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2025-26 Bloomsbury Colleges PhD Studentships

The Bloomsbury Colleges group was set up in 2004 and consists of five institutions: Birkbeck, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), and the UCL Institute of Education (UCL–IOE). These studentships were set up to increase collaboration and interdisciplinary research opportunities across the colleges.

Applications are invited for three-year PhD studentships, to start in the academic year 2025-26. There are two studentships available at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (where LSHTM is the lead institution): one studentship award per research project.

Funding

Each studentship will provide:

for the duration of the award.

Projects

The LSHTM-led studentship projects available for 2025-26 are:

Project 1: Theo Sanderson - Assessing the evolutionary safety of mutagenic antiviral drugs in the context of recombination

Supervisory team

Project description

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted critical gaps in our antiviral arsenal, with many families of viruses lacking targeted inhibitors. Molnupiravir, a broad-spectrum antiviral drug which works by introducing mutations into viral genomes, showed initial promise as a treatment. However, recent research has shown that in some cases, rather than clearing SARS-CoV-2 infections, this treatment can create viruses with large numbers of mutations, which sometimes continue to spread between patients. Such observations have raised important questions about whether a drug with this mechanism of action could accelerate the evolution of variants of concern that evade existing immunity or have increased transmissibility. To address these issues, we need to better understand the within-host evolutionary processes that drive the evolution of these mutated virus genomes.

This PhD project will combine computational modelling and experimental approaches to understand how viruses evolve under mutagenic drug pressure. The project will particularly focus on the question of whether viral recombination - the process by which viruses can exchange genetic material - is necessary to allow viruses to remove deleterious mutations induced by the drug while preserving adaptive mutations in regions that interact with the immune system. Using existing data for SARS-CoV-2, and in vitro experimental work with other coronaviruses, the student will:

  1. Develop computational models to understand how recombination affects viral evolution under drug pressure
  2. Analyse existing viral sequence data to track mutation patterns
  3. Conduct laboratory experiments to test model predictions using coronavirus systems

This work will provide important information both in interpreting the risks and benefits of existing drugs such as molnupiravir, and in understanding of the safety profiles of the class of drugs with this mechanism of action. It will also seek to understand why previous attempts to model the ‘evolutionary safety’ of molnupiravir yielded results inconsistent with experimental data.

The successful candidate will gain expertise in viral evolution, computational biology, and experimental virology. They will develop and expand skills in genome sequencing, phylogenetic analysis, Python programming, and BSL-2 laboratory techniques. The project offers opportunities to engage with both theoretical and experimental aspects of viral evolution, providing excellent training for future careers in academic or industry research. They will join collaborative teams at LSHTM and RVC, benefiting from complementary expertise in computational and experimental approaches. We are supportive of diverse career paths and welcome applicants with a diversity of backgrounds, experience and ideas. We encourage applications from those with non-traditional academic backgrounds. Informal enquiries are welcome and may be addressed to the principal supervisor.

Subject areas/keywords

Subject area: Virology

Keywords: Virology, viruses, phylogenetics, evolution, computational biology, SARS-CoV-2

Key references

  1. Sanderson, Theo, Ryan Hisner, I’ah Donovan-Banfield, Hassan Hartman, Alessandra Løchen, Thomas P. Peacock, and Christopher Ruis. "A molnupiravir-associated mutational signature in global SARS-CoV-2 genomes." Nature 623, no. 7987 (2023): 594-600.
  2. Dyer, Owen. "Covid-19: FDA expert panel recommends authorising molnupiravir but also voices concerns." BMJ: British Medical Journal (Online) 375 (2021).
  3. Goldhill, D.H., Te Velthuis, A.J., Fletcher, R.A., Langat, P., Zambon, M., Lackenby, A. and Barclay, W.S., 2018. The mechanism of resistance to favipiravir in influenza. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115(45), pp.11613-11618.

Further details about the project may be obtained from:

Deadline for applications

The deadline for applications is 23:59 (GMT) on 28 February 2025.

