Bacteriophages for tackling antimicrobial resistant infections in the oral cavity

Entry requirements

The candidate must have at least 2:1 in a relevant undergraduate degree, with competency in basic microbiology lab and written communication skills. Ideal candidates will have some knowledge and understanding of AMR and bacteriophages.

Please use this Research Proposal, Personal statement and CV writing guide when preparing an application.

Months of entry

September

Course content

We are seeking an enthusiastic and dedicated candidate to take on an ambitious Mphil project that will help us to explore the idea of a targeted bacteriophage-based mouthwash. The work will form the early stages of the research and will involve isolation and characterisation of bacteriophages from pooled waste collected during routine dental procedures. The goal is to identify a range of phages that have effective killing activity against keystone dental pathogens. These could be developed into a cocktail to treat oral infections, such as gingivitis, periodontitis and dental abscesses, without damaging the host oral microbiome. This could be a promising future therapy for tackling multidrug-resistant oral infections, reducing antibiotic and oral disinfectant use, and prolonging the efficacy of our working antibiotics.

Fees and funding

This opportunity is self-funded - Since this is an early-stage project, we do not have an external funding source. This means that the applicant must be able to cover the fees themselves.