PhD Studentship in Chemical Biology and Bacterial Cell Division

The University of East Anglia, in collaboration with the John Innes Centre via the Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Programme, invites applications for a fully funded four-year PhD studentship. The research project focuses on designing, synthesising, and evaluating chemical compounds and peptides to disrupt essential protein-protein interactions involved in bacterial cell division. Working across the School of Chemistry and the John Innes Centre, the appointed candidate will receive multidisciplinary training spanning medicinal chemistry, protein biochemistry, and microbiology. Applicants will benefit from a collaborative academic environment dedicated to scientific excellence and professional development, which includes a mandatory three-month professional internship placement.

• Design and synthesise novel chemical compounds and peptides aimed at disrupting bacterial protein interactions.
• Utilize innovative laboratory platforms to target cell division pathways in harmless model organisms such as Mycobacteria smegmatis.
• Evaluate synthesized compounds for protein binding affinity and their inhibitory activity against bacterial growth.
• Participate in comprehensive professional development training and undertake a three-month professional internship placement.
• Collaborate across research groups and facilities within the School of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Pharmacology and The John Innes Centre.