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Fungal RNA Biology PhD: Argonaute-Mediated RNA Silencing in Cryptococcus

Project 2718 · University of Edinburgh · School of Biological Sciences

Application workspace

Save this opportunity and prepare around its actual requirements. Confirm deadlines and eligibility at the original source.

Read the research report View the recruitment source
Country or region
United Kingdom
Application deadline
2027-01-06 (confirm the exact time with the source)
Funding
Darwin Trust studentship. General eligibility described in the project materials: applicants must not be UK nationals and their first university degree must have been awarded less than five years before the round deadline. Four-year framework with annual stipend and University tuition fees for up to four years; stipend amount and 2027–28 fee coverage are not specified.

The research opportunity

Project overview This PhD at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Biological Sciences focuses on how RNA silencing works and is regulated in Cryptococcus. It sits at the intersection of RNA biology, fungal gene regulation, genomics and computational analysis. The project concerns basic mechanisms; it does not promise a therapeutic, diagnostic or antifungal outcome.

Research focus The project asks how Argonaute mediates RNA silencing and how associated proteins may support or regulate that activity. The project materials describe broad molecular, genomic, proteomic and computational strands. They do not set out the specific work packages, success measures, or balance of experimental and computational work; confirm these with the supervisors. Findings from other fungal models should not be assumed to transfer directly to Cryptococcus.

Team and context The named contacts are Dr Elizabeth Bayne and Dr Cei Abreu-Goodger. Public profiles in the project materials describe Bayne’s work in RNA silencing and fungal genome regulation, and Abreu-Goodger’s work in RNA and computational genomics. This suggests potentially complementary experience but does not confirm their formal supervisory roles or project-specific resource access. The materials also list group-level research funding related to Cryptococcus RNA interference. That separate research funding is not the Darwin Trust studentship and does not establish this student’s funding, tasks or guaranteed resources. No separate University project page is listed in the project materials; confirm the precise plan and supervision directly with the contacts.

Funding and application The listed route is a Darwin Trust studentship. Its general eligibility rules described in the project materials apply to applicants who are not UK nationals and require the first university degree to have been awarded less than five years before the round deadline. The award framework is four years, with an annual stipend and University tuition fees for up to four years. The stipend amount and 2027–28 fee coverage are not specified. The project materials list a 6 January 2027, 12 noon GMT deadline for the application and two references; one reference should be from an academic tutor. Applicants are responsible for contacting referees and are asked to contact a prospective supervisor with a CV. Interviews are listed for 15–19 March 2027, with an October 2027 start. The initial Trust application does not require a separate University PhD application or English evidence; later admission requirements still apply.

Points to confirm Before applying, check nationality and degree-recency eligibility, supervisor support and 2027–28 admission requirements. Ask about the scope, progress measures, experimental/computational balance, supervision split and committed resources. Before accepting, obtain written confirmation of the stipend, overseas tuition coverage, registration terms, visa costs and other expenses not covered.

Information date This assessment uses project materials collected on 7 November 2026. Application dates, funding terms, admission rules and costs can change; confirm them on the official pages for the relevant round before applying.

Research and application brief

Report generated: . This date does not confirm that recruitment remains open.

Information updated: . Recheck the original notice before applying.

Show report contents

Fungal RNA Biology PhD: Argonaute-Mediated RNA Silencing in Cryptococcus

This assessment uses project materials collected on 7 November 2026. Application dates, funding terms, admission rules and costs can change; confirm them on the official pages for the relevant round before applying.

Quick Decision

Strong but verify fit. This project asks how Argonaute-mediated RNA silencing works and is regulated in the under-studied fungal genus Cryptococcus. It offers a focused question at the intersection of RNA biology, fungal genetics, genomics and computation, with named contacts whose public profiles suggest complementary experience. The defined Darwin Trust route closes on 6 January 2027 at noon GMT. Key decision gaps remain: the project materials do not list a separate University project page, the stipend and 2027–28 fee coverage are unpublished, and the supervisory split, resource access and relationship to a separate group research grant are unclear. Contact Dr Elizabeth Bayne with a CV before applying and ask for the project-specific scope and funding terms.

Research Problem and Doctoral Work

RNA silencing is a conserved form of gene regulation, but its roles and organization vary among fungi. The project summary frames Cryptococcus as a less-characterized context and identifies two high-level questions: how Argonaute mediates RNA silencing and how associated proteins influence or regulate that activity. The stated goal is a mechanistic understanding of RNA regulation in this fungal lineage. The public project summary also connects the topic to genome regulation and clinically relevant fungal biology; it does not promise a therapeutic, diagnostic or antifungal outcome.

The project materials describe broad molecular, genomic, protein-level and computational strands. They do not specify the project-level work packages, scope boundaries, success measures or balance of experimental and computational work; confirm these with the supervisors. Results from other fungal models provide context, not proof that a mechanism transfers unchanged to Cryptococcus.

School, Programme and Field Context

The project is in the University of Edinburgh's School of Biological Sciences. The University is the named degree-awarding institution; no separate host or joint degree is identified. The School reports six research institutes, around 60 new PhD starts each year, and 94% of its Biological Sciences research activity in the highest REF 2021 categories. It also reports global top-25 status for Biological Sciences in QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 (School profile, REF 2021 environment statement). These are school/subject indicators, not a project-specific ranking.

