PhD Studentship: Breaking Code: Deciphering the Biology of the Virus-like Gene Transfer Agents

Primary supervisor - Prof Tung Le

Bacteria commonly exchange genetic information (DNA) in a process called horizontal gene transfer as they evolve and adapt to changes in their local environment. Understanding horizontal gene transfer and how new genetic information is incorporated and domesticated into the existing signalling network and physiology of the host is a fundamental problem in biology. Horizontal gene transfer also contributes to the spread of antimicrobial resistance, which is a leading cause of mortality worldwide. The widespread but so far neglected Gene Transfer Agents (GTAs) are peculiar virus-like particles that were domesticated from ancestral bacterial viruses to now serve as nanomachines for the host bacteria. GTAs facilitate the exchange of genetic information by packaging and disseminating the DNA of the host bacteria. GTAs have a unique but poorly characterized lifecycle yet present an excellent opportunity to study the fascinating biology and fundamentals of domestication of genetic information, and to engineer GTA for biotechnological or therapeutic purposes.

Several key advances from the community and my group now make it timely to investigate and exploit GTA biology. Building on these key advances, the student will aim to develop a better understanding of fundamental GTA biology and to characterize the process of domestication of genetic information to inform the development and engineering of synthetic GTA particles.

The project comes with a multidisciplinary training, including molecular microbiology, fluorescence microscopy, ChIP-seq, RNA-seq, protein-protein interaction studies and structural biology. This will provide you highly transferrable skills and a wide choice of career options.

You will be based in the laboratory of Prof. Tung Le (www.tunglelab.org) in the Department of Molecular Microbiology at the John Innes Centre, a world-class institute for plant and microbial research.

Applications are welcomed from students across the biological sciences who have a desire to work on a multidisciplinary project. Informal enquiries to tung.le@jic.ac.uk are welcome.

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/.

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). 

Mode of study: Full time

Start date: 1 October 2026

Additional Funding Information

This project is awarded with a 4-year Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership PhD CASE studentship with Inspiralis Limited. 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.

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