PhD Studentship: Malaria Parasite Protein Degradation (Pathology)

About the role

The Department of Pathology at the University of Cambridge offers a fully funded PhD studentship (fixed term, 4 years from October 2027) in the project "Turning the Malaria Parasite's Protein Degradation Machinery Against It", supervised by Professor Katerina Artavanis-Tsakonas and co-supervised with Laura Itzhaki (Department of Pharmacology). The project explores a new way to kill malaria parasites by exploiting their own protein-degradation machinery to selectively destroy proteins they need to survive. The lab studies how the ubiquitin system works in Plasmodium falciparum, looking for differences between parasite and human cells that could be used therapeutically.

The project combines parasite genetics, biochemistry and chemical biology to develop new ways of manipulating protein stability, aiming to create tools for discovering parasite biology and novel antimalarial drug strategies. The studentship is open to applicants eligible for UK Home fee status only.

Required profile

• Applicants must hold (or expect to obtain) the equivalent of a UK upper 2.1 or higher in an undergraduate honours or Masters degree in a relevant subject.
• Applicants must meet the language requirements for admission by the time of interview.
• Applications are made online through the University's postgraduate application portal; a completed application includes all supporting documents, including two academic references, submitted by the closing date.
• Ineligible candidates will not be considered.

What we offer

• Funding covering the stipend at the current Research Council rate and Home University fees.
• A four-year studentship starting in October 2027.