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PhD in Host Receptor Evolution as a Barrier to Viral Spillover University of Edinburgh in United Kingdom
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Cell Biology
Funding
Funded PhD studentship through the EASTBIO BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership. Funding covers a stipend and UK-level tuition fees; the University of Edinburgh covers the difference between home and international fees, making the studentship fully funded for all appointees. There is a cap on the number of international students recruited.
Deadline
Nov 16, 2026
Country
United Kingdom
University
University of Edinburgh
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About this position
PhD opportunity at the University of Edinburgh in Host Receptor Evolution as a Barrier to Viral Spillover, offered through the EASTBIO BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership.
This project sits at the intersection of cell biology, genetics, molecular biology, and evolutionary analysis. The research aims to identify and characterise viral entry receptors and host factors that influence whether viruses can cross species barriers and cause zoonotic transmission. The student will focus on viruses including influenza A viruses, paramyxoviruses, and coronaviruses.
Research activities include integrating mammalian genome evolution analyses with functional genetic screens, prioritising candidate host factors using gene ontology, protein-protein interaction networks, GWAS, and transcriptomic datasets, and then validating candidates experimentally. Experimental work will involve molecular and cellular assays in human, bat, pig, and avian cells, with training in cloning, gene expression, CRISPR/Cas9, qPCR, Western blotting, confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, mammalian cell culture, and viral culture under BSL2 conditions, with possible BSL3 opportunities.
The student will be based primarily at the University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research within the Institute for Regeneration and Repair, and will also work with supervisors linked to the Usher Institute and Roslin Institute. The supervisory team includes Dr R Sloan, Dr Rob Young, and Dr F Grey.
This is a 4-year fully funded PhD for UK and international students, covering a stipend and UK-level tuition fees. The University of Edinburgh covers the difference between home and international fees, although there is a cap on the number of international students recruited.
Application deadline: 16 November 2026. Applicants should submit the EASTBIO application form and academic transcripts by email, and ensure referees send references using the EASTBIO reference form template.
Funding details
Funded PhD studentship through the EASTBIO BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership. Funding covers a stipend and UK-level tuition fees; the University of Edinburgh covers the difference between home and international fees, making the studentship fully funded for all appointees. There is a cap on the number of international students recruited.
What's required
Applicants should have or expect a relevant background for a 4-year PhD in biological/medical sciences. The project involves computational analysis, cloning and gene expression, CRISPR/Cas9, qPCR, Western blotting, confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, mammalian cell culture, and viral culture under BSL2 conditions, with potential BSL3 work. UK and international students may apply, subject to UKRI/EASTBIO eligibility criteria and fee-status classification.
How to apply
Complete the EASTBIO Application Form and send it with a PDF copy of your academic transcripts to [email protected]. Also ask your referees to submit references using the EASTBIO reference form template to the same email address by the deadline.
More information can be found here
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