GW4+ PhD Studentship - Polar cyanobacteria

National History Museum; City of London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent science research institution in London seeks a PhD candidate for a Doctoral Studentship focused on the diversity and ecology of cyanobacteria in glacier ecosystems. The candidate should have a strong background in ecology or molecular biology, with a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree. This opportunity involves genome sequencing and laboratory experiments in a unique research setting.

Qualifications

• You should have a strong background in ecology or molecular biology.
• Experience with genome sequencing is advantageous.
• Ability to work in a laboratory environment is required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct genome sequencing of glacier cyanobacteria.
• Study physiological responses under extreme conditions.
• Isolate new strains and perform metagenomic analysis.

Skills

Molecular techniques

Bioinformatics

Laboratory manipulation experiments

Education

First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree

Master's degree or relevant professional experience

Job description

About Us

We are a world-class visitor attraction and leading science research centre. We use the Museum's unique collections and our unrivalled expertise to tackle the biggest challenges facing the world today. We care for more than 80 million objects spanning billions of years and welcome more than five million visitors annually and 16 million visits to our website.

Today the Museum is more relevant and influential than ever. By attracting people from a range of backgrounds to work for us, we can continue to look at the world with fresh eyes and find new ways of doing things.

We employ 1100 staff in a variety of roles, all united by our vision of a future where people and planet thrive. We need everyone to have the passion and drive to help us with our mission to create advocates for our planet and inspire millions to care about the natural world.

Diversity and inclusion matter to us.

Our vision is of a future where both people and the planet thrive. Diversity is one of our core values and we strive to build a workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging. All new staff who join us learn about the importance of diversity and inclusion to the Museum and how to contribute to creating an inclusive environment.

We know we have more to do, but we are committed to ensuring that everyone who works at the Museum feels they can thrive and feel valued and respected.

About the role

NERC funded GW4+ Doctoral Landscape Training Partnership (DLTP) Studentship on 'Diversity and ecology of cyanobacteria from glacier ecosystems in the Polar Regions'.

Lead Institution: Natural History Museum (NHM)
Lead Supervisor: Anne D. Jungblut, NHM, Science
Co-Supervisor: Liz Bagshaw, Bristol, Geographical Sciences
Co-Supervisor: Arwyn Edwards, Aberystwyth University, Life Sciences

Project enquiries: [e-mail]

Project aims and methods

Cyanobacteria thrive in aquatic, terrestrial and marine environments worldwide, and they have shaped Earth’s biogeochemical cycles and biodiversity for billions of years. They are especially successful in extreme habitats such as permanently cold glacier environments, due their striking taxonomic diversity and array of apparent adaptation mechanisms to withstand the extreme conditions including freezing, extreme light conditions as well as limited nutrients.

Glaciers are dominating feature of the polar regions and alpine environments and affected by climate warming. Cyanobacteria can be found in abundance in small sediment pockets in the ice that are called cryoconite holes and are important primary producers and drivers of food-webs. However, their biogeographic distribution, genomic basis for adaptation mechanisms are not well understood yet. The aim of the project is therefore to carry out genome sequencing of established glacier cyanobacteria collection and isolation of new cyanobacteria strains as well as genome-assembled metagenomic analysis of uncultured cyanobacteria communities from polar environments. Laboratory experiments will enable to study the physiological response to extreme conditions in particular temperature and light. The project will provide training in molecular techniques, bioinformatics, and high throughput sequencing, taxonomic diversity and ecology as well as aseptic strain isolation techniques and laboratory manipulation experiments.

About you

You should have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK. If you have a Lower Second Class degree, you can be considered if you also have a Master’s degree or relevant professional (e.g. work) experience.

Thriving at the Museum: the way we work

We are proud to work at the Museum and have identified the qualities we all need to embody to reach our shared ambition. This sits alongside the Museum’s values and forms the framework for the way we work.

Find out more here

How to apply

If you are interested in applying, please click below on apply for job. You must complete the GW4+ DLTP Personal Statement questions as part of your application (You will see these questions as you go through the online application process). The guidance document can be found below.

Please note that as part of our commitment to anonymised shortlisting, panels do not view CVs during the recruitment process. If you choose to upload your CV, our system will automatically pull information from your CV into our application form. We advise you to double-check your application form data before submitting as the tool may interpret CVs differently.

Closing date: Thursday 8 January 2026, 23:59 GMT

Interviews expected: week of 2-6 March 2026