Project description

Primary supervisor - Dr Stephanie Schuller

Campylobacter jejuni is the major cause of food poisoning in the UK and associated with >500,000 infections annually. Undercooked poultry represents the main infection source as C. jejuni colonisation of the chicken gut is common. Although chickens rarely develop diarrhoea, Campylobacter carriage results in impaired growth and motility. While human pathogenesis is well explored, it remains largely unknown how C. jejuni persists in the chicken gut and spreads to edible tissues. This is partially due to a lack of avian in vitro model systems which enable the study of Campylobacter interactions with the intestinal epithelium under physiological hypoxia.

In this project, the PhD student will develop a microaerobic chicken intestinal organoid model to elucidate Campylobacter colonisation and translocation across the gut epithelium. By exploring host cell interactions of C. jejuni isolates with high and low transmission risk at a cellular and molecular level, the student will determine virulence traits contributing to intestinal persistence and systemic spread. Subsequent genomic and transcriptomic analyses will identify underlying bacterial virulence factors which will contribute to the development of efficient eradication strategies and identification of Campylobacter strains with high transmission risk into the food chain.

This project will be suited for a motivated student with a background in microbiology and cell biology and relevant research experience. You will join an interdisciplinary and supportive research environment at the UEA Medical School and closely collaborate with Prof Alison Mather’s group at the Quadram Institute. Expert training in anaerobic bacterial culture, establishment and functional analysis of intestinal cells and organoids, molecular biology and immunological techniques, confocal microscopy and bioinformatic analyses will be provided.

The Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Programme (NRPDTP) is offering fully funded studentships for October 2026 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. You will join a vibrant community of world-leading researchers. All NRPDTP students undertake a three-month professional internship placement (PIPS) during their study. The placement offers exciting and invaluable work experience designed to enhance professional development. Full support and advice will be provided by our Professional Internship team.

This project has been shortlisted for funding by the NRPDTP. Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed on 3,4 or 5 February 2026.

Visit our website for further information on eligibility and how to apply: https://biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/.

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 (Norwich Medical School equivalent: IELTS 6.5 overall, 6 in each category).

Funding

This project is awarded with a 4-year Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership PhD DTP studentship. The studentship includes payment of tuition fees (directly to the University), a stipend to cover living expenses (2025/6 stipend rate: £20,780), and a Research Training Support Grant of £5,000pa for each year of the studentship.

References

Awad WA, Hess C, Hess M. Re-thinking the chicken-Campylobacter jejuni interaction: a review. Avian Pathol. 2018;47(4):352-63.

McGrath CJ, Laveckis E, Bell A, Crost E, Juge N, Schüller S. Development of a novel human intestinal model to elucidate the effect of anaerobic commensals on Escherichia coli infection. Dis Model Mech. 2022;15(4).

Dziegiel AH, Bloomfield SJ, Savva GM, Palau R, Janecko N, Wain J, Mather AE. High Campylobacter diversity in retail chicken: epidemiologically important strains may be missed with current sampling methods. Epidemiol Infect. 2024;152:e101.

Mills DC, Gundogdu O, Elmi A, Bajaj-Elliott M, Taylor PW, Wren BW, et al. Increase in Campylobacter jejuni invasion of intestinal epithelial cells under low-oxygen coculture conditions that reflect the in vivo environment. Infect Immun. 2012;80(5):1690-8.

Decoding Campylobacter pathogenesis in chickens: From colonisation to contamination (SCHULLER_U26DTP)

Project description

Entry requirements

Funding

References