PhD Studentship: Discovering the determinants of host tropism of an emerging livestock pathogen
This is a 3.5 year fully funded studentship including a UKRI-aligned stipend (£19,237 for 2024/25), a cost of living allowance of £2,200 per annum, and Home rated university tuition fees. International applicants may apply, however will attract tuition fees at the overseas rate and must show evidence of their ability to cover the difference between Home fees and Overseas fees for the duration of study.
Students without English as a first language must provide evidence that they meet the English language requirement, e.g. with an average IELTS score of 7.0, as detailed: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/blpapdpth/requirements.
The student will be registered with the University of Cambridge and will work at both The Pirbright Institute and in Cambridge. Highly subsidised Pirbright Institute student housing will be offered. A full range of research and transferrable skills training will be made available to the student as appropriate.
Principal Supervisors: Dr Jonas Albarnaz (The Pirbright Institute), Prof Stephen Graham (University of Cambridge)
Co-Supervisor: Dr Dalan Bailey (The Pirbright Institute)
Research Group: https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/our-science/research-groups/capripoxvirus-biology
PROJECT DETAILS:
An evolutionary arms race for supremacy exists between viruses and their hosts' immune systems. Viruses rely on cellular resources and machinery for their replication, and cells defend themselves from viruses by recognising and blocking infections. Therefore, viruses continually evolve new strategies (i) to subvert cellular biosynthetic machinery to support viral replication whilst (ii) escaping the host cell's antiviral defences, and in turn hosts counter-evolve to overcome viral antagonism of their antiviral defences. Mammals are equipped with a complex immune system that plays an essential role fighting off viral infections through the actions of professional immune cells that recognise and mount an antiviral immune response, processes that have been investigated in detail. However, there exists another layer of immunity that functions at an intracellular level, where newly infected cells try to recognise and abort infection before the virus can take over the cellular biosynthetic machinery. We investigate these early virus-host interactions at the cellular level.
Full Project Details: https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/careers-and-learning/education-programme/postgraduate-studentships
ELIGIBILITY AND FUNDING:
This studentship is open to science graduates with, or who anticipate obtaining, at least a 2:1 or equivalent in a relevant biological subject in an undergraduate degree, or with a Masters degree - subject to university regulations. Other first degrees, e.g. veterinary science, will be considered. You should be looking for a challenging, interdisciplinary research training environment and have an active interest in the control of infectious diseases.
Please quote reference PK44721 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
Computational Research Assistant or Associate (Fixed Term)
A Research Assistant or Research Associate position is available in the group of Prof. Walid T. Khaled at the Department of Pharmacology and Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge.
The laboratory is co-leading the NMGN Mouse Ageing Cluster, a project combining longitudinal phenotypic measures with terminal multiomics on a large cohort of individuals (https://www.wtklab.com/ageing-cluster-nmgn). A portion of the 13,000 bio-banked samples will undergo spatial transcriptomics and single-nucleus RNA-seq, with possible additions including polysome profiling, long-read methylation, or proteomics. This project aims to provide a foundational resource for the community and to help uncover how the molecular changes of ageing lead to diverse pathologies and functional decline across the body.
Requirements
To deliver on this exciting project the team is looking for an enthusiastic and dynamic Research Associate (Postdoc) OR Research Assistant eager to lead the computational analysis and pipeline development. Working closely with ageing biologists and other specialists, you will be responsible for aspects of the experimental design and interpretation of the results, as well as presenting the data and communicating with internal and external stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have demonstrable experience in analysing spatial and/or single cell transcriptomics data as well as experience of integrating multimodal datasets. In addition, for this role we are also keen to hear from recent graduates (BSc or MSc level) in Mathematics or Physics particularly if they are interested in applying their analytical skills to tackling biological problems. However, it is important that you have a strong background in statistics and advanced knowledge of R or Python for this role.
Appointment at research associate is dependent on having a PhD including those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD (in which case appointment will initially be made at research assistant and amended to research associate when the PhD is awarded).
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 3 years in the first instance.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
Please ensure that you upload a covering letter and a CV in the Upload section of the online application. The covering letter should outline how you match the criteria for the post and why you are applying for this role. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application.
Please include details of your referees, including email address and phone number, one of which must be your most recent line manager.
The closing date for applications is: 12th February 2025
The interview date for the role is: To be confirmed
Please quote reference PS44737 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
Research Grants Administrator [Temporary Cover] - Secondment Opportunity, Internal Applicants Only
An opportunity has arisen for an experienced grants administrator to undertake a secondment to the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience to provide temporary cover for the permanent postholder. Ideally, you will have experience of providing administrative support to researchers across the entire research grant lifecycle; however, you should not be deterred from applying if your research grants experience is more limited. Similarly, knowledge of relevant funding bodies' terms and conditions would be advantageous but is not essential.
The successful applicant will coach, supervise, and support the work of Research Grants Assistant who joined the Department in October 2024. This will involve providing advice, guidance, and on-the-job training to complement the formal training delivered by the Research Operations Office (scheduled for February and March 2025).