Project 2: Oliver Cumming - Using a One Health approach to investigate the effects of climate change on acute malnutrition in the Sahel region

Supervisory team

Project description

Background

Acute malnutrition remains a critical public health challenge, despite being both preventable and treatable. Globally, an estimated 45 million children suffer from this condition. Many countries with high rates of acute malnutrition are also vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The Sahel region is particularly vulnerable according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), with populations more likely to suffer from climatic shocks, such as flooding and droughts, and related food and water insecurity 1.

Though there are effective interventions to both prevent and treat acute malnutrition, strategies often fail to comprehensively address the complex risk factors at play2. Climate change further exacerbates this complexity by affecting many of these inter-related factors3. Traditional public health strategies to manage acute malnutrition often fail to consider the interplay between human, animal and environmental risk factors. The One Health approach offers a framework for understanding this interplay and how climate change may affect the burden and distribution of acute malnutrition in the Sahel region.

To date there has been limited research to understand the effects of climate change on acute malnutrition using a One Health approach4. This research project combines the public health and climate change expertise of LSHTM and Birkbeck respectively with the extensive operational and policy experience of the international NGO Action Against Hunger (ACF). The research will adopt a One Health framework to explore the determinants of acute malnutrition and the impacts of climate change in Senegal and the broader Sahel region.

The proposed project aims to inform targeted public health strategies that can mitigate the effects of climate change of acute malnutrition in vulnerable populations.

Aims and objectives

The overall aim of this PhD is to investigate the effects of climate change on acute malnutrition in the Sahel region using a One Health lens. Specifically, the project will:

  1. Identify climate change-related risk factors for acute malnutrition through a One Health perspective via a scoping review.
  2. Assess how stakeholders, including NGOs and national and local governments, understand the risks of climate change on acute malnutrition in the Sahel and the potential utility of a One Health approach.
  3. Describe the relationship between climate-related risk factors and acute malnutrition in North Senegal.
  4. Develop a risk model for acute malnutrition across the Sahel region and model the potential effects of climate change on the burden of acute malnutrition under various future climate scenarios.

Methodology

The student will build their skills in mixed methods approaches to investigate this complex area. Methods will include scoping reviews, qualitative interviews, quantitative analysis, spatial and climate modelling approaches.

Objective 1:

A comprehensive review of the literature will identify climate-change related risk factors (e.g. climate shocks and trends, animal ownership, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) access) for acute malnutrition, focusing on the interplay between humans, animals, and the environment.

Objective 2:

The student will build on the findings of objective 1 and conduct semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders in the Sahel, including local and national NGOs and government actors, and international agencies to assess their understanding of how climate-related risk factors are impacting acute malnutrition. Furthermore, interviews will assess understanding and perceived utility of a One Health approach that consider humans, animals and the environment together.

Objective 3:

The student will analyse data collected from a large-scale randomised controlled trial conducted in Senegal over an area of approximately 25,000 km2 to evaluate the effect of WASH on outpatient treatment of severe acute malnutrition recovery. Data from this trial includes household demographics, WASH infrastructure and practices, animal ownership, household GPS coordinates, as well as rates of acute malnutrition and recovery following treatment. The student will combine these with publicly available data on a wide range of meteorological, land use and vegetation indices and socio-demographic variables. The student will build a model to assess the relationships between these factors and acute malnutrition recovery.   

Objective 4:

Drawing on the results from objective 1, 2 and 3, a risk model will be developed using publicly available data, for example Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS). The objective is to model how climate affects environmental, animal and human risk factors for acute malnutrition in the Sahel. In turn, the student will incorporate global and regional climate projections into their risk model to understand the effects on acute malnutrition, developing expertise in a wide range of statistical and machine learning methods to model risk and climate projections.

Significance

This work will address a critical evidence gap around the potential effects of climate change on acute malnutrition in the Sahel region as mediated by human, animal and environmental factors. This will support predictive modelling of how the burden and distribution of acute malnutrition may change under various climate scenarios. These results can inform more effective strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change on acute malnutrition among vulnerable populations. The work will be done in partnership with ACF, leveraging their operational and policy expertise, and engage local and national stakeholders.

Timescale

  • Year 1: Advisory committee formed; GIS and climate modelling training if needed; objective 1 completed to inform upgrading report, upgrading at end of year.
  • Year 2: Objective 2 data collected and analysed; objective 3 analysis; objective 4 data obtained from publicly available data.
  • Year 3: Objective 4 analysis and models built; thesis written up.

