Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 3d

📣 Reminder of the below fully-funded PhD studentships in exposome immunology! Projects interfacing with other areas (e.g. the human microbiome) are also on offer. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Applications due 2 Dec 2025 📣

MRC CoRE in Exposome Immunology @exposomeimmunology.bsky.social · Sep 9

🎓 6x fully-funded 4-year PhD studentships 🎓

We are recruiting our first cohort of PhD students to start Oct 2026.

Students will shape their own projects within supervisory teams spanning the universities of Manchester & Oxford.

www.findaphd.com/phds/program/mrc-core-in-exposome-immunology/?p6899

FindAPhD : MRC CoRE in Exposome Immunology at The University of Manchester

Apply for a PhD: MRC CoRE in Exposome Immunology at The University of Manchester

www.findaphd.com

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Reposted by Fiona J Whelan

Hepworth Lab @hepworth-lab.bsky.social · 4d

Postdoc opportunity in the lab for a budding ILC biologist.

Informal enquiries welcome - please spread the word.

Ad closes in 4 weeks.

www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...

Research Associate - mucosal immunology and innate lymphoid cell (ILC) biology:Oxford Road

The Hepworth laboratory within the Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation at the University of Manchester wish to appoint a laboratory-based Research Associate to an exciting project in mucosal immunology and innate lymphoid cell (ILC) biology.

www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk

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Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 3d

It's lovely to see the supportive community of UoM Lister Fellows highlighted in this recent piece. Before I was even a UoM colleague, Fellows such as Matt Hepworth @hepworth-lab.bsky.social were so generous with their time in helping me apply (my quote in the article is no exaggeration!).

The Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine @thelisterinstitute.bsky.social · 12d

Behind every #ListerPrize winner at @officialuom.bsky.social is a nurturing community of Fellows giving back, sharing advice, and seeding new ideas 🌱
🫶 A connected, caring community builds confidence and makes a difference.
Read the story now ⤵️
lister-institute.org.uk/a-thriving-f...

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Reposted by Fiona J Whelan

Magdalena Skipper @magdalenaskipper.bsky.social · 4d

Less than 70% of science Nobel prize winners awarded this century hail from the country in which they were awarded their prize.
“Mobility benefits everyone. Each newcomer brings fresh ideas, new techniques & different ways of looking at old problems”
🧪 #academicSky
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

More than 30% of this century’s science Nobel prizewinners immigrated: see their journeys

The most common destination for eventual Nobel laureates in physics, chemistry and medicine since 2000 is the United States, Nature has found.

www.nature.com

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Reposted by Fiona J Whelan

Michael Brockhurst @brockhurstlab.bsky.social · 4d

Three Bicentenary research fellowships on offer at @officialuom.bsky.social @fbmh-uom.bsky.social for exceptional ECRs with <3y postdoc experience

3yrs salary + £30k pa research expenses

Do you have a great idea & want to join @mermanchester.bsky.social?

www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/research/sup...

Bicentenary Early Career Research Fellowships | Biology, Medicine and Health | University of Manchester

Find out about and apply for a Bicentenary Early Career Research Fellowship.

www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk

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Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 4d

TIL about the 25-year old teacher who fought all the way to the Supreme Court for sexual orientation to become a protected characteristic. It’s awe inspiring to learn about those that fought for what we now have. 🇨🇦 🏳️‍🌈
Amazing new CBC podcast: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...

Part 1 | The gay teacher who got fired and fought back

Podcast Episode · See You in Court · 16/09/2025 · 26m

podcasts.apple.com

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Reposted by Fiona J Whelan

MERMan Research Group (University of Manchester) @mermanchester.bsky.social · 12d

This weeks seminars from PhD students Maisie Czernuszka and Victor Carneiro da Cunha Martirelli!

Special thank you to @microbesng.bsky.social for sponsoring refreshments!

Title slide of Maisies seminar on engineering phages.

Victors title slide on electricity and Ecoli

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Reposted by Fiona J Whelan

MERMan Research Group (University of Manchester) @mermanchester.bsky.social · 19d

Great MERMan seminar today from NSERC PhD visiting researcher @simonjeanneau.bsky.social from @usherbrooke.bsky.social ! Also our first seminar with refreshments sponsored by @microbesng.bsky.social , many thanks for the productive chats over nibbles! 🍪 🧪

Simon next to his title slide. If I was a better Canadian, this alternative text would be in French too. :(

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Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 18d

Amazing talk from @cathnoakes.bsky.social at a @ukri.org Future Leaders networking event today. It is inspiring to hear the career journey of someone so humble and approachable. Prof Noakes, thank you for taking the time to share your career journey with us!

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Reposted by Fiona J Whelan

Rachel M. Wheatley @rachelmwheatley.bsky.social · 28d

Delighted to share that I’ve been awarded a Future Leaders Fellowship to investigate the impact of microbial interactions on antimicrobial resistance evolution 🎉 🧫 really grateful for this investment in my lab and excited to start my fellowship in Jan’26!

www.ukri.org/news/ukri-an...

