PhD Studentship: Discovery of Disease Modulating Peptides from the Human Microbiome

[4-year fully-funded studentship including direct payment of tuition fees, annual stipend (£20,780 for 2025/26), and Research Training Support Grant.] This fully-funded 4-year PhD studentship at the University of East Anglia offers an exciting opportunity to investigate disease-modulating peptides produced by the human microbiome. The project is highly interdisciplinary, combining bioinformatics, microbiology, and chemistry to explore bioactive metabolites generated by bacteria associated with patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer (CRC). Human-associated microbes are known to produce a wide array of metabolites that can impact host health, either positively (e.g., antibacterial compounds) or negatively (e.g., toxins). Despite the identification of numerous biosynthetic pathways through computational genomic analysis, the structure and function of many of these complex molecules remain poorly understood. The successful PhD candidate will analyze large metagenomic datasets from patient-associated bacteria to discover novel metabolites. These molecules will then be characterized both chemically and biologically, with the overarching goal of understanding their effects on human health. The project is based in the laboratory of Dr Andrew Truman at the John Innes Centre, renowned for its expertise in bacterial genetics and biosynthesis. Additional guidance will be provided by Dr Falk Hildebrand at the Quadram Institute, an expert in bacterial metagenomics and the development of analytical tools for complex datasets. The studentship includes full payment of tuition fees, a generous annual stipend (£20,780 for 2025/26), and a Research Training Support Grant. Applicants should be enthusiastic about working across the biological and chemical sciences and possess a strong academic background (minimum UK 2:1 Honours degree or equivalent). English language proficiency is required (IELTS 6.5 overall, 6 in each category). The position is full-time and will commence on 1 October 2026. For further details on eligibility and application procedures, visit the provided university links.