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PhD Studentship - A chemical biology approach to identifying cyclic peptide antibiotics

Chemical Biology, Diagnostics & Therapeutics

Location:  Highfield Campus
Closing Date:  Saturday 31 August 2019
Reference:  1153819EB

Supervisor: Ali Tavassoli 

We are seeking a talented and motivated scientist to work on a 3.5 year interdisciplinary PhD project in the field of chemical biology. The project is funded by a major US pharmaceutical company and will be conducted in the Tavassoli lab at the School of Chemistry, University of Southampton.

The Tavassoli lab have pioneered methods for the generation and screening of cyclic peptide libraries. The approach, called SICLOPPS, has led to the identification and development of a number of first in class inhibitors; for a review see: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1367593116301818 

The aim of this project is to use SICLOPPS for the discovery of new antibiotics. This requires the development of a new platform and approach for deploying SICLOPPS libraries. The work is funded by and will be conducted in close collaboration with a major US pharmaceutical company.

The ideal candidate will have prior lab-based experience of chemical biology and/or molecular biology. However, this isn’t essential, and training in molecular biology will be provided as part of the PhD.

More information about the Tavassoli lab can be found on the University of Southampton website :

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/chemistry/about/staff/ali1.page

Please feel free to contact Ali by email ali1(at)soton.ac.uk if you have any questions or would like to discuss the opportunity informally.

Entry requirements: first or upper second-class degree or equivalent

Closing date: applications should be received no later than 31 August 2019 for standard admissions, but later applications may be considered depending on the funds remaining in place.

Duration: four years (full-time)

This 3.5 year studentship covers UK tuition fees and provides an annual tax-free stipend at the standard EPSRC rate, which is £15,009 for 2019/20.

Applicants must be UK or EU residents with no restrictions on how long they can stay in the UK and have lived here for at least 3 years prior to the start of the studentship. This residence cannot be mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education.

For further guidance on funding, please contact feps-pgr-apply@soton.ac.uk

Applying: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/courses/how-to-apply/postgraduate-applications.page

The closing date for this job opportunity has now passed, and applications are no longer being accepted for this position