Eli Keshavarz-Moore

[Stipend at UKRI rate.] Project Overview: This PhD studentship at University College London (UCL) offers an exciting opportunity to address the urgent global health challenge of antifungal resistance. Fungal infections impact over a billion people annually, posing serious risks especially to immunocompromised individuals. With limited antifungal drugs and rising resistance, this project aims to engineer the fungal microenvironment to weaken resistance mechanisms and improve the effectiveness of current treatments. Research Focus: The project will manipulate stress responses in fungi such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus nidulans to convert resistant strains into drug-sensitive ones. This interdisciplinary research integrates synthetic biology, molecular biology, and biochemical engineering to develop sustainable, non-pharmacological antifungal therapies. Key methods include developing laboratory models of fungal growth and resistance, investigating environmental stress factors (osmotic and nutrient stress), and using high-throughput screening and biofilm models to identify conditions that reduce multidrug resistance (MDR). The project also aims to build a systems-level understanding of how these mechanisms can be applied in biotechnology, healthcare, and environmental contexts. Training and Development: The successful candidate will gain hands-on experience in microbial cultivation, molecular cloning, quantitative data analysis, process optimisation, and advanced synthetic and molecular biology techniques. The programme emphasises research design, interdisciplinary collaboration, and scientific communication, preparing students for careers in academia, biotech innovation, or translational healthcare. Research Environment: The studentship is based in UCL’s Department of Biochemical Engineering, renowned for its collaborative and interdisciplinary research culture. Students will be co-supervised by Dr. Duygu Dikicioglu and Prof. Eli Keshavarz-Moore, experts in microbial systems engineering and antifungal biology. The department offers access to state-of-the-art facilities and a vibrant research community, fostering innovation and translational research with opportunities for collaboration across life sciences and engineering. Eligibility: Applicants should have a background in molecular biology, microbiology, or biochemical engineering. Experience with microbial systems and non-yeast fungi is desirable, as is an interest in antifungal resistance and drug development. No specific GPA or language test requirements are mentioned. Funding: The studentship provides a stipend at the UKRI rate. Application Process: Applications should be submitted via the Centre for Doctoral Training in Engineering Solutions for Antimicrobial Resistance by 12th January 2026. For further details and instructions, visit the application link provided.

[Stipend at UKRI rate.] This fully funded PhD studentship at University College London (UCL) offers an exciting opportunity to address the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by engineering conjugative plasmids using advanced AI-driven genome design tools. Hosted within UCL Biochemical Engineering and the Centre for Doctoral Training in Engineering Solutions for Antimicrobial Resistance, the project is supervised by Dr Darren N. Nesbeth and Prof Eli Keshavarz-Moore, leaders in genome engineering and bioprocess development. AMR is a critical threat to public health, driven in part by horizontal gene transfer via conjugative plasmids that spread resistance genes among bacteria. This project aims to develop next-generation therapeutic plasmids capable of suppressing AMR gene dissemination in both clinical and environmental settings. By integrating synthetic biology, bioprocess engineering, and large language model (LLM)-based genome design tools (such as PlasmidGPT and Evo2), the research will create modular, industrially robust plasmids optimised for manufacturability, safety, and performance. Key research activities include constructing engineered plasmids with payloads targeting AMR gene suppression, applying AI tools to refactor plasmid genomes, validating efficacy against WHO-priority AMR gene analogues in microbial hosts, and developing high-cell-density cultivation protocols in bioreactors. The project also emphasises data-driven design iteration, integrating empirical results to refine AI-generated plasmid designs. The successful candidate will receive interdisciplinary training in advanced molecular cloning, CRISPR-Cas systems, genome engineering, bioreactor operation, and the application of LLMs to biological sequence design. Collaboration across synthetic biology, computational biology, and microbiology will provide a dynamic research environment, with access to state-of-the-art facilities and opportunities for translational impact through partnerships such as the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). Applicants should have a background in synthetic biology, molecular biology, or biochemical engineering, with familiarity in genome editing, plasmid biology, or microbial systems. An interest in AI applications in biology and AMR mitigation is highly desirable. The studentship includes a stipend at the UKRI rate and is open to candidates who meet UCL's PhD entry requirements. Applications should be submitted via the UCL application page by 12th January 2026. For further details, refer to the Centre for Doctoral Training in Engineering Solutions for Antimicrobial Resistance. This project offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the development of scalable, deployable solutions for AMR, preparing graduates for careers in biotechnology, pharmaceutical manufacturing, or academic research.