PhD Phage Engineering to Combat Antibiotic-Resistant Enterococci

University of Sheffield – PhD in Bacteriophage Engineering

The global rise of multidrug-resistant pathogens has intensified the need for innovative antimicrobial strategies. Among the most urgent threats are Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE), which is an opportunistic pathogen responsible for severe hospital and community acquired infections.

This PhD project focuses on engineering bacteriophages as precision therapeutics to target antibiotic-resistant enterococci without disrupting the microbiome. The University of Sheffield is inviting applications for a PhD under Dr. Stephane Mesnage to overcome challenges in the narrow host range presented by phages, through molecular engineering and receptor modification strategies.

This PhD project focuses on engineering phages as precision therapeutics to target antibiotic‑resistant enterococci without disrupting the microbiome.

• Engineering Recombinant Phages with Altered Host Range
• Evaluating Therapeutic Potential in an in‑vitro host‑pathogen interaction model, for example in Zebrafish infection models

As Vancomycin-resistant enterococci represent a critical clinical challenge globally, engineering phages to overcome host range limitations could unlock a new generation of precision antimicrobials.

A fully funded PhD project at the University of St Andrews, School of Medicine offers an exciting opportunity to investigate protease‑controlled prophage activation in Staphylococcus aureus, a major research frontier with implications for combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Antimicrobial resistance remains one of the greatest challenges in modern medicine, driven in large part by horizontal gene transfer.

MINIMUM bio Pty Ltd is seeking a Research Assistant to support laboratory research activities that contribute to its AI‑enabled drug discovery platform. The successful candidate will play an important role in advancing experimental workflows that support target discovery and biotechnology innovation.

The position focuses on conducting molecular biology experiments, supporting phage display workflows, and ensuring high standards of experimental design and data integrity.