PhD Studentship: Passerine viromics and genomics - a One Health approach to understanding infectious disease

Primary Supervisor - Professor David S Richardson 

Passerine birds are often closely associated with humans but very little is known about their viromes despite them hosting viruses that cause disease in humans and domestic animals  Furthermore, the extent to which passerines can catch and transmit viruses from other species, including reservoirs of key viral pathogens, such as seabirds, is unknown1. Finally, determining what genomic characteristics enable passerines to combat viral challenges can provide insight into the evolved traits and mechanisms that may help us mitigate such diseases2. 

Modern molecular methods, including metagenomic sequencing, now provide the tools to safely and efficiently identify viruses3 within individuals in wild animal populations. Using these methods, recent studies have shown that apparently healthy bird populations can carry an extensive virome1. However, this work is limited and more is required to understand the diversity and cross-species transmission of viruses, especially in passerines, and how that impacts their health. 

The birds on Cousin island in the Seychelles provide a unique opportunity to study the composition, and cross-species transmission from seabirds, of viruses in Passerines. Combining individual virome screening with genomics and health/survival data from the long-term Seychelles warbler study also enables investigations into host-pathogen impacts and co-evolution4,5. These will be your aims. You will use a combination of fieldwork and cutting-edge metagenomic sequencing, bioinformatics and analytical tools to address these questions to make an important contribution to this emerging field. 

You will be based at UEA (with David S Richardson and Sarah Worsley) but also work at the adjacent Quadram institute (with Evelien Adriaenssens). These are world-leading centres of excellence with a focus that includes evolutionary biology, ecology and conservation, genomics, wildlife disease and host-microbe interactions. You will receive excellent interdisciplinary training (including field and lab work, genomics, bioinformatics and analytical techniques) and career development from the thriving Norwich Biosciences Doctoral training partnership. 

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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