The University Biological Sciences PhD page provides general programme and admission information; the School describes a broad training programme and Institute for Academic Development support (programme, PhD training). The Darwin award framework is four years, but the exact University registration route and duration should be confirmed after selection. No employment arrangement, external host, joint degree or guaranteed placement is stated.

Supervisor and Lab Assessment

Dr Elizabeth Bayne's official School profile places her work in RNA interference and fungal genome regulation, including research context in Cryptococcus. Dr Cei Abreu-Goodger is a Reader in Bioinformatics whose profile covers RNA and gene-regulation research; his group page describes computational small-RNA work. This suggests complementary experience, but public sources do not define primary supervision, project ownership or the division of responsibilities (Bayne profile, Bayne Lab, Abreu-Goodger profile, RNAlab).

The University Research Explorer records active related research funding for Bayne, and Wellcome describes a separate grant on RNA interference in Cryptococcus. This confirms group-level research activity, not the advertised student's funding, assigned tasks, or guaranteed access to grant resources (Research Explorer profile, separate Wellcome grant).

Three recent Bayne-group papers provide context. A 2025 paper examines an RNA-associated aspect of fungal chromatin regulation; a 2023 paper addresses genome organization and silencing; a 2022 paper studies distinct roles of RNA interference in a different fungal model (2025 paper, 2023 paper, 2022 paper). The 2022 work is the closest thematic match among these selected papers; all remain context rather than evidence of the advertised project's outcome. Cross-species differences are an explicit reason to verify the intended scope rather than assume transferability.

The School's research environment and training pages establish a broad bioscience setting, but not access to any particular sequencing, proteomics or computational facility. Confirm the resources, training and supervisory time actually committed to this student.

Funding, Application and Living Cost

The listed funding route is the Darwin Trust of Edinburgh. Its general rules in the project materials describe four-year awards in biological and biomedical sciences for applicants who are not UK nationals; a first university degree must have been awarded less than five years before the round deadline. The Trust says awards provide an annual stipend and pay the University tuition fee for up to four years, but the public source does not state the amount. Confirm the individual 2027–28 stipend and fee coverage before budgeting (Trust rules).

For the Edinburgh School round, the online application and two references are due Wednesday 6 January 2027 at 12 noon GMT (20:00 China Standard Time). One reference should come from an academic tutor; two academic or equivalent references are required, and the applicant is responsible for contacting referees. Evidence of research ability is advantageous but need not be in the same area. Interviews are scheduled for 15–19 March 2027, with an October 2027 start. The Trust page asks applicants to contact a potential supervisor with a CV. No separate University application or English-language evidence is required at the initial Trust stage; both are required later for admission (2027 application procedure).

The School's general process separates funding and admission applications; use the project-specific Trust route for this initial submission, then follow University instructions if selected. The Biological Sciences programme page cited in the project materials gives general admission expectations but notes that future-year criteria can differ, so confirm the 2027–28 qualification and English conditions (funded-PhD guide, programme entry page).

The 2026–27 research-fee table is annual, separates Home and Overseas rates and may change yearly; it is not a 2027–28 quote (fee table). The University's 2026–27 postgraduate living-cost estimate is £1,542 a month or £18,504 a year, excluding tuition and study costs (living-cost estimate). Accommodation costs vary; a new single postgraduate research student may qualify for an accommodation offer guarantee if the specified offer and timing conditions are met, but family housing is not covered (accommodation conditions). With no stipend amount published, the award's purchasing power cannot be assessed. Visa, health surcharge and relocation costs are not itemized.

Applicant Fit and Preparation

Required Background and Skills

The Darwin Trust application requires two academic or equivalent references, including one from an academic tutor, and a project/supervisor choice. The University programme page referenced in the project materials gives general relevant-subject and research-experience expectations; recheck the 2027–28 rules. The project summary does not state a mandatory technical checklist for entry.

Preferred Experience and Suggested Preparation

The Trust says evidence of research ability is advantageous, but it need not be from the same field. As suggested preparation—not an extra eligibility rule—applicants can explain their interest in RNA regulation, fungal biology, genome research or computational analysis and give examples of careful research reasoning. Edinburgh Careers Service describes local life-sciences and biotechnology activity, while the BBSRC 2025 outlook emphasizes technical, digital/data, business and transferable skills across bioscience (Edinburgh career context, BBSRC Forward Look 2025). These sources describe the wider sector and do not predict a graduate's job outcome.

Next Actions and Questions to Verify

Before Applying

  • Contact Dr Bayne with a CV; confirm supervisor support, project availability and whether Dr Abreu-Goodger is a formal co-supervisor.
  • Check the non-UK nationality and degree-recency rules against personal circumstances.
  • Confirm the Trust portal checklist, reference format and cutoff; verify that both references will arrive by noon GMT.
  • Ask whether the project is related to the separate group grant, without assuming that grant funds this studentship.
  • Check 2027–28 University admission and English conditions for the later stage.

At Interview

  • Ask for the high-level work packages, the intended balance between experimental and computational work, and the criteria used to judge progress.
  • Clarify the supervision split, resources, training, and any relationship to existing group projects.

Before Accepting an Offer

  • Obtain written stipend, tuition coverage, funding duration, registration terms and costs not covered.
  • Confirm what resources and supervision are committed and what University admission conditions remain.

Evidence and Sources

University, application and cost sources

Supervisors, field and publication sources

Sources

The listing may come from a university or recruitment platform. Check the notice and official sources in the report for current application requirements. View the recruitment source

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