PhD Biology Project 2026 in the UK
The 2026 Crick PhD Biology project in the Johnson Lab at the Francis Crick Institute offers an exciting opportunity to explore bioactive chemical space in pathogenic bacteria. Led by Eachan Johnson, this interdisciplinary PhD focuses on antimicrobial discovery, chemical genomics, and systems biology to address the global challenge of antibiotic resistance.
About the Company:
The Francis Crick Institute is a leading biomedical research institute dedicated to understanding the fundamental biology underlying health and disease. The Johnson Lab specializes in Systems Chemical Biology of Infection and Resistance, integrating chemical genomics, molecular genetics, and computational approaches to combat antimicrobial resistance and advance innovative drug discovery strategies.
Job Details:
- Program: 2026 Crick PhD Project
- Project Title: Charting an Atlas of Bioactive Chemical Space in Pathogenic Bacteria
- Laboratory: Johnson Lab – Systems Chemical Biology of Infection and Resistance
- Location: London, United Kingdom
- Application Deadline: 17 March 2026, 12:00 GMT
Research Areas:
- Biochemistry & Proteomics
- Chemical Biology & High Throughput
- Computational & Systems Biology
- Genetics & Genomics
- Infectious Disease
- Synthetic Biology
Educational Requirements:
- Background in quantitative biology, systems biology, or a related field
- At least some wet-lab experience
- Strong interest in infectious disease, microbiology, drug discovery, and molecular genetics
- Ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary research environments
Key Responsibilities:
- Characterise bioactivity across new chemical space in pathogenic bacteria in this Biology Project
- Apply AI-guided drug discovery and computational curation of chemical libraries
- Conduct biochemical and functional validation of small molecule mechanisms of action
- Perform bacterial genetics and microbiology experiments
- At the Francis Crick Institute, you should engage in high-throughput compound and genetic screening
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary research groups
- Develop expertise in computational chemistry and machine learning applications in this PhD Project
Skills Required:
- Strong foundation in quantitative or computational biology
- Wet-lab laboratory experience
- Creative problem-solving abilities
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to collaborate across interdisciplinary teams
- Enthusiasm for learning new experimental and computational techniques
Benefits of the PhD Project:
- Opportunity to work at a world-leading biomedical research institute
- Interdisciplinary training in chemical biology, infection biology, and AI-guided drug discovery
- Access to advanced biophysical, computational, and high-throughput technologies
- Collaboration with multiple research groups and institutions
- Contribution to tackling global antimicrobial resistance challenges
- Professional development in cutting-edge systems, chemical biology research
