You will join the Structural Biology Groups at the University of Southampton and at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble (ESRF France). Exploiting ESRF’s high-brilliance source for in-solution scattering at the BM29 BioSWAXS beamline, you will develop and validate an experimental and computational pipeline to resolve glycan conformation and occupancy directly from solution scattering data.
The work combines prediction of glycosylation states by computational techniques (GlycoShape, Re-Glyco) with experimental scoring. You will test the approach across four benchmark glycoprotein systems, including therapeutic antibody fragments, viral envelope immunogens, and IgG Fc glycoforms, each directly relevant to therapeutic development, biopharmaceutical quality control, or vaccine design.
At Southampton, you will learn protein production, purification, LC-MS/MS glycan profiling, and receive training in computational glycobiology. At the ESRF, you will join the BM29 BioSWAXS beamline team, learn small angle scattering data collection and analysis, beamline operation and model fitting. You will have the opportunity to engage with the international BM29 user community and explore synergies within the Macromolecular X-ray crystallography, Imaging and Scattering (MXIS) group at the ESRF (X-ray crystallography on ID23/ID30, USAXS on ID02).
The supervisor team are experts in Biochemistry and Structural Biology (Prof Ivo Tews, Southampton), prediction and modelling of glycosylation (Dr Elisa Fadda, Southampton) and integrative structural immunology (Dr Hayden Fisher, ESRF).
You will graduate with a rare combination of wet-lab biochemistry, computational modelling and large-scale facility experience, having tackled a genuinely unresolved problem in structural biology with clear relevance to both academic research and the biopharmaceutical sector.
Fees and Funding
This PhD is funded by a European Synchrotron Radiation Facility Thesis Fellowship and University of Southampton.
How to Apply
Please apply via the online portal and select:
- Programme type: Research
- Academic year: 2026/27
- If you will be full time or part time
- Faculty: Environmental and Life Sciences
Search for programme PhD Biological Sciences (7187)
Please add the name of the supervisor in section 2 of the application.
Applications should include:
- your CV (resumé)
- 2 academic references
- degree transcripts/ certificates to date
- English language qualification (if applicable)
Entry Requirements
Degree enabling PhD enrolment in biochemistry, computational biosciences, biophysics, natural sciences, structural biology, or a closely related discipline. Genuine interest in integrative structural biology, bridging computational and experimental approaches. Prior experience in solution scattering, structural biology, computational protein modelling, or glycobiology is a strong advantage, though full training is provided for the right candidate. Comfort with, or willingness to learn, scientific programming (e.g. Python) for pipeline development and data analysis. Excellent written and spoken English (the ESRF’s working language). Motivation to work independently and collaboratively across an international, multi-site team spanning two countries and institutional cultures.
Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences
If you have a general question, email fels-pgr-apply@soton.ac.uk.
For an initial conversation, please email the lead supervisor Professor Ivo Tews: ivo.tews@soton.ac.uk.
