"PhD Studentship: Understanding selective concentrations of antimicrobials in different microbial populations. NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for September 2026 Entry"

About the Partnership

This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the NERC Great Western Four+ Doctoral Training Partnership (GW4+ DTP). The GW4+ DTP consists of the Great Western Four alliance of the University of Bath, University of Bristol, Cardiff University and the University of Exeter plus five Research Organisation partners: British Antarctic Survey, British Geological Survey, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, the Natural History Museum and Plymouth Marine Laboratory. The partnership aims to provide a broad training in earth and environmental sciences, designed to train tomorrow’s leaders in earth and environmental science. For further details about the programme please see http://nercgw4plus.ac.uk/

For eligible successful applicants, the studentships comprises:

• An stipend for 3.5 years (currently £20,780 p.a. for 2026/27) in line with UK Research and Innovation rates
• Payment of university tuition fees
• The budget for project costs is £9,000 which can be used for computer, lab, and fieldwork costs necessary for you to conduct your research.
• There is also a conference budget of £2,000 and individual Training Budget of £1,000 for specialist training

Project Aims and Methods

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health crisis, whereby 1.27 million deaths were directly attributed to bacterial AMR in 2019. Antibiotics enter the natural environment through pollution sources, and environmental concentrations have been shown to increase resistance. However, ‘safe’ release limits for antibiotics based on AMR endpoints are not mandated, partly due to lack of consensus for these. This project will improve understanding of selection of AMR at low antibiotic concentrations and generate novel data to aid policy makers in decision making on mitigating antibiotic pollution.

We encourage the student to guide the research, but preliminary ideas include:

1. Exploring whether suggested discharge limits derived from single organism experiments are protective of microbial communities;
2. Using Bayesian hierarchical models and existing minimum inhibition concentration data (the lowest concentration of an antimicrobial at which microbial growth is inhibited) to refine suggested regulatory targets;
3. Complementary evolution experiments that explore selection dynamics.

The student will be co-supervised by team with a track record of successful collaboration and will benefit from interacting with policy through the CASE and collaborative partnerships. They will receive interdisciplinary training across microbiology, statistics, as well as working with policy stakeholders to translate research into real-world applications.

Project CASE partner:

The Welsh Government will supply co-supervision, a three-month placement, contribution to the development of the research proposal in line with wider Welsh Government policy objectives, assessment of candidates/research proposals, feedback to student and contribution to progress reports.

Useful recruitment links:

For information relating to the research project please contact the lead Supervisor via: isosta@ceh.ac.uk

This Project will be hosted by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) but you will need to apply to the University of Exeter as the registered University who will be awarding the PhD.