Alethea Tabor

The EPSRC & BBSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Engineering Solutions to Antimicrobial Resistance at University College London is offering a PhD studentship for October 2026. This opportunity is ideal for candidates passionate about chemical biology and interested in combating tuberculosis and other mycobacterial diseases. The project involves synthesising cyclic antimicrobial peptides to treat drug-resistant mycobacterial infections, characterising their mechanisms of action using cross-linking mass spectrometry, and assessing their effects on mycobacterial membrane integrity and cell wall metabolism. The research is multidisciplinary, combining expertise from chemical biology, medical science, and biomedical engineering, and is a collaboration between Professor Alethea Tabor's group at UCL, Sanjib Bhakta at Birkbeck's Mycobacteria Research Laboratory, and Konstantinos Thalassinos at the Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology (UCL/Birkbeck). Applicants should hold a first or upper second-class honours degree or a Master’s degree in a relevant subject such as physics, chemistry, engineering, biology, mathematics, or related sciences. Research experience, motivation, independence, maturity, initiative, and resilience are key selection criteria. The application process is transparent and prioritises research excellence, programme fit, and diversity. Two references are required, and shortlisted candidates will be invited to interviews, which include a research presentation and a summary of a provided research article. The studentship is funded by the EPSRC & BBSRC CDT, typically covering tuition fees and providing a stipend. Funding details and further information are available at the CDT admissions website and through optional online open events. The closing date for applications is 12th January 2026. Prospective applicants are encouraged to review the application form, attend open events, and prepare all required documents and references. This PhD position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in antimicrobial resistance, chemical biology, and drug development at a leading UK institution.

University College London is advertising a postdoctoral position in chemical biology with a strong emphasis on small molecule design , bioconjugate synthesis , and peptide synthesis . The successful candidate will design and synthesise analogues of complex cyclic antimicrobial peptides to study peptide-lipid interactions at the molecular level. The project is part of an interdisciplinary team at UCL and collaborators further afield, and is funded by the EPSRC through an EPSRC Open Plus Fellowship . This is a research fellowship-style postdoctoral opening rather than a scholarship or studentship. Ideal background: strong experience in the design and synthesis of small molecules and bioconjugates; peptide synthesis expertise is especially valued. The post is suited to candidates with a chemistry/chemical biology background and interest in antimicrobial peptides, molecular interactions, and interdisciplinary research. Institution: University College London (UCL), United Kingdom. Application: follow the job/application link in the post and apply via the UCL jobs page. The closing date is 2026-06-12 . For questions, the poster invites email enquiries.