Sean Sweeney

A fully funded PhD position is available in the Department of Biology at the University of York, in partnership with Syngenta, a global leader in agricultural innovation. The project focuses on developing novel bio-based insecticidal proteins for crop protection, combining molecular biology, biochemistry, structural biology, and entomology. Students will express and purify new proteins in recombinant systems (E. coli, yeast), characterize their molecular and biophysical properties, and test their activity against insect pests using both in vitro and in vivo assays. The interdisciplinary nature of the project provides opportunities to gain hands-on experience in both academic and industrial research environments, including a 3-month placement at Syngenta’s Jealott’s Hill Research Centre. The project is co-supervised by Michael Plevin and Sean Sweeney (University of York), and Olivier Christiaens and Matthew Bennett (Syngenta). Applicants should have a strong background in molecular biology, biochemistry, structural biology, or biotechnology, and a passion for sustainable agricultural solutions. The position is fully funded, covering tuition and stipend, with no specific amount mentioned. The application deadline is August 1, 2024. Interested candidates should apply via the University of York portal and can find more details at the provided FindAPhD link.