PhD Studentship: How do fungi and bacteria communicate? Decoding the rules of cross-kingdom microbial interactions

Primary Supervisor - Professor Alessia Buscaino

Microorganisms rarely live alone. Instead, fungi and bacteria form complex communities where they constantly communicate, compete and cooperate. These cross kingdom interactions are increasingly recognised as key regulators of microbiome function, health and disease, yet the fundamental biological rules that govern them remain poorly understood.

This PhD project will investigate how the human fungal commensal Candida albicans interacts with the oral bacterium Fusobacterium nucleatum. Although these microorganisms normally coexist harmlessly, recent studies suggest that their partnership changes dramatically in different host environments and may contribute to diseases such as colorectal cancer. Understanding why the same fungal–bacterial interaction produces such different outcomes is an outstanding biological question with important implications for human health.

Based in the Buscaino and Juge laboratories at the Quadram Institute, you will explore how environmental conditions, microbial diversity and cell surface adhesins shape this interaction. The project integrates fungal genetics, bacterial biology, genomics, bioinformatics, molecular biology and protein biochemistry/biophysics, using cutting edge approaches including CRISPR genome editing, comparative genomics, transcriptomics, confocal microscopy, gut on chip models and protein interaction assays.

You will receive comprehensive training in experimental design, data analysis and scientific communication, and develop highly transferable skills in project management, teamwork, organisation and communication to both scientific and lay audiences. Working within a collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment, you will have access to state of the art facilities, international collaborations and opportunities to present your work at national and international conferences.

This project is ideally suited to motivated students with interests in microbiology, genetics, genomics, host–microbe interactions or microbial evolution, who wish to address fundamental questions in biology while building a broad, flexible skill set for careers in academia, industry or beyond.

The Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Programme (NRPDTP) is offering fully funded studentships for October 2027 entry. The programme offers postgraduates the opportunity to undertake a 4-year PhD research project whilst enhancing professional development and research skills through a comprehensive training programme. All NRPDTP students undertake a three-month professional internship placement (PIPS) during their study. Full support and advice will be provided by our Professional Internship team. 

Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th February 2027.

Our partners value diverse and inclusive work environments that are positive and supportive. Students are selected for admission without regard to gender, marital or civil partnership status, disability, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age or social background. 

To maximise accessibility and attract students from underrepresented groups to our programme we have introduced bespoke templates for applicant Personal and Research statements which will enable every applicant to fully represent themselves through providing suitable examples and evidence. These forms are on the NRPDTP website and must be used for these sections of the application form.

Entry requirements

At least UK equivalence Bachelors (Honours) 2:1. English Language requirement (Faculty of Science equivalent: IELTS 6.5 overall, 6 in each category).

Start date

1 October 2027

Additional Funding Information

This project is awarded with a 4-year Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership PhD DTP studentship. Studentship includes payment of tuition fees (directly to the University), a stipend to cover living expenses (2026/27 stipend rate: £21,805, and a Research Training Support Grant of £5,000 pa for each year of the studentship.