Transcription in Plasmodium malaria organelles: mechanisms and drug targets

Competition Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

Supervisors: Dr Yulia Yuzenkova, Dr Kevin Whitley, Dr Nisha Philip

About the Project

Malaria remains a devastating infectious disease worldwide, claiming over half a million lives each year. Plasmodium, the parasite responsible for malaria, has a complex lifecycle alternating between a mosquito vector and a mammalian host. Major factors counteracting malaria eradication are spreading drug resistance and climate change which allows mosquitoes to develop quicker and spread wider. An effective vaccine remains elusive — highlighting the need for innovative therapeutic strategies that target previously unexplored aspects of parasite biology.

This project focuses on a unique vulnerability of Plasmodium: its essential organelle, the apicoplast. The apicoplast is a biosynthetic hub, essential for parasite survival and virulence. The apicoplast represents an outstanding drug target, as it relies on a bacterial-type RNA polymerase, apicoRNAP, that controls its gene expression program. ApicoRNAP is closely related to the cyanobacterial RNAP which we have recently characterized. RNAPs are established drug targets in bacterial infections such as tuberculosis and Clostridium-related diseases, suggesting that inhibiting apicoRNAP could open new frontiers in antimalarial drug discovery.

The main goal of the project is to determine how and when during the complex parasite lifecycle apicoRNAP can be most effectively inhibited. For that we will explore the location, activity, and drug sensitivity of apicoRNAP. Our preliminary data suggest that distinct apicoRNAP complexes may be active at specific life-cycle stages - including sex-specific and mosquito-infective forms - providing new therapeutic windows. We hold a unique collection of ~15 known and novel bacterial RNAP inhibitors, including newly discovered rifamycin derivatives active against multidrug-resistant mycobacteria - offering an excellent base for translational discovery. We will develop cell-free transcription system to identify potent apicoRNAP inhibitors. The promising candidates will be tested for activity at multiple stages of Plasmodium development.

The outcome: this project has the potential to inform future therapeutic strategies in the fight to eradicate malaria.

Rotating in the labs of three supervisors, Dr Yulia Yuzenkova, Dr Kevin Whiteley and Dr Nisha Philip, student will gain experience in interdisciplinary sciences and collaboration skills needed to thrive in the modern research world. Student will get training in biochemistry, cutting-edge microscopy and computational analysis, inhibitors characterization, proteomics, Plasmodium growth, cell biology/development programming.

Most of the project will be carried out at the well-equipped Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/cbcb/. The Centre brings together world-class scientists and provides perfect research environment for PhD students, with multiple points of support, ample networking and collaborating possibilities.

Funding

Students who have, or are expecting to attain, at least an upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject, are invited to apply. Funding is available for Home (UK) students to cover tuition fees, a tax-free stipend at the UKRI rate (indicative amount in year 1 in 2026-27, £21,805) and research costs, for four years. Applicants normally required to cover International fees will have to cover the difference between the Home and the International tuition fee rates. There is no additional funding available to cover NHS Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) costs, visa costs, flights etc.

Funding for this studentship is awarded on a competitive basis and is not guaranteed; availability will depend on the outcome of the selection process and subject to final approval by the University.

HOW TO APPLY

Please complete the following application form – Google Form

Applicants can only apply for 1 project; any additional applications will not be accepted.

Applicants should send the following documents to FMSstudentships@newcastle.ac.uk:

• a CV (including contact details of at least two academic (or other relevant) referees).
• a Cover letter – stating your project choice, as well as including additional information you feel is pertinent to your application.
• copies of your relevant undergraduate degree transcripts and certificates.
• a copy of your IELTS or TOEFL English language certificate (where required)
• a copy of your passport (photo page).

A GUIDE TO THE FORMAT REQUIRED FOR THE APPLICATION DOCUMENTS IS AVAILABLE

Please submit your documents in the following format only:

• each document should be submitted as a separate attachment and should be named as follows: candidate surname, candidate name – document type. For example: Jones, Jamie – CV; Jones, Jamie – cover letter.
• Please submit .pdf documents where possible for your CV, cover letter, transcripts and certificates. Do not submit photos of certificates.
• Do not combine documents into one pdf. You may zip separate documents into a zip file to send via email if required.
• When emailing your application, please use the email subject header: FMS PhD Application 2026

Applications not meeting these criteria may be rejected.

Informal enquiries may be made to the lead supervisor of the project you are interested in.

The deadline for all applications is 12 noon BST (UK time) on Wednesday 20th May 2026.