How do prebiotic oligosaccharides promote human health?

This PhD studentship provides an exciting opportunity for the successful candidate to address the mechanisms underpinning the role of oligosaccharide prebiotics in gut health and gain experience in working in partnership with a leading company in the field of prebiotics.

The human body harbours a diverse and dense population of microbes which exert key functions in terms of human health. An alteration in the human gut microbiota and function has been associated with an increasing number of diseases and there is therefore great interest in developing strategies including prebiotic solutions to modulate the gut microbiota to promote human health and well-being across life.

In this PhD project, the student will join a large and dynamic multidisciplinary team at at the Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB) and work with a leading innovator in the field of in health and nutrition ingredients, to advance our understanding of how galactooligosaccharides influence gut health through modulation of the gut microbiota and gut barrier function.

At QIB, the PhD student will receive mentoring and training in advanced experimental models including in vitro fermentation models, human intestinal organoids and gut-on-chip technology. Through this PhD studentship, the student will acquire expertise in molecular microbiology, glycobiology, cell biology, -omics and imaging. Training will embrace research practice and theory, management, communication (to scientific and lay audiences), intellectual property, teamwork and technical writing.

The student will have the opportunity to learn about the technology and project management through a 3 month-work placement at the CASE partner.

The student will present his/her work to internal seminars and to relevant microbiology international meetings. Through this CASE studentship the student will experience both the academic and industrial side of science and expand their experimental and transferable skill sets.