Decoding the Genomics of Immune Resilience in Global Cattle Populations (PhD Studentship)

This PhD studentship at the University of Edinburgh offers an exciting opportunity to investigate the genomics of immune resilience in global cattle populations, a topic central to food security and livestock improvement. The project focuses on understanding the genetic and cellular mechanisms that make African/Asian (Bos indicus) cattle more resilient to heat and infectious diseases compared to their highly productive European (Bos taurus) counterparts. By building and analysing a cross-subspecies single-cell atlas of the bovine immune system, you will generate and interpret single-cell RNA-seq data from 100 European dairy cattle and integrate it with an existing cohort of 200 African animals. Key objectives include constructing a comprehensive map of bovine peripheral blood immune cell states, identifying conserved and divergent cell populations between subspecies, and mapping the regulatory architecture by integrating genotype data to fine-map cell-type-specific cis/trans and dynamic eQTLs/sQTLs. The project will also connect genotype to phenotype by colocalising and fine-mapping single-cell eQTLs/sQTLs with large-scale GWAS data for production and disease traits, ultimately prioritising causal variants for targeted genotyping and gene-editing to accelerate breeding programmes. You will join a multidisciplinary research group within the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, gaining access to a rich ecosystem of complementary multi-omics data, including ATAC-seq and PRO-cap for the same cell types. Extensive hands-on training will be provided in single-cell library preparation and sequencing technologies, high-performance computing and bioinformatics, and statistical genetics and multi-omics integration. The studentship is open to UK and international students for on-campus study and provides a monthly stipend matched to the UKRI minimum level for 42 months, along with a research budget for research costs, training, and conference attendance. Applicants should have a background in bioinformatics, computational biology, or molecular biology, and a strong enthusiasm for developing cross-disciplinary skills. The application deadline is noon (GMT) on 13 February 2026. To apply, download the application form from the website, complete it, and email it to [email protected] with the reference code '2026-27-005' in the subject line. If applying for more than one studentship, submit a separate application for each. Relevant references for this project include recent studies on single-cell eQTL mapping, the evolutionary history of Bos indicus cattle, and profiling the immune epigenome across global cattle breeds. This position is ideal for candidates interested in immunology, genetics, bioinformatics, and the application of cutting-edge multi-omics technologies to real-world agricultural challenges.