Evolution of host–microbe symbioses: linking horizontal gene transfer to ecological function
Supervisor :
May 12th 2026
The studentship is funded by the Leverhulme Trust. It will cover Home tuition fees and provide a tax-free maintenance stipend for 3 years (£22,618 in 2026/27).
To qualify for Home Fees, this typically means the candidate will be unrestricted in how long they can remain in the UK.
International students will need to cover the difference in fees between the home and overseas basic rate from external sources. Further details can be found on our PhD Tuition Fees page.
Funding and eligibility queries can be sent to the sbbs-pgadmissions@qmul.ac.uk
Project Overview
Many animals depend on beneficial microbes for survival, gaining traits such as improved nutrition or protection from natural enemies. But how do these microbes acquire the genes that make them so valuable to their hosts? This PhD project will investigate how mobile DNA—such as bacteriophages and plasmids—acts as a transferable genetic toolkit that allows symbiotic bacteria to rapidly evolve new beneficial functions.
Using aphids and their defensive symbionts as a model system, the student will combine molecular biology, genomics and ecological experiments to uncover how protective traits originate and spread in symbiont communities. Depending on the student’s interest, the project can include field work, large-scale symbiont genome sequencing, analysing evolutionary patterns using advanced bioinformatics and phylogenetic methods, and conducting laboratory experiments that manipulate symbiont–phage combinations to test how microbial genes influence host defence against parasitoid wasps.
The student will develop a diverse and highly transferable skill set, including molecular biology/imaging, genome analysis, experimental manipulations, and quantitative evolutionary analysis. Training will also include working with insect–microbe systems and designing experiments that link genomic variation to ecological function.
This interdisciplinary project will appeal to students with backgrounds in evolutionary biology, ecology, molecular biology, microbiology, or related fields, and offers the opportunity to address fundamental questions about how symbiosis drives evolutionary innovation.
Applications are open for a 3-Year funded PhD Studentship in the School of Biological and Behavioural Science (SBBS) at Queen Mary University of London.
Keywords:
Symbiosis, host–microbe interactions, microbial evolution, horizontal gene transfer, bacteriophages, insect microbiomes
Research Environment
The School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences (SBBS) at Queen Mary University of London provides a dynamic, interdisciplinary research environment that brings together expertise across evolutionary biology, ecology, microbiology, genomics, and behavioural science. The School hosts a large and collaborative postgraduate community of over 160 PhD researchers and benefits from extensive core facilities supporting genomics, imaging, bioinformatics, and molecular biology. Students also have access to dedicated doctoral training programmes, professional development workshops, and a broad range of student support services that foster both academic success and career development.
The successful applicant will join the Henry Lab, led by Dr Lee Henry (Reader in Molecular Microbial Ecology), a world leading group studying host–microbe interactions, and evolutionary biology. The lab provides a highly supportive and collaborative research environment. Research in the group integrates genomics, experimental biology, microscopy, and evolutionary analysis to understand how symbiotic microbes shape ecological and evolutionary processes.
The project will be supported by Dr Henry’s external research funding (>£4M to date), including a recently awarded Leverhulme Trust grant that underpins this studentship. The student will work closely with a Leverhulme-funded Postdoctoral Research Associate who, along with Dr. Henry, will provide hands-on training in genomic, experimental, and analytical approaches. Dr Henry has an outstanding track record of PhD supervision, with a strong emphasis on mentorship, professional development, and supporting students to publish high-impact first-author research.
More information about the lab can be found at: https://www.henry-lab.co.uk/
Find out more about the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences on our website.
Entry Requirements & Criteria
We are looking for candidates to have or expecting to receive a first or upper-second class honours degree and ideally a master’s degree in an area relevant to the project such as Molecular Biology, Evolutionary Ecology, Microbiology, Genomics, or related fields. Candidates must also have experience conducting research in a laboratory environment.
Knowledge of molecular biology and/or coding (e.g. R, Python), would be highly advantageous but are not required.
Find out more about our entry requirements here.
International applicants must provide evidence of their English language ability.
Details can be found on our English Language requirements page.
How to Apply
Formal applications must be submitted through our online form by May 12th 2026 for consideration.
Applicants are required to submit the following documents:
· Your CV
· A Personal Statement, including:
o Previous experience relevant to the project
o Your motivations for pursuing this position
o Your career aspirations
o Any further information you think is relevant to the application
· References
· Copies of academic transcripts and degree certificates
Find out more about our application process on our SBBS website.
Informal enquiries about the project can be sent to Dr. Lee Henry at l.henry@qmul.ac.uk
Admissions-related queries can be sent to sbbs-pgadmissions@qmul.ac.uk.
The School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences is committed to promoting diversity in science; we have been awarded an Athena Swan Silver Award. We positively welcome applications from underrepresented groups.
See Also