Engineering Nutrient-Independent and Controllable Germination of Bacillus Spores for Advanced Engineered Living Materials
This project offers a unique opportunity for the student to engage in cutting-edge research on Engineered Living Materials (ELMs), a rapidly growing field at the forefront of sustainable innovation. ELMs combine ‘living components’ with material systems to create self-healing, adaptable, and environmentally responsive materials. Bacillus subtilis spores, due to their metabolic dormancy and ability to rapidly respond to germination signals, provide an ideal platform for developing advanced, nutrient-independent, responsive materials. The student will work on re-engineering the spore 8 germination pathways, employing synthetic biology tools to create spores that can be activated by non-native, externally controllable signals, such as non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs).
The project focuses on two key strategies: directed evolution of the CwlJ cortex-lytic enzyme to enable germination in response to novel stimuli like DPA analogues and ncAAs, and enhancing the GerAB receptor's response to ncAAs to fine-tune spore activation. The student will gain hands-on experience in molecular biology, genetic manipulation, and high-throughput directed evolution techniques, while also contributing to the development of environmentally responsive construction materials, adaptive biosensors, and programmable self-healing systems.
In addition to technical expertise, the student will have the opportunity to collaborate across disciplines, expand their research networks, and contribute to impactful, sustainable technology applications in material science, microbiology, and engineering biology.
This interdisciplinary research not only has promising applications in material science but also contributes to fundamental microbiological research, offering the student the chance to explore spore biology and synthetic biology, while making a tangible impact on the development of sustainable technologies.
Applications should be made by emailing needl@newcastle.ac.uk with:
· a CV (including contact details of at least two academic (or other relevant) referees);
· a covering letter – stating your project choice, as well as including whatever additional information you feel is pertinent to your application
· copies of your relevant undergraduate degree transcripts and certificates;
· a copy of your IELTS or TOEFL English language certificate (where required);
· a copy of your passport (photo page).
A GUIDE TO THE FORMAT REQUIRED FOR THE APPLICATION DOCUMENTS IS AVAILABLE
Please submit your documents in the following format only:
- each document should be submitted as a separate attachment and should be named as follows: [candidate surname, candidate name – [document]]. For example: Jones, Jamie – CV; Jones, Jamie – personal statement; Jones, Jamie – BSc transcript.
- Please submit .pdf documents where possible for your CV, personal statement, transcripts and certificates. Do not submit photos of certificates.
- Do not combine documents into one pdf. You may zip separate documents into a zip file to send via email if required.
- Please only send the Application Details Form 2025 as a Word document (not pdf), named as follows: Application Details Form – surname, name.
- When emailing your application, please use the email subject header: NEEDL Application 2025
Applications not meeting these criteria may be rejected.
Informal enquiries may be made to needl@newcastle.ac.uk
The deadline for all applications is 12noon on Monday 31st March 2025.
Funding Notes
Studentships are funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) for 4 years. Funding will cover tuition fees at the UK rate only, a Research Training and Support Grant (RTSG) and stipend. We aim to support the most outstanding applicants from outside the UK and are able to offer a limited number of bursaries that will enable full studentships to be awarded to international applicants. These full studentships will only be awarded to exceptional quality candidates, due to the competitive nature of this scheme.
