UEL PhD Studentship: Development of novel antimicrobial peptides to tackle 'Superbugs'

UEL PhD Studentship: Development of novel antimicrobial peptides to tackle 'Superbugs'

Director of Studies: Dr Mukhlesur Rahman (m.rahman@uel.ac.uk) 

Description: 

Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD studentship to undertake research in the area of Antibiotic Resistance and Drug Discovery in the Medicines Research Group, University of East London. The successful PhD candidate will collaborate and work with the Nature’s Laboratory Limited. 

The Medicine Research Group (https://www.uel.ac.uk/our-research/research-school-health-sport-bioscience/medicines-research-group-mrg) at UEL has world-wide reputation of carrying out research on antimicrobial drug discovery. Considering today’s issue of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), the project will focus on the development of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). We will apply computational drug design to create peptide libraries following by total synthesis of polypeptides, their purification by chromatographic techniques including HPLC, structural characterization by spectroscopic techniques, mostly 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry and Evaluation of in vitro antibacterial activity of compounds against a panel of clinical strains of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Clostridiodies difficile and Escherichia coli. So, we seek expertise in medicinal drug discovery to join our team and contribute to research for the development of new antimicrobial peptides with efficacy against multi-drug-resistant bugs. This industrial PhD studentship is an opportunity for a PhD candidate to work in collaboration with an internationally recognised interdisciplinary team at UEL to become an expert in drug discovery using the state-of-the-art analytic laboratory facilities and microbiology suite. 

Value of the Award: 

Full tuition fees (UK rate), a tax-free stipend of up to £ 21,237 per annum and core research costs (bench fee) for three years. 

The position is open to home applicants. International applicants who are prepared to pay the tuition fees difference between the international and UK can also apply. 

Eligibility and entry requirements: 

Applicants must have an excellent honours degree (1st class or 2:1 or international equivalent) in Pharmacy, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Science, or relevant disciplines and relevant MSc. Evidence of undertaking a laboratory based, primary research project is essential. Applicants must also have excellent communication skills and a very high level of written and spoken English. Where English is not the applicant’s first language, a minimum IELTS Academic English score of 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in all components is required. 

The holder of the studentship will be expected to: 

• Work at UEL and collaborative partner institutes. 
• Complete their doctoral studies and submit their dissertation within 3 years. 
• Prepare high quality research papers for submission to peer-reviewed journals. 
• Participate in and contribute to research activities of the School and activities relevant to the collaborator. 

Application Process: 

Eligible applicants should apply by sending academic CV and a 1000-word research proposal based on the PhD title to include: 1) a summary of the extant literature and 2) areas for future research by email to HSB PGR Admin hsb.pgr.admin@uel.ac.uk 

When sending documents by email please state the project title and name of the Director of Studies in the subject. 

Closing Date and Start Date: 

Informal enquiries about the studentship should be addressed to the Director of Studies stated above. 

The closing date for completed applications is 2 August 2024. 

Interview date to be confirmed. 

Start date will be October 2024.

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