Sussex Drug Discovery Centre studentship: Investigating targeted hop components as new antimicrobials (2025)

What you get

The position covers Home (UK) tuition fees and a stipend at standard UKRI rates (currently £19,237 in 2023-4) for 4 years plus some research and travel costs.

Type of award

Postgraduate Research

PhD project

We are proud to announce that our new science-based solutions collaboration, "HOPExplorations", is looking to sponsor a PhD study at University of Sussex under Professor John Spencer.

HOPExplorations is a philanthropic endeavour bring together great minds to drive forward scientific solutions to human problems.

The study will look at targeted hop components as new antimicrobials. If the research is successful, we will look to create a new class of antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance is a huge challenge and we are seeking a graduate to complete an ambitious body of work to drive this aspiration forward. The project ties in many areas we are passionate about- UK hop growing, green chemistry, novel research, industrial partnerships- all using hops for good!

The study is fully-funded by the company and the research outcomes will be commercialised.

In the Sussex Drug Discovery Centre, the postgraduate researcher will benefit from industry standard laboratories equipped with automated HPLC, mass-directed chromatography, flow chemistry, H-cube, parallel synthesis equipment (Carousels, use of scavengers, microwave), working in a team of industry-train medicinal chemists. They will gain lots of experience in synthetic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and techniques (SAR, docking, PK properties, bioisosteres). Weekly group meetings will improve their general knowledge of chemistry, biology, medchem, communication skills. Initial tasks will be for the student to fully elucidate the structures of the molecules including purity, NMR spectra (1H, 13C, 2D), possible Xray and/or VCD for abs stereochemistry, to have a firm footing on the key features of each molecule.

Eligibility

Ideal candidates will have a strong background in synthetic organic/medicinal chemistry with additional experience of catalysis and C-H activation. Eligible candidates will have recently received an MSc and/or a First or 2:1 BSc in a relevant subject. Candidates for whom English is not their first language will require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with not less than 6.0 in any section.

Applications are particularly welcomed from candidates with protected characteristics – e.g., from Black and other ethnic minorities who are under-represented in postgraduate research at our institution.

Number of scholarships available

One

Deadline

How to apply

Please submit a formal application using the online admissions portal attaching a CV, degree transcripts and certificates, personal statement and two academic references. A research proposal is not required.

On the application system select Programme of Study – PhD Chemistry. Please state the project title under funding obtained and the supervisor’s name where required.

For further details on the research in the Spencer group:

https://profiles.sussex.ac.uk/p74501-john-spencer/publications

Contact us

For queries about the application process, please see the online application guide or contact Emma Chorley: lifesci-rec@sussex.ac.uk

For enquiries about the project, please contact the supervisor: Professor John Spencer - j.spencer@sussex.ac.uk