This position would be suitable for both new and existing first line managers as additional support will be provided by the HR Coordinator and/or Departmental Administrator as required.
In addition to your grants-specific knowledge and experience, you must be a collaborator with excellent communication and interpersonal skills. A proven ability to plan, prioritise and deliver to tight deadlines whilst working with a high degree of accuracy is also essential.
The detailed person specification and further information about the job role are available via the link below. This reflects the main responsibilities of the permanent position and they can be tailored where necessary to suit the current skill-set and experience of the secondee.
If you would like to apply your skills in a new environment and broaden your work experience with full support, we would love to hear from you. Please reach out to Olivia Speed, Departmental Administrator, pdnadmin@pdn.cam.ac.uk, with any informal enquiries about the role.
Our preference is for full-time working (36.5 hpw) however we would welcome enquiries from applicants seeking to work less than full-time.
Fixed-term: There is funding for this secondment for six months in the first instance.
The post is offered to internal candidates only on the basis of a secondment from their current role in the University.
Apply:
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
On the online form, in the suitability for the role section, you should explain the reasons for your application and how your knowledge, skills and experience match the requirements of the role. The full contact details for two referees should be provided; one of whom should be your current line manager. Please note that we will assume that you are happy for us to approach your referees at any stage, unless you indicate otherwise in the space provided on the form.
Closing date: 29 January 2025.
Interviews are expected to be held in w/c 3 February 2025.
Please quote reference PM44657 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
Research Associate -Bhatia Group (Fixed Term)
A post-doctoral Research Associate position is available in the newly established Bhatia group at the Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University.
The lab is investigating the mechanistic basis of the function of the plant hormone cytokinin (CK) in plant development using Arabidopsis thaliana as model. CK is a fundamental plant hormone that is conventionally considered to promote cell division in plant aerial organs but surprisingly, can also promote cellular differentiation and expansion in aerial organs, in a stage-dependent manner. Therefore, the roles of CK in shaping plant aerial organs are much more diverse than previously thought. How CK regulates and coordinates cell proliferation, differentiation and expansion decisions remain largely unclear. By integrating genetic analyses including genetic mosaics, time-lapse imaging, cellular growth quantifications, and single cell omics, our lab investigates (i) how CK regulates cell proliferation and differentiation and (ii) how are these distinct cellular effects coordinated in space and time during aerial organ development. We are in the process of developing cellular and molecular frameworks of CK-mediated coordination of cell proliferation and differentiation that shape plant organ form.
The candidate will be working in a stimulating scientific environment with ample opportunities to learn new techniques. The successful candidate will be encouraged to apply for fellowships with the help of the lab.
Successful applicants must have a recent PhD degree (within one-two years is desirable but not essential) with strong foundations in plant developmental biology, genetics and molecular biology. Expertise in basic molecular biology techniques and generation and handling of transgenic plants preferably but not limited to Arabidopsis is essential. Experience with confocal microscopy and time-lapse imaging of plant aerial organs -leaves and the shoot apical meristem is desirable and will be an advantage. We are looking for a future colleague with strong communication skills, critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, and who is enthusiastic to work in a collaborative environment and contribute to a young lab as it grows. If you are passionate about research in plant development, possess the necessary technical skills and qualities, and are enthusiastic to learn new cutting-edge techniques, we invite you to apply for this exciting opportunity.
It is essential that you include a motivation letter in your application clearly stating why you are interested in our work, your future research interests and how your research experience may align with the advert.
At the Sainsbury Laboratory, we foster a welcoming and collaborative environment. We offer a range of family- friendly benefits and development opportunities to our employees. Successful applicants will join a friendly, interactive research environment with centralized support for horticulture, microscopy, and other facilities like media kitchen.
More about the Sainsbury Laboratory and details of what the University offers to employees can be found at: https://www.slcu.cam.ac.uk . More information about research in the Bhatia group can be found here: https://www.slcu.cam.ac.uk/bhatia-group.
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2 years in the first instance.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
Scientific enquiries about the position should be directed to Neha Bhatia - nb759@cam.ac.uk .
For questions regarding the application process, please email HR@slcu.cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PT44728 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
2025-05-01 19:30 - Song recital - Huw Montague Rendall, baritone & Joseph Middleton, piano
2025-03-20 19:30 - Song recital - Carolyn Sampson, soprano - CD LAUNCH RECITAL
2025-01-23 16:30 - Varieties of Empire: Famine and the Political Economy of Colonial Rule in India
2025-02-07 17:30 - Mill Road Fringe - Films
Research Assistant (Fixed Term)
This is an exciting new opportunity for a Research Assistant to join the Milner Therapeutics Institute Target Discovery Team, led by Dr Erica Bello.
The research of the Target Discovery Team focuses on the development and application of CRISPR screening technology to complex human in-vitro models of disease, aimed at identifying novel therapeutic targets.
The Milner Therapeutics Institute (MTI) is a purpose-built research institute at the University of Cambridge, and its overarching vision is to transform pioneering science into therapies. The MTI is breaking new ground in academic/business interactions and demonstrates a world-leading model of start-up companies, academics and pharma working side by side at the bench. The MTI environment offers a unique opportunity to work at the interface of academia and business, applying ground-breaking technologies to drug discovery and patient treatment.
