PhD Studentship: Exploring How Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Uses Nutrients

The University of Manchester; Manchester; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Manchester invites applications for a 3.5-year PhD Studentship focused on microbiology and chemical biology. The successful candidate will receive a tax-free annual UKRI stipend (£21,805 for 2026/27) and tuition fees paid, with the start date in January or April 2027.

Based at the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, the project combines microbiology, biochemistry, and analytical methods to uncover how nutrient transport influences Mtb survival in the human host.

Qualifications

• Applicants should have, or be about to obtain, at least a 2.1 UK honours degree and ideally hold a master’s level qualification at merit or distinction (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject.
• Applicants with a strong interest in pathogen biochemistry are encouraged to apply.
• Research experience in microbiology and analytical methods is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Investigate how Mycobacterium tuberculosis uses nutrients and how nutrient transport affects pathogen biology.
• Apply microbiology, genetic, biochemical and analytical approaches to identify nutrients utilized by M. tuberculosis.
• Explore how nutrient utilisation shapes pathogen biology to inform strategies against TB.

Skills

Microbiology

Biochemistry

Analytical methods

Research experience

Education

2:1 UK honours degree

Master’s degree (merit or distinction)

Tools

Genetic techniques

Analytical techniques

Job description

Research theme: Microbiology, Chemical Biology

This3.5-yearPhDprojectisfullyfunded,andhomestudentsareeligibletoapply.ThesuccessfulcandidateWillreceiveanannualtax-freestipendsetattheUKRIrate(£21,805for2026/27)andtuitionfeeswillbepaid.Weexpectthestipendtoincreaseeachyear.ThestartdateisJanuaryorApril2027.

This PhD project will investigate how Mycobacterium tuberculosis utilises nutrients and how changes in nutrient transport influence pathogen biology by combining microbiology, biochemical and analytical approaches.

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by the bacterial pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), remains the leading cause of death worldwide from a single bacterial pathogen. The latest World Health Organisation report estimates that ~1.3 million people died from TB in 2024 and more than 10 million were diagnosed with the disease. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic and diagnostic strategies to control this major global health challenge.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a remarkably successful and unusual pathogen that can survive in the human body for decades. However, we still do not fully understand which nutrients this pathogen can access and use during infection. This project will use a combination of microbiology, genetic, biochemical and analytical techniques to determine the nutrients that M. tuberculosis uses to survive and reveal how pathogen biology is altered when the nutrient transport is disrupted. This builds on our previous work (for example PMID: 40818611, 39144457, 34296047) and will provide new insights into how M. tuberculosis adapts and survives in the human host. By understanding how nutrient utilisation shapes pathogen biology, we have an opportunity to exploit this knowledge to develop new strategies to combat this deadly pathogen.

This exciting interdisciplinary PhD project will be based at the University of Manchester, within the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology and the Michael Smith building. The successful candidate will receive multidisciplinary training across microbiology, biochemical and analytical methods while working within a collaborative research environment with access to world‑class facilities and expertise. This provides a unique opportunity to address a global health challenge while developing new approaches to manipulate the biology of an important human pathogen.

Applicants should have, or be about to obtain, at least a 2.1 UK honours degree and ideally hold a master’s level qualification at merit or distinction (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject. Applicants with a strong interest in pathogen biochemistry are encouraged to apply. Research experience in microbiology and analytical methods is desirable.