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PhD Studentship: High Performance Computing methodologies for guiding the design of new antibiotics

Employer
Global Academy Jobs
Location
United Kingdom
Closing date
Sep 3, 2018

Job Details

The development of bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a major problem for modern healthcare. A recent World Health Organization report stated: “resistance to common bacteria has reached alarming levels in many parts of the world and that in some settings, few, if any, of the available treatment options remain effective for common infections”. In other words the number of antibiotics that are still effective is quickly diminishing- new antibiotics are therefore urgently needed.  

 

To design novel, effective and efficient antibiotics, it is imperative that we ask: (i) how do existing antibiotics work? (ii) How can we weaken the membranes that protect bacteria?  

 

As a step towards addressing these questions, in this project we aim to simulate the process of antibacterial permeation through realistic models of bacterial membranes. Crucially, we shall adopt a multi-scale approach in which fine-grained (quantum level and atomistic-level) simulations will be used to study specific interactions and chemical reaction mechanisms, and a more coarse-grained approach will be used to study larger, morphological behaviour. This project builds on our world-leading expertise in molecular modelling and simulation of bacterial membranes and our experience of large-scale quantum level calculations.  

New methodologies to bridge the quantum, atomistic and coarse-grain levels will be developed as part of the project.  

 

We are looking for an applicant with a background in chemistry physics, mathematics, or computer science, and an appetite to learn and research across conventional discipline boundaries.  

The stipend is at the standard EPSRC levels. More details on facilities and computing equipment are available http://ngcm.soton.ac.uk/facilities.html 

https://symakhalidresearchgroup.wordpress.com 

 

If you wish to discuss any details of the project informally, please contact Syma Khalid, Email: S.Khalid@soton.ac.uk 

 

This project is run through participation in the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Next Generation Computational Modelling (http://ngcm.soton.ac.uk). For details of our 4 Year PhD programme, please see http://www.findaphd.com/search/PhDDetails.aspx?CAID=331&LID=2652 

 

For a details of available projects click here http://www.ngcm.soton.ac.uk/projects/index.html

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Global Academy Jobs works with over 250 universities worldwide to promote academic mobility and international research collaboration. Global problems need international solutions. Our jobs board and emails reach the academics and researchers who can help.

"The globalisation of higher education continues apace, driving in turn the ongoing development of the global knowledge economy, striving for solutions to the world’s problems and educating a next generation of leaders and contributors."

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