Description du poste
This 4-year PhD studentship is open to both Home (UK) and international applicants. The successful candidate will receive an annual stipend at the UKRI minimum rate (currently £21,805 per year) plus £1,000/annum enhancement, and a research training support grant of up to £20,000 for the full 4-year programme. This project is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually, the projects that receives the best applicants will be successful. Why does prevalence of UTIs increase so substantially during the menopause? How do the hormonal changes associated with menopause come to affect competition between bacterial species in the unique flow conditions of the bladder and urethra? We hypothesise that menopause-associated changes in hormone signalling alter the urinary tract environment, disrupting the balance of microbial communities and their interactions with the host. We will use an interdisciplinary approach, combining mathematical modelling, microfluidic lab-on-a-chip experiments with cells, and bioinformatics and genomics to study how cell signalling affects gene expression. In particular, we want to capture how microbial competition is communicated -how cells sense and respond to biochemical and mechanical signals from the same and other microbial species and those from the host environment. A further goalis to understand our role as scientists and sensors: how should microfluidic devices best be designed and deployed as sensors and emulators of disease? For further details see here. This project is expected to start in September 2027. Before you apply: Please contact the main project supervisor, Dr Thompson , to learn more about the project and discuss whether it may be suitable for you. To be considered for this project you must submit a formal application through our online application portal by following the instructions provided here . Please note that you must select programme FSE PhD President’s Doctoral Scholarship: If you already have an applicant account, use this link to open an application for FSE PhD President's Doctoral Scholarship . If you do not yet have an applicantaccount, follow the account setup instructions and then use this link to open an application for the correct programme. When applying, please specify the full title and supervisor/s of the project, details of your previous study, and names and contact details of two referees. You must also upload a Supporting Statement describing your motivation to apply to the project, your CV and transcripts of awarded and in-progress university qualifications . Please note late or incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants are expected to hold (or be about to obtain) a minimum upper second-class undergraduate honours degree (or equivalent) in applied mathematics, physics, engineering or biology. Research experience in mathematical modelling and/or biology is desirable.