About the Project
Project title: Poised Chromatin and the Epigenetic Control of Development
Project outline
How cells switch genes on and off at the right time is fundamental to development. In embryonic stem cells, many genes whose expression is required later in development are kept in a "poised" state, ready to be activated during cell lineage commitment. This poised state is controlled by chromatin, where specific histone marks create regulatory environments that either promote or repress gene expression. However, the mechanisms that allow these poised genes to respond rapidly to developmental…
signals remain poorly understood.
Our recent work has identified several previously uncharacterised histone acetylation marks at these poised genomic regions, known as bivalent chromatin domains. This project will investigate how these acetylation marks control gene expression during cell differentiation and development.
The student will test whether the acetylation marks recruit specific "reader" proteins that help activate developmental genes or influence gene repression pathways. Using embryonic stem cell models, the project will examine where these proteins bind across the genome, how they are recruited to chromatin, and how they affect gene activity as cells differentiate. The student will also identify additional factors that work together with these proteins to regulate developmental gene expression.
The project combines molecular biology, genomics, biochemistry and stem cell biology. Training will include genome-wide approaches such as ChIP-seq and RNA-seq, bioinformatic data analysis, CRISPR-based genome editing, stem cell differentiation, protein degradation systems, chromatin biochemistry and proteomics. The work will provide broad training in epigenetics and gene regulation while addressing a fundamental question in developmental biology.
The project will be carried out within the Epigenetics Programme at the Babraham Institute, offering an outstanding interdisciplinary environment with expertise spanning epigenetics, development, signalling and ageing.
Principal Supervisor
Dr Philipp Voigt
Email address: philipp.voigt@babraham.ac.uk
Fully funded Cambridge Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) Targeted Studentship (Project Reference: TRG27-BAB-PV1)
URL link to personal profile page or website: Philipp Voigt | Babraham Institute
Further details about the Cambridge Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) including how to apply can be found here.
The applications deadline for all PhD studentships: 8th December 2026
Please note interviews will be held the week commencing 18th January 2027
Students will not be able to take up an award unless they meet all University eligibility criteria and are successful in securing admission to the University. In addition, they will not be able to apply for a visa (if needed) until they hold an unconditional offer from the University. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Funding Notes
Fully funded Cambridge Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) Targeted Studentship (Project Reference: TRG27-BAB-PV1)
The Cambridge Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP), funded by the Doctoral Landscape Awards under UKRI, brings together four world-leading research institutions — the University of Cambridge, the Babraham Institute, the National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB), and the Wellcome Sanger Institute — in partnership with UK Research and Innovation (BBSRC).
Starting October 2027, a 4-year Targeted Research Studentship will be available, leading to a University of Cambridge PhD degree, in the laboratory of Dr Philipp Voigt at the Babraham Institute.
Further information about the Cambridge Biosciences DTP PhD Programme can be found here.
References
Bryan, E., Valsakumar, D., Idigo, N.J., Warburton, M., Webb, K.M., McLaughlin, K.A., Spanos, C., Lenci, S., Major, V., Ambrosi, C., Andrews, S., Baubec, T., Rappsilber, J., & Voigt, P. (2025) Nucleosomal asymmetry shapes histone mark binding and promotes poising at bivalent domains. Mol. Cell 85, 471–489.
Valsakumar, D., & Voigt, P. (2024). Nucleosomal asymmetry: a novel mechanism to regulate nucleosome function. Biochem. Soc. Trans. 52, 1219–1232.
Voigt, P., Tee, W.-W., & Reinberg, D. (2013). A double take on bivalent promoters. Genes Dev 27, 1318-1338.