The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) was awarded funding as part of the OneZoo CDT to support studentships over three years, with cohort intakes in the 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years.
The OneZoo CDT offers an unprecedented level of diversity and transdisciplinarity, with award-winning educators and experts in zoonotic diseases and environmental sciences, from Cardiff University, Aberystwyth University, Queen’s University Belfast, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, working collectively, fostering creation of the OneZoo research community, and empowering students to develop their own training to acquire strong employability skills.
More than 60% of current and emerging human infections have a zoonotic origin (i.e. they are transferred between animals and people) and zoonotic pandemics cost the global economy over $60 billion each year. Being able to predict, detect and control zoonoses represents one of the greatest challenges faced by humanity.
Our transdisciplinary OneZoo CDT will equip the next generation of world-leading scientists with the skills and insight necessary to tackle current and future zoonotic threats. To design successful, innovative environmental prevention and control strategies, zoonotic drivers need to be understood through an integrated systems approach. As part of the OneZoo programme you will build an in-depth understanding of the connectivity between key drivers of pathogen host shifts, spill-over and onward transmission; exploring pathogen, environmental and human societal processes that can promote zoonotic disease and form the basis of integrated environmental solutions.
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is pleased to invite applications for 4 projects for 2025-26, based at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
As a OneZoo student you will undertake a 3.5 year systematic programme of training in core transferable and specialist skills, alongside your specific PhD project, that will build an in depth understanding of the key drivers of zoonotic diseases and form the basis for devising holistic solutions.
Award details
The studentship will provide:
- tuition fees (at the LSHTM home fee rate);
- a student stipend (at the UKRI studentship rate, which was GBP 21,237.00 per annum in 2024-25); and
- a research training and support grant to go towards consumables and training for the duration of the award.
Eligibility for funding
Applicants must meet the LSHTM minimum entry requirements. Please see the specific project details below for any further requirements.
Some projects may be suitable for part-time study; anyone wishing to undertake part-time study is encouraged to contact the supervisor for more details.
This studentship is open to applicants assessed as both 'home' and 'overseas' fee status. For further information about fee status assessments, please see the LSHTM LSHTM admissions policies.
Successful international applicants will be eligible for an LSHTM international fee bursary to cover the tuition fee top up costs in full for studentships awarded via OneZoo. Please note that priority will be given to applicants who are nationals of, and residents in, low income countries and lower middle income countries (LLMICs), and that the number of bursaries is limited to one per programme in any academic year for these schemes, as is noted on the LSHTM international recruitment statement.
Successful international applicants who are not awarded an LSHTM international fee bursary will be required to cover the tuition fee top up costs from other sources (e.g. other scholarship or bursary awards). Awardees may not use their studentship stipend to top up fees.
Project details
The OneZoo Centre for Doctoral Training invites applications from eligible candidates for interdisciplinary PhD studentships. Applicants may express interest in up to 3 projects from amongst 30 potential projects are available for enrolment in 2025/26 (see OneZoo website for the full project list), of which the following 4 projects are based at LSHTM.
- Project 1: Vector-borne disease surveillance using metagenomic sequencing
Supervisory team
- Principal Supervisor: Professor Susana Campino (LSHTM)
- Co-Supervisor: Professor Taane Clark (LSHTM)
- Co-Supervisor: Dr Mojca Kristan (LSHTM)
- Co-Supervisor: Dr Ross Cuthbert (Queen's University Belfast)
- Partner Supervisor: Dr Louisa Messenger (University of Nevada)
Project description
Vector-borne diseases pose a significant global health threat, responsible for millions of infections and deaths each year. Climate change and increased urbanisation affect vector habitats and increase the risk of emerging and re-emerging vector-borne diseases. Traditional surveillance methods often fall short in rapidly identifying both known and new pathogens, and new methods are needed for rapid pathogen identification. Our team’s background in metagenomics, bioinformatics, entomology and vector-borne diseases will ensure the student is supported in both the technical and applied aspects of this project. This PhD project aims to develop and implement a metagenomic sequencing framework for the surveillance of vector-borne diseases, focusing on the detection of pathogens and the identification of vector species, including invasive species. In addition, the student will explore the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) in combination with metagenomics to detect the presence of invasive species and pathogens in various environments without the need for capturing live specimens.
Where will the project be based?
LSHTM, UK, possibility of visits to Ghana and USA.
