Virus transmission from wildlife reservoirs to domestic animals is a critical step in a chain of events that leads to exposure and infection of humans. This has been exemplified by the recent COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to influenza A viruses (IAVs) that have caused four pandemics during the last 100 years. Wild birds are the natural reservoir for several IAVs that can spill over into domestic poultry, and in some cases to mammals (e.g. dairy cows in USA) as well as sporadic infection to humans. The current panzootic of avian influenza virus highlights the urgent need to explore the molecular mechanism underlying this interspecies transmission.
In this project, the student will explore molecular barriers that govern influenza transmission from birds to mammals including humans. Such barriers can be i) virus related, e.g. host specific signals within the viral genome that evolve during replication in different species, ii) host related, e.g. intracellular host proteins that inhibit or favour infection.
To uncover these molecular barriers, the student will employ advanced genomics (single-cell transcriptomics) and molecular virology focusing on viral and host factors across avian and human cells.
The project will be conducted at the university of Liverpool main campus in collaboration with the Pirbright institute UK and Uppsala University Sweden. The supervisory team consisting of a mix of scientific expertise spanning basic virology, host–virus interactions, and clinical infectious diseases, ensuring the student will be supported from multiple perspectives and will be provided essential guidance to perform the proposed project.
Student support
Guidance will be provided on research design, methodology, and career development over the project period. In addition, the student will be provided by essential trainings including lab training and bioinformatics skills for single-cell data analysis, and will have access to modern laboratories, databases, and software specific to the research project.
Within the lab, the student is encouraged to discuss challenges openly, share experiences with peers, and engage in regular one-to-one supervisory meetings. The interdisciplinary approach of this study will equip the student with a competitive set of skills that is highly sought after in both academia and industry.
Want to know more?
Join our online session “Influenza PhD DiMen DTP Application” to learn more about the project and supervisory team and what we are looking for.
Microsoft Teams on Thursday 20th November 2025, 1:00 PM (GMT)
Benefits of being in the DiMeN DTP:
This project is part of the Discovery Medicine North Doctoral Training Partnership (DiMeN DTP), a diverse community of PhD students across the North of England researching the major health problems facing the world today. Our partner institutions (Universities of Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, York and Sheffield) are internationally recognised as centres of research excellence and can offer you access to state-of-the-art facilities to deliver high impact research.
We are very proud of our student-centred ethos and committed to supporting you throughout your PhD. As part of the DTP, we offer bespoke training in key skills sought after in early career researchers, as well as opportunities to broaden your career horizons in a range of non-academic sectors.
Being funded by the MRC means you can access additional funding for research placements, training opportunities or internships in science policy, science communication and beyond.
Further information on the programme and instructions on how to apply, including a link to the application portal, can be found on our website https://www.dimen.org.uk/