PhD in Phage Therapy and Microbiome Engineering in Cystic Fibrosis
A self-funded PhD studentship is available to investigate the use of phage therapy to modulate oral and respiratory microbiomes in individuals with cystic fibrosis. The project is aligned with the Trailfinder-CF Innovation Hub, a translational research initiative supported by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and LifeArc. The position is based on the Liverpool Campus.
This PhD project aims to explore phage therapy as a precision antimicrobial strategy, focusing not only on pathogen control but also on microbiome engineering and community balance. The research will investigate the oral–respiratory microbiome axis in cystic fibrosis and evaluate how bacteriophage-based interventions can reshape microbial ecosystems in a targeted and sustainable way.
This project focuses on developing precision, microbiome-sparing approaches to manage chronic respiratory infections in cystic fibrosis by exploring bacteriophages as targeted alternatives to conventional antibiotics.
This PhD candidate will work on several key research areas, including:
- Microbiome Characterisation: Profiling oral and respiratory microbiomes in individuals with cystic fibrosis and understanding microbial community dynamics and ecological interactions.
- Bacteriophage Isolation and Characterisation: Isolation of bacteriophages targeting CF-associated pathogens, genomic and functional characterisation of phages
- Phage Cocktail Development: Designing phage cocktails for selective microbial control, evaluating their effectiveness against CF-associated microbes
- Phage–Microbiome–Antibiotic Interactions: Studying interactions between bacteriophages, microbiomes, and antibiotic treatments and investigating formulation strategies for therapeutic application.
- Microbiome Engineering: Exploring microbiome-based interventions for sustainable disease management
The selected candidate will receive interdisciplinary training in:
- Microbiome profiling and microbial ecology
- Bacteriophage biology and genomics
- Advanced microbiology and molecular techniques
- Antimicrobial mechanisms and phage therapeutics
- Translational research linked to clinical cystic fibrosis care
Additional training opportunities will be available through the Trailfinder-CF Innovation Hub, which connects academic research with clinical and industry partners.
Qualifications
- Applicants should have a strong academic background and a Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree in the field of Microbiology, Biomedical Science, Molecular Biology Or a related life sciences discipline.
- Experience in the areas of microbiome research, phage biology, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), bioinformatics, or microbial genomics.
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This job post was originally curated by www.thephage.xyz/jobs