UKRI announces winners of £120 million Future Leaders Fellowships

Research into the causes of lung cancer and Alzheimer’s disease are among 77 projects to be funded by UKRI’s Future Leaders Fellowships.

www.ukri.org

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Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 24d

Enjoy it! 🇨🇦

Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 24d

Are you going?!

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Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · 24d

@jtono.bsky.social 🇨🇦 🏉 🇨🇦!!!

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Reposted by Fiona J Whelan

MERMan Research Group (University of Manchester) @mermanchester.bsky.social · 26d

Two great talks today from MERMan PhD students @mattjago.bsky.social (mutation spectrum) and @amarquiegui98.bsky.social (bioremediation by microbial communities)

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Reposted by Fiona J Whelan

Professor Lesley Hoyles @bugsinyourguts.bsky.social · Sep 13

If you are UK-based and working on any aspect of microbiomes (human, plant, insect, soil, animal, ...), please do sign up to Microbiome-Net for details of networking, funding and training opportunities.

forms.office.com/pages/respon...

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Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · Sep 12

Amazing poster session last night from this year's Lister summer students!

The Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine @thelisterinstitute.bsky.social · Sep 12

And special mentions to all our summer students. The cloisters were quite the setting for our evening poster session. Projects from across biomedical disciplines, shared with panache!

If you're looking for stellar PhD students with impressive research experience... Here they are ⤵️

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Reposted by Fiona J Whelan

The Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine @thelisterinstitute.bsky.social · Sep 11

Can't wait to welcome everyone! Always such a brilliant buzz as people and ideas connect

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Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · Sep 11

Hope you manage to stay dry, see you soon! ☔️ 🌧️

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Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · Sep 11

Currently hiding from a thunderstorm in a cozy Oxford pub, reading a stellar student report, while on my way to the annual Lister Fellows meeting…. feeling very privileged to have this job!

@thelisterinstitute.bsky.social

Image of an iPad showing text and a half finished pint of ale in a pub setting.

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Reposted by Fiona J Whelan

MRC CoRE in Exposome Immunology @exposomeimmunology.bsky.social · Sep 9

🎓 6x fully-funded 4-year PhD studentships 🎓

We are recruiting our first cohort of PhD students to start Oct 2026.

Students will shape their own projects within supervisory teams spanning the universities of Manchester & Oxford.

www.findaphd.com/phds/program/mrc-core-in-exposome-immunology/?p6899

FindAPhD : MRC CoRE in Exposome Immunology at The University of Manchester

Apply for a PhD: MRC CoRE in Exposome Immunology at The University of Manchester

www.findaphd.com

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Reposted by Fiona J Whelan

Microbiology Society @microbiologysociety.org · Sep 8

Join us for Annual Conference 2026!

Abstract submission and registration are open for the UK’s largest annual gathering of microbiologists.
Held in Belfast, UK, this year’s Conference also features two-day attendance tickets.

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Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · Sep 10

Come do your PhD as part of this amazing new network of scientists! Please feel free to get in touch with any questions. @exposomeimmunology.bsky.social

Hepworth Lab @hepworth-lab.bsky.social · Sep 9

Following on from the PDRA adverts, we are also happy to announce the MRC Core in Exposome Immunology PhD scheme, details below. Reach out with any questions
www.findaphd.com/phds/program...
www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/resear...

FindAPhD : MRC CoRE in Exposome Immunology at The University of Manchester

Apply for a PhD: MRC CoRE in Exposome Immunology at The University of Manchester

www.findaphd.com

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Reposted by Fiona J Whelan

Hepworth Lab @hepworth-lab.bsky.social · Sep 9

Following on from the PDRA adverts, we are also happy to announce the MRC Core in Exposome Immunology PhD scheme, details below. Reach out with any questions
www.findaphd.com/phds/program...
www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/resear...

FindAPhD : MRC CoRE in Exposome Immunology at The University of Manchester

Apply for a PhD: MRC CoRE in Exposome Immunology at The University of Manchester

www.findaphd.com

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Fiona J Whelan @whelanfj.bsky.social · Sep 10

Absolutely amazing inaugural Professorship lecture from @hepworth-lab.bsky.social today! So well delivered, and so well deserved. 👏

Can’t wait to see what’s next, Matt!

Matt with title slide reading “my journey to deciphering immunity in mucosal barrier tissues”

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Reposted by Fiona J Whelan

MERMan Research Group (University of Manchester) @mermanchester.bsky.social · Sep 9

MERMan seminars are back! Last week, @zahraaalbaqsami.bsky.social presented her #Thermophiles2025 talk which generated a lot of buzz & Qs from the group!

The title slide of Zahraa's talk: Do mutation rates in a thermophile constrain adaptation to different temperatures?

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