[Available through the MIBTP funding program. Details at https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/mibtp/phd/supervisors/ychen .]

This PhD project at the University of Birmingham investigates the critical role of lipid remodelling in bacteria-host interactions, with a particular focus on antimicrobial resistance mechanisms. Antimicrobial resistance is a major global health threat, and understanding the molecular strategies pathogens use to survive antibiotic challenges is essential for developing new therapeutic approaches. The research centers on the hypothesis that membrane lipid remodelling in bacteria, such as Burkholderia cenocepacia, is a key but overlooked factor in resistance and intracellular survival.

Lipid remodelling allows bacteria to selectively alter their membrane composition in response to environmental stimuli, potentially affecting membrane permeability and the recruitment of outer membrane proteins like efflux pumps. These changes can influence how antibiotics penetrate and are trafficked through the bacterial membrane, impacting the effectiveness of treatments. The project builds on recent discoveries of the central pathway responsible for bacterial lipid remodelling, which is common in diverse and clinically important pathogens. This pathway is also implicated in subverting host autophagy and innate immune responses, making it a promising target for further study.

Students will employ advanced omics techniques (transcriptomics and proteomics), confocal imaging, and cellular biology approaches to explore the link between lipid remodelling, antimicrobial resistance, and intracellular survival. The model organism for this research is B. cenocepacia, a pathogen of significant clinical relevance. The project is supervised by Professor Yin Chen, an expert in bacterial lipid biology and host-pathogen interactions.

Funding for this position is available through the Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP) program, which supports interdisciplinary bioscience research. Applicants should have a strong background in biological sciences, biochemistry, microbiology, or related fields, and experience with molecular or cellular biology techniques is advantageous. International candidates may need to demonstrate English language proficiency.

The application deadline is May 1, 2026. Interested candidates should submit their application via the University of Birmingham's online portal and consult the MIBTP program page for funding details. For academic inquiries, Professor Yin Chen can be contacted directly. This opportunity is ideal for students passionate about microbiology, antimicrobial resistance, and innovative research at the interface of biology and medicine.