Outcome and dissemination

With our partner, ACF, we will disseminate findings at the local, national and regional level. The TISA trial in Senegal was implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Health and we will share findings with them and local health system structures. Four manuscripts – one for each objective – will be produced for submission to peer-reviewed journals. The student will be expected to disseminate their findings at conferences such as American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene and UNC Water & Health

Subject areas/keywords

Keywords: Acute malnutrition; climate change; water sanitation and hygiene; Sahel; Senegal

Key references

  1. IPCC. (2022). Climate change 2022: Impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Available at: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/
  2. Brown, M.E., Backer, D., Billing, T., White, P., Grace, K., Doocy, S. and Huth, P. (2020). Empirical studies of factors associated with child malnutrition: highlighting the evidence about climate and conflict shocks. Food Security, 12, 1241-1252.
  3. Owino, V., Kumwenda, C., Ekesa, B., Parker, M.E., Ewoldt, L., Roos, N., Lee, W.T. and Tome, D. (2022). The impact of climate change on food systems, diet quality, nutrition, and health outcomes: A narrative review. Frontiers in Climate, 4, 941842.
  4. Acosta, D., Barrow, A., Mahamadou, I.S., Assuncao, V.S., Edwards, M.E. and McKune, S.L. (2024). Climate change and health in the Sahel: a systematic review. Royal Society Open Science, 11(7), p.231602.

Further details about the project may be obtained from:

Principal Supervisor: Oliver Cumming

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Department of Disease Control
Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT

oliver.cumming@lshtm.ac.uk

Co-Supervisor: Aideen Foley

Birkbeck, University of London
School of Social Sciences
26 Russell Square, London, WC1B 5DQ

a.foley@bbk.ac.uk

Co-Supervisor: Laura Braun

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Department of Disease Control
Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT

laura.braun@lshtm.ac.uk

Deadline for applications

The deadline for applications is 23:59 (GMT) on 3 February 2025. 

For details of studentships available at other Bloomsbury colleges but in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, please see the Bloomsbury Colleges website. Please apply directly to the lead institution only.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet minimum LSHTM entry requirements. Additional requirements may be necessary for each project. Please see the specific project information for further details.

These studentships are open to applicants assessed as both ‘Home’ and ‘Overseas’ fee status. For further information about Fee Status Assessments please see the School’s policy and procedure document.

Successful international applicants may be eligible for an International Fee Waiver from LSHTM to cover the difference between Home and Overseas tuition fees. However, it should be noted that there is only one LSHTM fee waiver available on the Bloomsbury scheme in any academic year.

Please see our LSHTM statement regarding International Fee Waivers for further information.

Awardees may not use their Bloomsbury studentship stipend or personal funds to top up fees.

To apply

The application process has two steps. To be considered for the funding, applicants must meet all eligibility criteria and complete both steps outlined below by the scholarship deadline stated for the project they are applying for.

  • Step 1
    Submit an application for research degree study via the LSHTM application portal. Applicants should apply via the Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases (ITD).
  • Students should submit a research proposal based on the advertisement for their project.
  • Incomplete applications will not be considered for this studentship.
  • Step 2
    • This will provide you with a temporary password to use the first time you login (via e-vision), which you should then update.

Once you have submitted an application to study you should receive an automated email from the Scholarships Team (scholarships@lshtm.ac.uk) providing you with the link to our online scholarships application portal.

  • Please search for ‘Bloomsbury PhD Studentship’ if you wish to apply for this funding, and then answer the questions online to indicate your interest in one of the two funded PhD projects available. Once you are happy with your responses you can press submit and should receive a confirmation of receipt email at your contact email address.
  • The scholarships portal will not be able to accept applications after the relevant project deadline (see below).
  • The Scholarships team will be in touch with an outcome in due course.

Applications for this project will only be reviewed and processed after the deadline. All applications that are submitted before the deadline will be considered equally, regardless of submission date.   

By submitting an application for this funding applicants agree to its Terms & Conditions.

Deadlines

The application deadline for Project 1 is 23:59 (GMT) on 28 February 2025.

The application deadline for Project 2 is 23:59 (GMT) on 3 February 2025.

Please see the specific project information for further details.