QUEX January 2026 Entry - AMR in food producing environments. [Public Health & Sport Science], PhD Studentship (Funded) Ref: 5529

Join a world-leading, cross-continental research team

The University of Exeter and the University of Queensland are seeking exceptional students to join a world-leading, cross-continental research team tackling major challenges facing the world’s population in global sustainability and wellbeing as part of the QUEX Institute. The joint PhD programme provides a fantastic opportunity for the most talented doctoral students to work closely with world-class research groups and benefit from the combined expertise and facilities offered at the two institutions, with a lead supervisor within each university. This prestigious programme provides full tuition fees, stipend, travel funds and research training support grants to the successful applicants.  The studentship provides funding for up to 42 months (3.5 years).

Eight generous, fully-funded studentships are available for the best applicants, four offered by the University of Exeter and four by the University of Queensland. This select group will spend at least one year at each University and will graduate with a joint degree from the University of Exeter and the University of Queensland.

Find out more about the PhD studentships www.exeter.ac.uk/quex/phds

Successful applicants will have a strong academic background and track record to undertake research projects based in one of the three themes of:  Healthy Living, Global Environmental Futures and Digital Worlds and Disruptive Technologies.

The closing date for applications is mid-day May 15th 2025 (BST), with interview to be w/c 16th June 2025 (tbc). The start date is expected to be Monday January 5th 2026.

Please note that of the eight Exeter led projects advertised, we expect that up to four studentships will be awarded to Exeter based students.

Theme: Global Environmental Futures

Supervisors:

Exeter Academic Lead: Professor Will Gaze

Queensland Academic Lead: Dr Jake O'Brien

Project Description

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses, adapt to current treatments like antibiotics, reducing their effectiveness. This can happen through genetic mutations or the transfer of resistance genes between species (many of which originate in environmental bacteria). Human use of antimicrobials, including overuse and misuse, drives the development of multi-drug resistance, becoming a rapidly growing global health problem. The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the GLobal Antimicrobial resistance Surveillance System (GLASS) in 2015 to monitor this issue, but critical data gaps remain in monitoring significant pathogens. Current data suggests that currently between 1-5 million people die annually from AMR infections.

AMR is not limited to clinical settings nor to humans, as resistance genes can be mobilised between bacteria in various environments. Animal waste acts as a major environmental reservoir for AMR due to the presence of excreted faecal matter, urine, faecal bacteria, and antimicrobial drug residues. Unlike humans who have dedicated systems to treat and remove contaminants from waste prior to release, waste generated in animal husbandry are either directly released to the environment or may be reused for other agricultural purposes. As such there is risk associated with AMR and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB). As Zero Hunger is the #2 Sustainable Development Goal, this currently unquantified risk to food production requires investigation.

This PhD project thus aims to 1) derive agricultural specific selective effect concentrations of antimicrobials and determine the risk they pose in terms of AMR evolution, 2) characterise AMR bacterial populations associated with agricultural waste streams and to assess their dissemination to the wider environment including aquatic systems used for irrigation, water abstraction and recreation and 3) using mesocosms experiments determine the ability of human opportunistic pathogens such as E. coli to acquire novel resistance mechanisms during passage through the environment. Recent work in coastal environments has revealed that some E. coli isolates are much better adapted to survive or even grown in the environment and only by focusing on a range of strains, including these environmentally adapted strains, can we understand the full risk posed by in situ evolution of human pathogens in environmental compartments.

The project will combine microbiological and chemical analyses to characterise agricultural samples followed by adapting the SELection End points in Communities of bacTeria (SELECT) method to derive agriculture specific selective effect concentrations of antimicrobials. This will enable risk assessment to be conducted applicable for both agriculture and the environment.

The European Centre for Environment and Human Health at Exeter are world leaders in environmental AMR surveillance and Professor Gaze leads a transnational group of academics and government practitioners via UKRI AMR network. The Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS) at The University of Queensland has pioneered environmental sampling and chemical analysis for antimicrobials since 2019. Their facilities include state-of-the-art trace analytical chemistry infrastructure and the Australian Environmental Specimen Bank (ESB) which includes agricultural samples. As such the capabilities of each institution are complimentary and sampling and chemical analysis will be conducted at UQ and microbial characterisation at Exeter.

Entry requirements

Applicants should be highly motivated and have, or expect to obtain, either a first or upper-second class BA or BSc (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.

If English is not your first language you will need to meet the English language requirements and provide proof of proficiency. Click here for more information and a list of acceptable alternative tests.

How to apply

Apply now

You will be asked to submit some personal details and upload a full CV, personal statement, academic transcripts and details of two academic referees. Your supporting statement should outline your academic interests, prior research experience and reasons for wishing to undertake this project, with particular reference to the collaborative nature of the partnership with the University of Queensland, and how this will enhance your training and research.

Please quote reference 5529 on your application and in any correspondence about this studentship.

Summary