University of Bath
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3 weeks ago
PhD in Co-evolution of Bacteriophage in Bacterial Microbiomes and Phage Therapies University of Bath in United Kingdom
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Microbiology
Funding
Competition-funded 4-year GW4 BioMed3 MRC DLP studentship covering tuition fees, a stipend of £21,805 per annum for 2026/27 (updated annually), and research training/support funding of up to £5,000 per annum depending on project requirements. Open to Home and International students, though international awards are limited to 30% and do not cover visa, healthcare surcharge, or moving costs.
Deadline
Oct 21, 2026
Country
United Kingdom
University
University of Bath

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About this position
PhD opportunity at the University of Bath in the Department of Life Sciences on co-evolution of bacteriophage within bacterial microbiomes and development of phage therapies. The project sits within the GW4 BioMed3 MRC Doctoral Landscape Programme (DLP), which is offering up to 17 studentships for entry in September 2027.
The research focuses on bacteriophage, microbiomes, antimicrobial resistance, Klebsiella pneumoniae, biofilms, virology, genomics, and metagenomics. It aims to understand how phage and bacterial hosts co-evolve in polymicrobial communities, how phage can eliminate target bacteria in clinically relevant biofilm settings, and whether phage exposure affects plasmid transfer and the spread of antibiotic resistance genes.
Supervisory team: Dr Brian Jones (University of Bath), Prof Eshwar Mahenthiralingam (University of Cardiff), Prof J Mark Sutton (UKSHA), and Prof Tiffany Taylor (University of Bath).
Funding is competitive and includes tuition fees, a stipend of £21,805 per year for 2026/27, and up to £5,000 per year for research training and support. The studentship is open to Home and International applicants, but international awards are capped at 30% and do not cover visa or healthcare surcharge costs.
Eligibility: applicants should have, or be about to obtain, a first or upper second-class UK honours degree or equivalent in medical sciences, computing, mathematics, or the physical sciences. A lower second-class degree may be considered with a Merit or above at master’s level. Non-UK applicants must meet the University of Bath English language requirements.
Applications are submitted directly to the GW4 BioMed3 DLP online application form. You may apply for up to two projects, and only one application per candidate is allowed. The deadline is 21 October 2026 at 17:00 GMT, and the programme notes that applications may close early if demand is very high.
Funding details
Competition-funded 4-year GW4 BioMed3 MRC DLP studentship covering tuition fees, a stipend of £21,805 per annum for 2026/27 (updated annually), and research training/support funding of up to £5,000 per annum depending on project requirements. Open to Home and International students, though international awards are limited to 30% and do not cover visa, healthcare surcharge, or moving costs.
What's required
Applicants must have, or be about to obtain, a first or upper second-class UK honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate area of medical sciences, computing, mathematics, or the physical sciences. Candidates with a lower second-class degree may be considered if they have a Merit or above in a master’s degree. Significant relevant non-academic experience may also be considered. Non-UK applicants must meet the University of Bath English language entry requirements.
How to apply
Submit a formal application directly to the GW4 BioMed3 DLP using its online application form. You may apply for up to two projects and should submit only one application per candidate. Informal enquiries can be directed to Dr Jones.
More information can be found here
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