Current studentships
Investigating the roles of epigenetic mechanisms in human fungal infections: decoding the epigenetic landscape in Aspergillus fumigatus
- Deadline: 14/07/2025 5:00PM
- Studentship code: RDS
- Staff name: Dr Takanori Furukawa
- Research centre: National Horizons Centre (Biosciences)
- Start date: Successful applicants will be expected to start October 2025.
The global impact of human fungal pathogens is huge but underappreciated. More than 300 million individuals are affected by serious fungal infections, and around 3.8m people die from fungal diseases every year. With the very limited arsenal of licensed antifungal drugs, the rise of fungal antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a serious threat to human health on a global scale. Advancing our knowledge of the biology of human fungal pathogens is crucial for understanding why these pathogens cause human fungal infections and how they develop resistance to antifungal drugs.
In addition to genetic adaptation mechanisms, emerging data are revealing that epigenetic mechanisms also play a crucial role in fungal cellular adaptation and the development of fungal AMR. However, our understanding of epigenetics in human fungal pathogens is limited, and the role of epigenetic mechanisms in fungal infection biology remains largely unexplored. This PhD project will investigate how epigenetic mechanisms regulate cellular adaptation in responses to infection-related stress and antifungal exposure at the molecular level. The research will primarily focus on Aspergillus fumigatus, one of the top four critical priority fungal pathogens listed by the World Health Organisation, where emerging AMR is a grave concern. This multidisciplinary project will employ a combination of advanced techniques across microbiology, molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, and bioinformatics. Key methodologies include CRISPR-Cas9 technologies, epigenomic profiling using next-generation sequencing, and multi-omics integration analysis. The successful PhD candidate will receive comprehensive training in these advanced technologies, gaining a diverse set of interdisciplinary skills. We are seeking candidates with a background in microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, or bioinformatics, who have a strong interest in epigenetics in fungal infection biology. Our goal is to identify key epigenetic mechanisms and unravel the molecular basis of epigenetic regulation governing fungal virulence and antifungal adaptation, using Aspergillus fumigatus as a model system. Driving forward our knowledge of the fundamental biological process of epigenetics in human fungal pathogens will pave the way for new therapeutic strategies to combat fungal infections.
This project will be supervised by Dr Takanori Furukawa (fungal molecular biology expert) in collaboration with Professor Claudio Angione (bioinformatics and AI expert) and Professor John Young (translational clinical research expert).
References
The negative cofactor 2 complex is a key regulator of drug resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus. Nat Commun., 2020, 11(1):427. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-14191-1., PMID: 31969561.
The fungal CCAAT-binding complex and HapX display highly variable but evolutionary conserved synergetic promoter-specific DNA recognition. Nucleic Acids Res., 2020, 48(7):3567-3590. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkaa109. PMID: 32086516.
Tackling the emerging threat of antifungal resistance to human health. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2022, 20(9):557-571. doi: 10.1038/s41579-022-00720-1
Chromatin profiling reveals heterogeneity in clinical isolates of the human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. PLoS Genet. 2022 Jan 10;18(1):e1010001. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010001.
Epigenetic Regulation of Antifungal Drug Resistance. J Fungi (Basel). 2022 Aug 19;8(8):875. doi: 10.3390/jof8080875.
Funding eligibility
This studentship is only open to applicants who will pay UK fees. The studentship covers tuition fees for the period of a full-time PhD Registration of up to four years and provides an annual tax-free stipend at standard UKRI rates (£20,780 per year for 2025/26) for three years, subject to satisfactory progress.
This project is funded by the Academy of Medical Sciences and Teesside University.
Entry requirements
You should hold or expect to obtain a good honours degree (2:1 or above) in a relevant discipline such as microbiology, genetics, biochemistry, biomedical sciences, or bioinformatics. A master’s level qualification in a relevant discipline is desirable, but not essential, as well as a demonstrable understanding of the research area. Further details of the expected background may appear in the specific project details.
How to apply
Applicants should apply online for this opportunity using the Online Application (Funded PhD) application form. When asked to specify funding select “other” and enter ‘RDS’ and the title of the PhD project that you are applying for. You should ensure that you clearly indicate that you are applying for a Funded Studentship and the title of the topic or project on the proposal that you will need to upload when applying. To apply for more than one project, you need to complete a further application form and specify the relevant title for each application to a topic or project.
If you do not clearly indicate that your application is for a Funded Studentship and state the title of the project applied for on the proposal, it may not be possible to consider your application for the appropriate funding.
View our frequently asked questions
Selection process
All applications received by the closing date will be considered. Successful applicants at the application stage will be shortlisted and contacted to arrange an interview. All interviews will be held online. Unsuccessful applicants will be contacted to confirm that the application will not be progressed. After interview, all interviewed applicants will be contacted to inform them of the outcome. Successful applicants progressing to an offer of a place, to commence in October 2025.
About Teesside
We are committed to providing a safe, welcoming and inclusive campus and to supporting all members of our University community to thrive whatever their age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, marital status, nationality or any other characteristic.
More about our Inclusive campus
As a Teesside University research student, you will join a growing and dynamic research community, allowing you to share your experiences, insight and inspiration with fellow researchers. You will benefit from our academic expertise and be supported through a strong programme of research training. You will be offered opportunities and support at each stage of your research degree. Our research is designed to have impact, and to influence policy and practice within our region, the UK and beyond. We work with external organisations to anticipate and respond to research needs, and to put our research into practice in sectors as diverse as the arts, engineering, healthcare and computing. PhD students are encouraged to work with their supervisors to explore the potential impact of their work.
The successful candidate will be expected to participate fully in research group and centre activities, including training sessions and workshops, and will become a member of the University’s wider postgraduate research community. Mentoring and support will be provided for the development of a strong academic and professional CV during the PhD.
Academic enquiries
For academic enquiries, please contact t.furukawa@tees.ac.uk.
For administrative enquiries before or when making your application, contact research.enquiries@tees.ac.uk.
After an application has been made, please contact research.admissions@tees.ac.uk.
Key dates
- Deadline: 14/07/2025 5:00PM
- Interview date: We envisage that interviews will take place 1 August 2025.
- Start date: Successful applicants will be expected to start October 2025.
Teesside University to create ‘green corridor’ in the North
...