Fully funded (UK students only) PhD studentship - Predicting and Programming Innate Immune Responses to Emerging Pathogens for Sustained Viral Resilience

This project will suit someone interested in innate immunity, virology, immunometabolism, trained immunity, vaccine responses, emerging infections, and pandemic preparedness.

The PhD will focus on how innate immune responses vary between individuals, and whether we can identify and selectively reprogramme immune-response states associated with protection, exaggerated inflammation, or dysregulated responses. The student will use human in vitro systems, including primary immune cells and whole-blood models, to study cytokine responses, inflammasome activation, complement activity, and immunometabolic changes.

A key concept in the project is sustained viral resilience: the idea that transient modulation of innate immune pathways may generate longer-lasting antiviral protection through metabolic and epigenetic mechanisms.

The studentship is part of The Pandemic Institute Integrated Health Security PhD Programme, with collaboration across the University of Liverpool, UK Health Security Agency, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, and NIHR HPRU in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections.

How to apply

Email your CV, cover letter, project title and reference number to contact@thepandemicinstitute.org