PhD Opportunity: Modelling chemical warfare and its evolution in microbial communities
 
Host institution: University of Manchester
 
Advisory team: William P J Smith (william.smith-4@manchester.ac.uk), Tucker Gillman (tucker.gilman@manchester.ac.uk), Kat Coyte (katharine.coyte@manchester.ac.uk)
 
Overview: Many bacteria use sophisticated weaponry – including small molecule antimicrobials, protein syringes, hole-punching nanomachines and weaponised viruses – to compete with rival microorganisms for space and resources. As well as their roles in shaping microbial communities and infections, these antimicrobials hold immense biotechnological potential for addressing pressing global challenges, including antimicrobial resistance (AMR), biocontrol, and microbiome engineering. But when and why are these aggressive strategies actually favoured in bacteria? Which strains do we expect to be armed to the proverbial hilt? 
 
This PhD project will address this question by developing sophisticated computer models of chemical between bacteria, building on our past work. We will use these models to simulate interactions between unarmed, single- or multi-weapon strategists, and thereby understand the factors that most strongly favour or disfavour large arsenals across a wide range of simulated ecologies. 
 
Overall, this project will accelerate the search for different antimicrobial natural product classes by informing on the ecologies most likely to favour their use. 
 
For details and how to apply, please see: https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/school-of-natural-sciences-phd-scholarships-modelling-chemical-warfare-and-its-evolution-in-microbial-communities/?p199047
 
For questions please contact: Will Smith (william.smith-4@manchester.ac.uk).

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