PhD Studentship: Transcribing Success: Characterising the Factor Behind Bacterial Development and Antibiotic Production

Primary Supervisor - Dr Susan Schlimpert 

Over 50% of the antibiotics used in medicine are produced by Streptomyces bacteria. The production of antibiotics is intertwined with the Streptomyces lifecycle and controlled by diverse transcriptional regulators, including regulators of the poorly understood Wbl-protein family.  

We recently discovered that the overproduction of an uncharacterised transcriptional regulator of the Wbl family affects cellular development and antibiotic production in Streptomyces. Our preliminary data suggest that this regulator binds to specific genomic regions across the Streptomyces chromosome, indicating that it has a broad regulatory impact.  

We are now looking for a motivated PhD student to unravel the regulatory network that underpins the function of this Wbl regulator in Streptomyces development and antibiotic production. Specifically, this project aims to (1) Characterise the regulon of the Wbl transcription factor and define its genome-wide target promoters; (2) Investigate its role in vivo to identify protein partners and understand its impact on Streptomyces antibiotic production and development; and (3) Discover novel antibiotics produced in response to the transcriptional activation by the Wbl-regulator.  

The outcomes of this work will provide novel insights into the biology of Streptomyces and the regulation of antibiotic biosynthesis, which has the potential to aid the discovery and production of important medical and industrial molecules.  

The project offers multidisciplinary training, including molecular microbiology, global gene regulation analyses, protein-protein interaction studies, and the characterisation of novel bioactive molecules. This will provide you with highly transferrable skills and a wide choice of career options in academia and industry. 

You will be based in the laboratory of Dr Susan Schlimpert (www.schlimpert-lab.com) in the Department of Molecular Microbiology at the John Innes Centre, which is a world-class institute for Streptomyces research. 

Applications are welcomed from students across the biological sciences who desire to work on a multidisciplinary project. Informal enquiries to susan.schlimpert@jic.ac.uk are welcome.  

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. 

Additional Funding Information

This project is awarded with a 4-year Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership PhD DTP studentship. The studentship includes payment of tuition fees (directly to the University), a stipend to cover living expenses (2024/5 stipend rate: £19,237), and a Research Training Support Grant of £5,000pa for each year of the studentship.

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