The University of Surrey, in partnership with the University of Sussex, University of Exeter, and several major UK research institutes, is offering 18 fully funded PhD studentships starting October 2026 through the BBSRC-funded Wessex One Health Doctoral Landscape Programme. This interdisciplinary programme focuses on Infection Biosciences and aims to train students to tackle disease threats to human and animal health, including emerging infections, antimicrobial resistance, and food insecurity. Research areas include detection, prevention, and intervention of infectious diseases, microbial evolution, drug resistance, disease spread, and infection and cellular biology. Projects span across multiple institutions, providing access to high-containment labs, advanced genomics, bioinformatics, and applied AI training. Students will benefit from cross-institutional supervisory teams, cohort-building activities, and opportunities for industrial placements.

Applicants should have or expect to have an MSc and/or a first or upper second honours degree in a relevant subject. While lab experience is desirable, it is not essential as comprehensive training will be provided. Specific residency and security clearance requirements apply for certain projects, particularly those involving Dstl, APHA, UKHSA, or Pirbright Institute. The programme is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion, welcoming applicants from underrepresented groups and providing support to build a diverse research community.

Funding includes a UKRI stipend (£20,780 per annum), UK tuition fees, and research costs for four years, with a limited number of international fee waivers available. The application process requires submission of an application form, completion of an EDI survey, and selection of preferred projects. The deadline for applications is 23 January 2026, with shortlisting by 13 February 2026 and online interviews in early March 2026. For more information, prospective students can contact the programme at [email protected] or reach out to individual project supervisors.

Key research themes include host-pathogen interactions, vaccine development against antimicrobial resistance, and the use of beehive microbiomes as sentinels for plant and animal pathogens. Supervisors include Prof Rachel Simmonds, Prof Javier Salguero-Bodes, Dr Jorge Gutierrez-Merino, Dr Paul Beales, Dr Kelvin Hughes, Dr Matthew Siggins, and Dr Amin Asfor, representing leading UK institutions in the field. This is an excellent opportunity for motivated graduates interested in infection biosciences, laboratory science, and One Health research to join a dynamic, collaborative, and well-funded doctoral training programme.