Publisher
source

University of Exeter

PhD Studentship in Developing CRISPR-Cas Antimicrobials to Tackle Antibiotic Resistance Spread in Klebsiella pneumoniae University of Exeter in United Kingdom

Degree Level

PhD

Field of study

Microbiology

Funding

Available

Deadline

Oct 21, 2026

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Country

United Kingdom

University

University of Exeter

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Keywords

Microbiology
Biomedical Engineering
Biology
Infectious Disease
Synthetic Biology
Antibiotic Resistance
Medical Science
Bacterial Genetics
Genomic

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About this position

[UK/Home tuition fees plus a stipend matching the UK Research Council National Minimum (£21,805 per annum for 2026/27, updated each year); additional research training and support funding of up to £5,000 per annum.]

The University of Exeter is advertising a PhD studentship focused on developing CRISPR-Cas antimicrobials to tackle the spread of antibiotic resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae. This project sits within the GW4 BioMed3 MRC Doctoral Landscape Programme, which offers up to 18 funded studentships across biomedical disciplines and is designed to support research with strong translational potential.

The project addresses one of the most urgent challenges in infectious disease: antimicrobial resistance (AMR). A key mechanism behind AMR spread is the movement of plasmids, which are mobile DNA elements that can transfer resistance genes between bacteria. In this PhD, you will develop CRISPR-Cas-based tools intended to stop the spread of AMR-carrying plasmids in the clinically important pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae. The description notes that proof-of-concept work indicates the approach is theoretically possible, while also highlighting scientific challenges around understanding the drivers of plasmid competition.

This is an interdisciplinary studentship combining microbiology, genomics, and synthetic biology. It is intended to provide training in leading-edge techniques relevant to infectious disease research, with clear real-world impact. The studentship is funded for four years, with a start date of October 2027.

Funding includes UK/Home tuition fees and a doctoral stipend matching the UK Research Council National Minimum, stated as £21,805 per annum for 2026/27 and updated each year. The advert also mentions additional research training and support funding of up to £5,000 per annum. The project is available to UK and international students, although the funding notes specifically mention UK tuition fees/home fee coverage in the posted information.

The application deadline is 21 October 2026. Applicants should use the online application link provided on the University of Exeter page and apply via the Apply button. Because this is one of several projects competing for places within the GW4 BioMed3 MRC Doctoral Landscape Award, applicants should ensure they review the programme details and prepare a competitive application in advance of the deadline.

Funding details

Available

What's required

Available to UK and international students. The project is interdisciplinary and suited to candidates with interest in microbiology, genomics, and synthetic biology; no specific degree class, language test, or prior skills are explicitly stated in the post.

How to apply

Apply via the 'Apply' button on the University of Exeter funding page. Review the project and competition details for the GW4 BioMed3 Doctoral Landscape Programme before submitting. Submit before the deadline of 21 October 2026.

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