The Research Assistant role will provide experimental support to researchers within the MTI's Target Discovery Team to help deliver projects aligned with the objectives of the Milner Institute. They will utilise molecular biology and tissue culture techniques, such as cloning, genotyping, CRISPR/Cas9 editing, CRISPR screening and cell differentiations, to assist researchers and develop novel experimental workflows.
The necessary training will be provided, and this role is a great opportunity to develop new laboratory skills to apply in a cutting-edge research environment. In addition to experimental support, the role will involve tasks related to maintenance and general running of the laboratory.
The role holder should hold (or be about to obtain) an Undergraduate or Masters degree in a relevant subject such as genetics, molecular biology, biomedical or biological sciences or biochemistry. They should also have practical experience in molecular biology and knowledge of research techniques, including a critical understanding of relevant theory and principles.
For the full requirements of the position, please read the further particulars by following the link below.
Interviews will be held in-person on the 26th, 27th and 28th February.
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 3 years in the first instance.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
Informal enquiries can be directed to Dr Erica Bello eb956@cam.ac.uk
Please quote reference PR44711 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
2025-02-06 19:30 - Song recital - Louise Alder, soprano; Mauro Peter, tenor; & Joseph Middleton, piano
Feeding your good gut bacteria through fibre in diet may boost body against infections
The group of bacteria called Enterobacteriaceae, including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Shigella, E.coli and others, is present at low levels as part of a healthy human gut microbiome. But at high levels - caused for example by increased inflammation in the body, or by eating contaminated food - these bugs can cause illness and disease. In extreme cases, too much Enterobacteriaceae in the gut can be life-threatening.
Researchers have used computational approaches including AI to analyse the gut microbiome composition of over 12,000 people across 45 countries from their stool samples. They found that a person’s microbiome ‘signature’ can predict whether a person’s gut is likely to be colonised by Enterobacteriaceae. The results are consistent across different states of health and geographic locations.
The researchers identified 135 gut microbe species that are commonly found in the absence of Enterobacteriaceae, likely protecting against infection.
Notable amongst the protective gut species are a group of bacteria called Faecalibacterium, which produce beneficial compounds called short-chain fatty acids by breaking down fibre in the foods we eat. This seems to protect against infection by a range of disease-causing Enterobacteriaceae bugs.
The researchers suggest that eating more fibre in our diet will support the growth of good bacteria - and crowd out the bad ones to significantly reduce the risk of illness.
In contrast, taking probiotics - which don’t directly change the environment in the gut - is less likely to affect the likelihood of Enterobacteriaceae infection.
The results are published today in the journal Nature Microbiology.
“Our results suggest that what we eat is potentially very important in controlling the likelihood of infection with a range of bacteria, including E.coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, because this changes our gut environment to make it more hostile to invaders,” said Dr Alexandre Almeida, a researcher at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Veterinary Medicine and senior author of the paper.
He added: “By eating fibre in foods like vegetables, beans and whole grains, we can provide the raw material for our gut bacteria to produce short chain fatty acids - compounds that can protect us from these pathogenic bugs.”
Klebsiella pneumonia can cause pneumonia, meningitis and other infections. The alarming global rise in antibiotic resistance to this bacterial pathogen has led scientists to look for new ways of keeping it, and other similar infectious bacteria, under control.
“With higher rates of antibiotic resistance there are fewer treatment options available to us. The best approach now is to prevent infections occurring in the first place, and we can do this by reducing the opportunities for these disease-causing bacteria to thrive in our gut,” said Almeida.
A new understanding of gut microbe interactions
Earlier research to understand interactions between the different bacteria in our gut has used mouse models. But some of these new results are at odds with previous findings.
The new study revealed that 172 species of gut microbe can coexist with disease-causing Enterobacteriaceae bugs. Many of these species are functionally similar to the bugs: they need the same nutrients to survive. Previously it was thought that competition for resources would stop the disease-causing bacteria from getting established in the gut.
This has important implications for treatment: taking probiotics that compete for the same nutrients with the bad bacteria to try and starve them out isn’t going to work. The researchers say that it will be more beneficial to change the environment in the gut, for instance through diet, to reduce the risk of infection with Enterobacteriaceae.
“This study highlights the importance of studying pathogens not as isolated entities, but in the context of their surrounding gut microbiome,” said Dr Qi Yin, a visiting researcher at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Veterinary Medicine and first author of the report.
The research was funded by the Medical Research Council.
Reference: Yin, Q. et al: 'Ecological dynamics of Enterobacteriaceae in the human gut microbiome across global populations.’ Jan 2025, Nature Microbiology. DOI: 10.1038/s41564-024-01912-6.
A new study has found that the composition of your gut microbiome helps predict how likely you are to succumb to potentially life-threatening infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae, E.coli and other bugs - and it may be altered by changing your diet.
Our results suggest that what we eat is potentially very important in controlling the likelihood of infection with a range of bacteria.Alexandre AlmeidaCredit Oleksandra Troian GettyIntestine with microbiome
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