PhD Studentship: (Meta)genomics of E. Coli-associated Urinary Tract Infections in Pregnancy

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in pregnancy and can cause significant maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Recurrent UTIs (RUTIs) affect 4-5% of all pregnancies, and up to 35% of the pregnant cohort can develop pyelonephritis compared to 2% of non-pregnant counterparts. Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) is found in over 40% of cases and is the most important cause of RUTIs. There are various bacterial factors that predispose to higher infection morbidity including certain phylogenetic groups, sequence types and virulence factors.

In this project, the student will investigate the hypothesis that the increased risk of UTIs observed in pregnancy may be in part due to differences in the types of E. coli causing the infections, including variations in phylogenetic group, virulence genes and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) determinants. Working with clinicians at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, the student will collect urine and faecal samples from pregnant women, and use long-read genome and metagenome sequencing to characterise urine microbial compositions in these groups and 18S qPCR to examine human DNA load, a proxy for disease severity. Whole genome sequence data will be used to compare the genotypes of UTI-causing E. coli with those in the patients’ own guts, as well as compare these against publicly available genomes obtained from non-pregnant individuals.

The outcomes will inform better patient care, and the project will provide the student with a valuable skillset in interdisciplinary research, encompassing bioinformatics, (meta)genomics and statistics with clinical relevance.

For information on eligibility and how to apply: http://www.uea.ac.uk/phd/mmbdtp

Entry requirements

At least UK equivalence Bachelors (Honours) 2:1. English Language requirement (MED/SCI 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 fully-funded studentship including direct payment of tuition fees to the University, stipend for living expenses (2025/26 rate: £20,780) and a Research Training Support Grant for each year of the studentship.

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