Join us

If you would like to join the lab, internal positions we are advertising are listed below. It is recommended to contact Thomas Gorochowski directly to discuss any applications. We are also always happy to support applications for externally funded scholarship or fellowships if your research interests align with ours. If this is something you'd like to pursue then contact us with details of your plans.

Avaiable Positions (Funded)

PhD: Engineering unconventional gene regulation

Primary supervisor: Thomas Gorochowski (Bristol, UK)
Secondary supervisor: Michiel Stock (Ghent, Belgium)
The ability to control when and where genes are expressed in living cells is a central pillar of synthetic biology and underpins the engineering of biology for diverse applications. Historically, gene regulation has mostly been considered at the level of DNA-binding proteins (e.g., transcription factors), however, we are beginning to realise the important role that other biophysical factors can have at all levels – a phenomena called polycomputing. In this project, the student will explore how induced DNA supercoiling and spatial interactions between distant sections of DNA can be used to engineer complex gene regulatory patterns that would be difficult or impossible to implement using traditional synthetic biology approaches. The project will combine a mix of biophysical and graph-based modelling, genome engineering, and genetic circuit design. It is an opportunity for a creative and ambitious student to take steps towards reimaging how to build genetic systems that better harness diverse biological processes. The project will be carried out in close collaboration with Dr. Stock at the University of Ghent in Belgium. It is expected that the student will spend time across both labs to build the underlying models describing these processes and develop the experiments needed to test new ideas and genetic designs. Both labs value diverse perspectives on science and aim to support an engaging and supportive environment that is required to tackle challenging scientific questions. More information...

PhD: Rewiring ant communications to control behaviour using engineered bacteria

Primary supervisor: Thomas Gorochowski (Bristol, UK)
Secondary supervisors: Nathalie Stroeymeyt (Bristol, UK), John Love (Exeter, UK)
Social insects such as ants make extensive use of chemical signals deposited into their environment as a means to coordinate collective colony-level behaviours that go far beyond the capabilities of each individual. This indirect communication process, known as stigmergy, has been shown to underpin the ability for ants to efficiently forage for food, build and repair complex nests, and assess the suitability of new nest sites. Over the past few decades our understanding of the biochemical composition of these signals has substantially increased. However, difficulties in producing these molecules using standard approaches with chemistry has hindered the ability to effectively study their role and function. The aim of this project is to give researchers the ability to “talk” to ants using their own chemical signals using new, synthetic biology approaches for bio-compound production. This will allow for a better understanding of the rules ants use to generate emergent collective behaviours by allowing the communications within these systems to be perturbed in precise and controllable ways. Such knowledge would not only offer new insight into how our own societies might be better organised (e.g. to reduce the spread of disease), but also offers a means to develop interventions that can disrupt the functioning of a colony as an avenue towards novel, non-destructive pest control methods. More information...

3-year Postdoc: A next-generation computational biodesign platform

Primary supervisor: Thomas Gorochowski (Bristol, UK)
Secondary supervisor: Tom Ouldridge (Imerpial College London, UK)
More details to follow soon, but contact Dr Gorochowski if you would like to learn more early. Position expected to start early 2024 with possible further 3-year extension and hope is for this role to support the development of an aligned independant fellowship. The project will also involve close collaboration across with the University of Oxford and Imperial College London. Brilliant chance to establish an academic research career in the growing field of synthetic and engineering biology.

Postdocs

Bristol Vice-Chancellor's Fellowships

This scheme offers an exciting opportunity for exceptional early-career researchers to advance their research careers, setup their own group at the University of Bristol. Fellowships are available across the strategic priorities of university. More details...

EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship

The objective of these fellowships is to support researchers’ careers and foster excellence in research. The Postdoctoral Fellowships action targets researchers holding a PhD who wish to carry out their research activities abroad, acquire new skills and develop their careers. Suitable for EU citizens that would like to work in the UK. More details...

PhD

For students looking for PhD studentship, we recommend applying to one of the doctoral training centres based at Bristol or associated EU training networks. Any internally funded opportunities will be posted as openings above.

SynBioCDT

The EPSRC and BBSRC Synthetic Biology Centre for Doctoral Training (SynBioCDT) is a 4-year doctoral programme that offers training in the new field of Synthetic Biology, the "Engineering of Biology". This centre is a collaboration between the Universities of Oxford, Bristol and Warwick. More details...

Other

DAAD RISE Worldwide

RISE stands for Research Internships in Science and Engineering. RISE Worldwide offers summer research internships across the world to German undergraduate students with academic training in biology, chemistry, physics, earth sciences, engineering, or a closely related field. RISE Worldwide is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. More details...

Biochemical Society Summer Studentships

The Biochemical Society offers grants for stipends of £200 per week for 6–8 weeks, and up to £1,600 in total, to support an undergraduate student to carry out a summer lab placement. The student does not need to be a member of the Society, but when ranking proposals preference will be given to student members. More details...