Research

Current studentships

Viral infection capacity across crustaceans of economic importance (BBSRC Yorkshire Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership)

Deadline: 07/01/2026 5:00PM
Studentship code: PHD
Staff name: Dr Jamie Bojko
Research centre: National Horizons Centre (Biosciences)
Start date: Successful applicants will be expected to start in October 2026.

Crustacean diseases cause economic damage to industry and the environment. Billions are lost on a yearly basis due to disease in crustacean aquaculture and, in wild systems, crustaceans commonly introduce disease-causing microbes as biological invaders. In this new PhD project, our team are recruiting a highly motivated student with interests in aquatic diseases to work on the infection mechanism of crustacean nudiviruses, a group of double-stranded DNA viruses common in aquaculture species and invasive crustaceans. This group of viruses can cause wasting disease in shrimp, lobster and crayfish, and their diversity has been identified from a range of invertebrate hosts, including many crustaceans and insects. Despite their diversity, little is known about how these nudiviruses transmit and enter host cells.

Using cutting-edge techniques, you will aim to explore nudivirus diversity and develop a bioinformatic and molecular understanding of the viral entry system associated with crustacean nudiviruses. You will identify new species of nudivirus from economically and environmentally important crustacean species, learning techniques in viral genome assembly, annotation and phylogenetics, including laboratory methods for nucleotide and protein isolation, protein synthesis and protein interaction assays. You will use a transcriptomic approach to explore the viral infection system using a crustacean model, and attempt to unravel the mechanism behind nudivirus entry, exploring the interactome of proteins encoded by both the virus and the host.

This PhD is a CASE supported PhD in collaboration with the Centre for Environment, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Science (Cefas). The impact of this work will include developing new insight into the impact of invasive nudiviruses carried by crustaceans and those posing issues in aquaculture. By understanding the infection process of crustacean nudiviruses, you will determine protein targets for antiviral drug development to benefit the crustacean aquaculture industry. Novel antiviral drugs to prevent nudivirus infection in aquaculture systems will increase global food security and support international economies that rely on crustacean culture systems.

Project Aims
• Sequence the genomes of novel nudivirus species to attain a new understanding of nudivirus gene diversity and evolution.
• Develop high quality host transcriptome data to identify the range of membrane proteins expressed in the crustacean hepatopancreas, the target tissue of nudiviruses.
• Select candidate proteins based on an interactome analysis to clone, synthesise, and test protein-protein interactions to explore the entry process.
• Use structural data to develop binding proteins that may inhibit nudivirus entry into host hepatopancreatic epithelia. This would be applicable for aquaculture animals as a treatment option or preventative.

Funding eligibility

This fully funded PhD Studentship covers tuition fees for the period of a full-time PhD Registration of up to four years and provide an annual tax-free stipend of £21,380 for three years, subject to satisfactory progress.

You must complete your PhD in four years.

Applications are welcome from UK and international students.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold or expect to obtain a good honours degree (2:1 or above) in biochemistry, biotechnology, molecular biology, chemical or biochemical engineering, or a related field. A master's level qualification in a relevant discipline is desirable, but not essential, as well as a demonstrable understanding of the research area.

Experience in molecular biology, protein engineering, bioinformatics, or microfluidics would be advantageous. A strong interest in synthetic biology and biomanufacturing is essential.

We aim to support the most outstanding applicants from outside the UK and are able to offer a very limited number of bursaries that will enable full studentships to be awarded to international (EU and non-EU) applicants. These full studentships will only be awarded to exceptional quality candidates, due to the highly competitive nature of this scheme.

International students will be subject to the standard entry criteria relating to English language ability, ATAS clearance and, when relevant, UK visa requirements and procedures.

The YBDTP is committed to recruiting extraordinary future scientists regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or career pathway to date. We understand that commitment and excellence can be shown in many ways and have built our recruitment process to reflect this. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, particularly those underrepresented in science, who have curiosity, creativity and a drive to learn new skills.

Not all projects will be funded; a limited number of candidates will be appointed via a competitive process.

How to apply

To submit your application, complete the Expression of Interest form for any of the projects which interest you. You can apply for up to two YBDTP projects (which can be at different universities).

If you have any questions about the application process, please email ybdtp@leeds.ac.uk

Apply now

Selection process

Selection process
Shortlisting will take place as soon as possible after the closing date and successful applicants will be notified promptly. If you are shortlisted, you will be invited for an interview on a date to be confirmed in February 2026. You will be notified as soon as possible after the interview dates whether your application has been successful, placed on a reserve list or unsuccessful. If you are successful, you'll be required to confirm your intention to accept the studentship within ten days.

Successful applicants will progress to an offer of a place, to commence in October 2026.

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.

The YBDTP brings together world-class bioscience research and innovation, as well as excellence in doctoral supervision, across the Yorkshire and Teesside region. The YBDTP will fund postgraduate researchers at the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield, York, Bradford, Huddersfield, Hull, Leeds Beckett, Sheffield Hallam and Teesside forming a strong regional training partnership. In YBDTP you'll benefit from a regional doctoral training programme that has interdisciplinary collaboration at its core. The aim is to enable you to develop a range of research skills in biological, biotechnology and biochemical areas as well as equip you with core data analysis and professional skills that are necessary for bioscience research and related non-academic careers. Yorkshire Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership

Academic enquiries

For academic enquiries, please contact j.bojko@tees.ac.uk.

Key dates

Deadline: 07/01/2026 5:00PM
Interview date: We envisage that interviews will take place in February 2026.
Start date: Successful applicants will be expected to start in October 2026.