The SWBio DTP is funded by BBSRC and involves a partnership of world-renowned universities, research institutes and industry, based mainly across the South West and Wales.

Studentships are available for entry in September 2026.

DTP interviews will be held in the w/c 10 August 2026.

Supervisory Team:
Lead supervisor: Dr Julien Licchesi (University of Bath)
Co-supervisors: Professor Matthew Crump (University of Bristol), Professor Christiane Berger-Schaffitzel (University of Bristol), Dr Scott Lovell (University of Bath)

The Project: Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD) is transforming modern drug discovery by enabling the selective removal of disease-causing proteins rather than merely inhibiting them. Among TPD strategies, PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs) have shown remarkable clinical success, particularly in prostate and breast cancers.

Project Aims: This PhD project aims to discover and optimise novel ligands for an underexplored E3 ubiquitin ligase using high-throughput aptamer-SELEX technology. ... Promising candidates will be incorporated into next-generation BioPROTAC and PROTAC molecules...

Training and Methods: This interdisciplinary project provides extensive training in molecular and structural biology, biophysical characterisation, ligand discovery and optimisation, and functional evaluation using cell-based assays.

Project Keywords: Targeted protein degradation, ubiquitin, chemical biology, PROTAC, Aptamer

The SWBio DTP is funded by BBSRC and involves a partnership of world-renowned universities, research institutes and industry, based mainly across the South West and Wales.

Studentships are available for entry in September 2026.

DTP interviews will be held in the w/c 10 August 2026.

Supervisory Team:
Lead supervisor: Dr Julien Licchesi (University of Bath)
Co-supervisors: Professor Matthew Crump (University of Bristol), Professor Christiane Berger-Schaffitzel (University of Bristol), Dr Scott Lovell (University of Bath)

The Project: Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD) is transforming modern drug discovery by enabling the selective removal of disease-causing proteins rather than merely inhibiting them. Among TPD strategies, PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs) have shown remarkable clinical success, particularly in prostate and breast cancers.

Project Aims: This PhD project aims to discover and optimise novel ligands for an underexplored E3 ubiquitin ligase using high-throughput aptamer-SELEX technology. ... Promising candidates will be incorporated into next-generation BioPROTAC and PROTAC molecules...

Training and Methods: This interdisciplinary project provides extensive training in molecular and structural biology, biophysical characterisation, ligand discovery and optimisation, and functional evaluation using cell-based assays.

Project Keywords: Targeted protein degradation, ubiquitin, chemical biology, PROTAC, Aptamer