PhD Studentship – Microbial Determinants of Behaviour in Herbivorous Beetles

[4-year Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership PhD CASE studentship with Inspiralis Limited. Includes payment of tuition fees, annual stipend of £20,780 (2025/6 rate), and a Research Training Support Grant of £5,000 per annum. Research Council funded.] This fully funded PhD studentship at the University of East Anglia offers an exciting opportunity to investigate the microbial determinants of behaviour in herbivorous beetles, specifically focusing on tortoise beetles and their obligate bacterial symbionts. The project aims to uncover how the presence or absence of these microbes influences larval behaviour, the underlying chemical and nutritional mechanisms, and the ecological consequences for survival against natural predators. The research will combine laboratory-based hypothesis-driven experiments with annual fieldwork in Panama, conducted in collaboration with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, to contextualize findings in real-world ecological settings. The successful candidate will develop a broad skill set, including behavioural tracking, microbial manipulation, chemical analysis using GC-MS, molecular biology, and statistical modelling. Additionally, the programme emphasizes the development of transferable skills such as scientific communication, project management, and public engagement. Students are encouraged to take ownership of their research, shaping experimental design and driving the project with increasing independence. The Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Programme (NRPDTP) provides a vibrant, inclusive, and internationally connected research environment, with opportunities to present at international conferences and engage with a global network of collaborators. All NRPDTP students undertake a three-month professional internship placement (PIPS) to enhance professional development, with full support from the Professional Internship team. The studentship is funded for four years, covering tuition fees, an annual stipend of £20,780, and a Research Training Support Grant of £5,000 per year. Entry requirements include at least a UK equivalent Bachelors (Honours) 2:1 degree and an IELTS score of 6.5 overall (with no less than 6.0 in each category). The position is full-time, starting 1 October 2026, and shortlisted applicants will be interviewed in early February 2026. For further information on eligibility and application procedures, candidates are encouraged to visit the NRPDTP website and apply via the University of East Anglia's online portal.