Karl Grieshop

[Fully funded 4-year Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership PhD CASE studentship with Inspiralis Limited. Includes payment of tuition fees, a stipend of £20,780 (2025/6 rate), and a Research Training Support Grant of £5,000 per annum.] This fully funded PhD studentship at the University of East Anglia investigates the molecular and genomic basis of sexually antagonistic genes, a phenomenon where genetic variants benefit one sex but harm the other, creating evolutionary tension. Supervised by Dr Karl Grieshop, the project builds on recent discoveries in Drosophila melanogaster, where consistent sets of sexually antagonistic genes have been identified. The research aims to move beyond gene identification to understand what makes these loci unique, their impact on sex-specific fitness and life history traits, and the molecular mechanisms underlying sexual conflict and its resolution. The student will employ advanced bioinformatics, genome engineering, and sequencing technologies to identify and characterize sexually antagonistic loci across multiple studies, validate their effects using CRISPR-Cas9 allele swaps in fruit flies, and probe mechanisms such as gene regulation and alternative splicing. The project is highly interdisciplinary, offering training in computational biology, experimental genetics, molecular biology, evolutionary genetics, bioinformatics, biological statistics, and CRISPR genome engineering. Collaborative opportunities are available at Norwich Research Park, including training in long-read sequencing and single-cell transcriptomics. The studentship is part of the Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Programme (NRPDTP), which provides a comprehensive professional development curriculum and a three-month professional internship placement (PIPS) for all students. The programme fosters a vibrant research community and supports career development. Funding includes full tuition, a generous stipend (£20,780 for 2025/6), and a research training support grant (£5,000 per year). Applicants must have at least a UK equivalent Bachelors (Honours) 2:1 degree and meet English language requirements (IELTS 6.5 overall, 6 in each category). The position starts in October 2026, with interviews for shortlisted candidates scheduled for February 2026. For further details and application instructions, visit the UEA and NRPDTP websites.