesophageal microbiome. Anticipated outcomes embrace a microbial gene and genome catalogue, the invention of recent microbial species and contemporary insights into the microbial biodiversity and ecology related to illness development within the oesophagus.

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 challenge 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 working refined laptop analyses alongside laboratory work and emphasises problem-based studying in microbial bioinformatics, skilled improvement and analysis abilities. All MMB DTP college students undertake a Skilled Placement.

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

The MRC DTP is dedicated to equality, variety 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 info on eligibility and learn how to apply: www.uea.ac.uk/phd/mmbdtp