Andrew Hitchcock

This fully funded PhD position is part of the BBSRC Yorkshire Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership (YBDTP), a collaboration among leading universities in the Yorkshire and Teesside region, including the University of Sheffield. The project focuses on developing cyanobacteria for enhanced light-driven biotechnology, aiming to engineer these photosynthetic microorganisms as 'green cell factories' for the sustainable production of high-value commercial chemicals. Despite their potential, cyanobacteria have not yet achieved the industrial impact of conventional microbes like E. coli or yeast. This research will address this gap by creating new cyanobacterial strains and co-cultures, optimizing metabolite production, and integrating these with established industrial microorganisms. The student will work within an interdisciplinary supervisory team at the University of Sheffield and collaborate with the industry partner Deep Blue Biotech. Training will cover molecular biology, microbial physiology, synthetic biology, and advanced analytical methods such as mass spectrometry and metabolomics. The project includes hands-on experience with laboratory-scale photobioreactors, opportunities to study scale-up processes, and exposure to industrial biotechnology environments. The student will be embedded in two academic research groups and a dynamic biotech start-up, gaining both technical expertise and insight into commercialization pathways. The research contributes to renewable chemicals, carbon capture, and sustainable manufacturing, making it ideal for candidates interested in microbiology, biotechnology, and synthetic biology. The YBDTP is committed to diversity and encourages applications from all backgrounds. Applicants must have or expect to obtain at least an upper second-class honours degree in a relevant scientific discipline. The studentship covers a tax-free stipend at the UKRI rate (£20,780 for 2025/26), tuition fees at the UK rate, and research costs. A limited number of full studentships are available for exceptional international applicants. The application deadline is 7 January 2026, and shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview in February 2025. For more information, visit the YBDTP website or contact the supervisors.