[UKRI-funded studentships available globally, covering UK tuition fees, a living stipend, and an annual £5,000 research grant for the first three PhD years. EASTBIO DTP limits international students to 30%.]

PhD Studentship – Peptide-based Precision Anti-infectives for Prophylaxis and Prevention of Foodborne Listeriosis (EASTBIO)

Institution: The University of Edinburgh

Supervisors: Prof. Jose Vazquez-Boland, Dr. Christopher R Coxon

Project Overview: Listeriosis, caused by Listeria monocytogenes, is a severe foodborne illness that particularly threatens the elderly, pregnant women, babies, and immunocompromised individuals. It is the leading cause of foodborne illness deaths in the West and a major cause of bacterial brain infections. Current treatments are suboptimal, with high lethality and risk of neurological complications. There is a pressing need for new strategies to prevent and manage Listeria infections, especially in vulnerable populations and within the food supply chain.

This PhD project aims to develop novel peptide-based molecules that inhibit the Listeria virulence regulator PrfA, a transcription factor essential for the bacterium's pathogenicity. The project builds on recent discoveries by the Vázquez-Boland group, which revealed that environmental oligopeptides can inhibit PrfA by competing with its activating cofactor, glutathione. This mechanism has been characterized at atomic resolution, providing a strong foundation for rational inhibitor design.

Research Objectives:

• Design, synthesize, and evaluate peptide-based PrfA inhibitors as anti-Listeria agents.
• Test these compounds in experimental models, including food matrices, to assess their potential as food-safety additives and therapeutics.
• Develop approaches that neutralize Listeria virulence without affecting food properties or the human microbiota, and without promoting antibiotic resistance.

Training and Collaboration: The studentship is part of the CASE-EASTBIO DTP and involves collaboration with Campden-BRI-Group, a leader in food safety. The successful candidate will receive interdisciplinary training in infection biology, microbial pathogenesis, chemical biology, and medicinal chemistry, as well as industrial experience in food safety and product development.

Funding: The project is UKRI-funded, open to applicants worldwide. Funding covers UK tuition fees, a living stipend, and an annual £5,000 research grant for the first three years. International students are limited to 30% of the cohort.

Eligibility: Applicants should have a strong undergraduate degree (2:1 or above, or international equivalent) in a relevant discipline such as biology, chemistry, biochemistry, or a related field. Eligibility criteria follow UKRI guidance. Proficiency in English is expected.

Application Process: Download application documents from the EASTBIO How to Apply webpage. Submit your completed application, EDI survey, and academic transcripts to [email protected] by 15 December 2025. References must be sent to the same email using the provided form. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Online Q&A sessions will be held in November/December 2025; check the EASTBIO website for details.

For more information and to apply, visit: https://biology.ed.ac.uk/eastbio/how-to-apply