PhD in Engineered Bacteriophage Therapies for Musculoskeletal Wound Healing

The Phage; Southampton; Remote; GBP 19,000 - 21,000; Full time

Job summary

The Phage, hosted by the University of Southampton, invites applications for a fully funded PhD studentship focused on engineered bacteriophage therapies for complex musculoskeletal wounds. You will develop 3D in vitro models, engineer phages with dual antimicrobial and tissue repair functions, and assess their effectiveness in contaminated wounds.

You will explore sex-specific responses to injury and treatment, work with interdisciplinary teams in microbiology and regenerative medicine, and

Qualifications

• Experience in microbiology and phage-related research.
• Familiarity with 3D tissue models or tissue engineering.
• Interest in antimicrobial resistance and regenerative medicine.

Responsibilities

• Develop advanced in vitro 3D cell and tissue models for musculoskeletal trauma.
• Engineer and characterise bacteriophages with dual infection control and tissue repair functions.
• Assess phage efficacy in reducing bacterial burden in contaminated wounds.
• Study links between infection, vascularisation and tissue regeneration.
• Investigate sex-specific responses to injury and treatment outcomes.
• Perform microbiological assays and advanced imaging to monitor progress.
• Conduct quantitative and molecular analyses and publish findings.
• Collaborate with microbiology, phage engineering, regenerative medicine and military health researchers.

Skills

3D tissue models

bacteriophage engineering

microbiology

phage-host interactions

experimental research

molecular biology

microscopy

data analysis

scientific writing

interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

UK 2:1 honours or equivalent

Job description

The University of Southampton, UK, is inviting applications for a fully funded PhD studentship focused on developing engineered bacteriophage therapies for complex musculoskeletal (MSK) conflict wounds.

The research aims to address two major challenges in battlefield injuries: antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and impaired tissue regeneration. The project will investigate whether engineered bacteriophages can simultaneously reduce bacterial infections and promote vascularised tissue repair, with particular attention to sex-specific responses to injury and treatment.

Key Responsibilities

The successful PhD candidate will be responsible for:

• Developing advanced in vitro 3D cell and tissue models to investigate complex musculoskeletal trauma.
• Engineering and characterising bacteriophages with dual functions targeting bacterial infection and tissue repair.
• Investigating the effectiveness of engineered phages in reducing bacterial burden in contaminated wounds.
• Studying the relationship between bacterial infection, vascularisation and musculoskeletal tissue regeneration.
• Evaluating sex-specific differences in injury responses and treatment outcomes.
• Conducting microbiological assays to assess phage activity and antimicrobial effectiveness.
• Applying advanced imaging techniques to monitor infection, vascular development and tissue repair.
• Performing quantitative and molecular analyses to understand the mechanisms underlying infection control and tissue regeneration.
• Analysing experimental data, interpreting research findings and contributing to scientific publications.
• Collaborating with researchers and interdisciplinary teams working in microbiology, phage engineering, regenerative medicine and military health research.

Qualifications & Skills Required

Applicants should possess:

• An undergraduate degree equivalent to at least a UK 2:1 honours degree.
• A relevant academic background in Microbiology, Medical Microbiology, Biotechnology, Biomedical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Pharmacy, Medicine or a related life science discipline.
• A strong interest in bacteriophage research, antimicrobial resistance, tissue engineering or regenerative medicine.
• An interest in interdisciplinary research combining microbiology and biomedical sciences.

The following skills and research interests would be relevant to this project:

• Knowledge of microbiology, bacteriology and antimicrobial resistance.
• Understanding of bacteriophage biology, phage-host interactions and phage-based antimicrobial approaches.
• Interest in bacteriophage engineering and therapeutic applications.
• Familiarity with microbiological techniques and experimental research.
• Understanding of cell culture, 3D tissue models or tissue engineering.
• Interest in vascular biology, wound healing and tissue regeneration.
• Skills in molecular biology, microscopy and advanced imaging would be advantageous.
• Ability to perform quantitative analysis, interpret experimental results and communicate scientific findings.
• Strong scientific writing, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.