PhD: Unraveling Biofilm–Driven Host-Cell Injury Mechanisms

University of Birmingham; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 21,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Birmingham invites applications for a PhD project exploring how biofilms drive host-cell injury. Students will develop a mechanistic mathematical framework that integrates experimental observations to quantify uncertainty and identify dominant mechanisms across space and time.

The four integrated aims cover mechanistic modelling, computational simulation, parameter inference, and prediction with experimental guidance.

Responsibilities

• Mechanistic modelling: develop a mathematical model linking biofilm growth and structure with nutrient transport, bacterial toxins, reactive oxygen species, inflammatory signalling, DNA damage, repair and host-cell viability.
• Computational simulation: develop efficient numerical methods to simulate how these interacting processes evolve across space and time, including changing biofilm structure and local biochemical gradients.
• Parameter inference and mechanism identification: use experimental data to estimate hidden biological parameters, quantify uncertainty, and determine which mechanisms are supported by the observations.
• Prediction and experimental guidance: use the calibrated model to identify informative measurements and sampling conditions, distinguish competing damage pathways, and predict responses to selected therapeutic interventions. These predictions will be tested using independent experiments.

Job description

The University of Birmingham invites applications for a PhD project exploring how biofilms drive host-cell injury. Students will develop a mechanistic mathematical framework that integrates experimental observations to quantify uncertainty and identify dominant mechanisms across space and time.

The four integrated aims cover mechanistic modelling, computational simulation, parameter inference, and prediction with experimental guidance.