Further details
For further information, contact Professor Susana Campino (susana.campino@lshtm.ac.uk)
- Project 2: Genomic insights into the transmission pathways of foodborne pathogens in fish from aquaculture to consumer in Thailand
Supervisory team
- Principal Supervisor: Professor Taane Clark (LSHTM)
- Co-Supervisor: Professor Susana Campino (LSHTM)
- Co-Supervisor: Professor John McGrath (Queen's University Belfast)
- Partner Supervisor: Professor Saharuetai Jeamsripong (Chulalongkorn University)
Project description
The rapid globalisation of food systems has intensified the threat of foodborne illnesses, posing significant challenges to public health, food safety, and economies worldwide. In Thailand, fish is a primary food source, supported by extensive aquaculture regions. However, there is evidence of foodborne pathogen transmission across farms, polluted environments, markets, and to humans, contributing to diarrheal infections and increased mortality in children under five. Our project aims to leverage genomics to understand pathogen transmission mechanisms within Thailand’s aquaculture food supply chain. Early childhood diarrhoea caused by Escherichia coli pathovars is a One Health challenge, with Thailand experiencing a high burden from fish-related sources. This multidisciplinary project will utilise advanced sequencing and pathogen genomics to trace and understand the transmission dynamics and virulence of E. coli pathovars across fish farms, related environmental settings, and marketplaces.
Where will the project be based?
Based in London, the student will travel to Thailand for fieldwork and capacity strengthening activities.
Further details
For further information, contact Professor Taane Clark (taane.clark@lshtm.ac.uk)
- Project 3: Landscapes, mosquitoes and arboviruses: using xenosurveillance to characterise arboviral risk in Thailand
Supervisory team
- Principal Supervisor: Professor Sian Clarke (LSHTM)
- Co-Supervisor: Patchara Sriwichai (Mahidol University)
- Co-Supervisor: Professor Mary Cameron (LSHTM)
- Co-Supervisor: Professor Susana Campino (LSHTM)
- Co-Supervisor: Dr Pablo Orozco-terWengel (Cardiff University)
- Co-Supervisor: Dr Pornsawan Leaungwutiwong (Mahidol University)
- External University: Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand
Project description
Exploitation of the natural environment and resources by humans drives landscape change, increases the geographical overlap of animal reservoirs of disease and human populations, and increases the risk of disease spillover. Arboviruses are transmitted between mammalian hosts in tropical forests and to humans living in close proximity to forest by Aedes mosquitoes. These mosquitoes are now also well-adapted to breed in urban environments, where high human population densities result in periodic outbreaks. Understanding fundamental aspects of mosquito ecology is a prerequisite for discerning spatiotemporal patterns of arbovirus transmission and conceiving disease control strategies. This project aims to characterise the distribution of Aedes mosquitoes, patterns of host-feeding and diversity and stability of their core virome, and how this differs across forest, rural and urban landscapes in Thailand.
Further details
For further information, contact Professor Sian Clarke (sian.clarke@lshtm.ac.uk)
- Project 4: One Health and climate determinants of zoonotic enteropathogen transmission in Senegal
Supervisory team
- Principal Supervisor: Dr Jacqueline Knee (LSHTM)
- Co-Supervisor: Mr Oliver Cumming (LSHTM)
- Co-Supervisor: Professor James Lewis (Cardiff University)
- Partner Supervisor: Dr Dieynaba N’Diaye (Action Against Hunger, France)
Project description
Globally, over one million deaths are caused each year by diarrhoeal diseases resulting from exposure to enteropathogens. Many of these enteropathogens, such as Campylobacter, non-typhoidal Salmonella, and Giardia, are potentially zoonotic. Whilst the fraction of the diarrhoeal disease burden attributable to zoonotic – versus human-to-human – transmission is difficult to estimate it is undoubtedly important, especially in settings that combine a high burden of disease and high risk of exposure to animal waste. This project will focus on one such setting – in northern Senegal – where there is a high burden of diarrhoeal disease combined with a range of potential animal and environmental risk factors for zoonotic transmission of enteropathogens. Using a One Health approach, the project will investigate the environmental and animal risk factors for zoonotic enteropathogen exposure and related disease outcomes, like diarrhoea and assess the sensitivity of these variables to climate variables. This project provides a unique opportunity to examine these important issues in a climate vulnerable, high-burden setting by combining data on stool-based molecular detection of enteropathogens, trial data, satellite-based remote-sensing techniques and climate modelling approaches.
Where will the project be based?
Based in London, the project will include travel to Senegal.
Further details
For further information, contact Mr Oliver Cumming (oliver.cumming@lshtm.ac.uk)
For details of other projects available at the OneZoo CDT from other institutions, please see the OneZoo website.
How to apply
Apply to OneZoo CDT
Studentship applications must be submitted via the online application survey. Applications received in any other format will not be considered. The online application and guidance on applying can be found at the following location: https://onezoo.uk/students/prospective-students/.
For further details of other projects currently available with the other three universities also participating in the OneZoo Centre for Doctoral Training, please see the OneZoo website.
Deadline
Closing date: 31 January 2025 at midnight