About the Project

The gut microbiota plays a central role in health, regulating immunity and brain function via the gut–brain–immune axis. Age-related changes in the microbiome are thought to drive immune dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and cognitive decline. Diet strongly influences microbiota composition, and fermentation of dietary fibre to short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) supports gut integrity, reduces inflammation, and may protect against inflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders. This project will investigate whether dietary interventions, such as increased fibre intake or SCFA supplementation, can mitigate age-associated changes in immune function and cognition.

Using state-of-the-art technologies and high-dimensional data analysis, this PhD will explore the complex interplay between the gut, immune system and brain across the life course. Working with human samples and datasets, you will:

• Characterise relationships between gut microbiota, gut barrier function, systemic inflammation and peripheral immunity, and cognitive performance
• Determine how age modulates these relationships and identify age-specific microbiota and immune signatures linked to cognitive health
• Evaluate the impact of dietary fibre or SCFA supplementation on gut microbiota, gut barrier integrity, immune activation, and cognition in older adults

This project will provide comprehensive, interdisciplinary training in human immunology, gut health, and cutting-edge cellular and molecular techniques. You will gain hands-on experience in primary human cell culture, full-spectrum flow cytometry, inflammatory profiling, metagenomics, assessment of gut permeability, and cognitive testing, alongside advanced quantitative skills in data analysis, including dimension reduction techniques and mixed linear models.

By integrating experimental, bioinformatic, and translational approaches, this PhD will equip you with a versatile skill set relevant to academic, clinical, and industry careers in immunology and physiological research.

The project is in collaboration with Imperial College London and is part-funded by the Vivensa Foundation and Rosetrees Trust.