Three eight-week bursaries are available for undergraduate students wanting to gain practical experience of working in a research laboratory and developing a future career in biomedical research.
The Quadram Institute is with the support of the charity Invest in ME Research establishing a centre of excellence for fundamental and translational research on the causes and treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).
ME/CFS is a chronic disabling condition affecting more than 250,000 children and adults in the UK for which there is no cure and with very few people with ME/CFS make a full recovery. Discovering new treatments relies on research into the causes of the disease and these bursaries provide an opportunity to be involved in the latest research on the infectious aetiology of ME/CFS being undertaken at the Quadram Institute.
Each successful candidate will be awarded £175 per week for eight weeks (£1,400) generously funded by the charity Invest in ME Research. At the end of the project, students will be expected to write a short summary reflecting on their project for the Invest in ME website.
Projects
Exploring the virome in mucosal cavities of ME/CFS patients
Viruses may play a role in the development or persistence of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), yet their presence and impact in mucosal sites remain poorly understood.
This project will investigate the diverse range of viruses found in the mucosal cavities of ME/CFS patients, aiming to identify potential viral contributions to disease mechanisms. As a summer student you will:
- Analyse Viral Communities – Identify, characterise, and compare actively infectious, latent, and endogenous viruses in ME/CFS patients and healthy individuals.
- Perform Molecular Techniques – Extract and quantify nucleic acids from mucosal samples.
- Apply Advanced Diagnostics – Use quantitative PCR (qPCR) to detect and measure viral genetic material.
This project offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in virology, molecular biology, and clinical research, helping to uncover the role of viruses in ME/CFS. It is ideal for students interested in infectious diseases, molecular diagnostics, and biomedical research.
Investigating the role of Fungi in ME/CFS
This project aims to explore the diversity of fungi in patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and their potential role in driving immune responses and inflammation. By integrating microbiological, immunological, and epidemiological approaches, we will investigate fungal imbalances, immune reactivity, and susceptibility to fungal and yeast infections in ME/CFS patients.
As a summer student, you will gain hands-on experience with a range of laboratory and computational techniques, which may include:
- Microbial Identification – Isolating and characterizing fungi and yeast from mucosal samples using DNA extraction, PCR, and gel electrophoresis.
- Immune Response Analysis – Culturing microbes and assessing immune reactivity through flow cytometry and ELISA to identify potential pathogens driving inflammation.
- Epidemiological Data Analysis – Analyzing questionnaire data to assess the prevalence of fungal and yeast infections in ME/CFS patients and potential links to immune dysfunction.
This multidisciplinary project provides a comprehensive research experience, combining microbiology, immunology, and epidemiology to uncover the role of microbes in ME/CFS. It is ideal for students interested in infectious diseases, molecular biology, immunology, and public health.
Investigating the role of gastrointestinal viruses in ME/CFS
Viruses have long been suspected of contributing to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), either as a trigger or a factor that perpetuates the disease. Given the high prevalence of gastrointestinal disturbances and microbiome changes in ME/CFS patients, this project will investigate whether gastrointestinal viruses play a role in disease mechanisms.
As a summer student, you will gain experience in both computational and laboratory techniques, including:
- Bioinformatics & Metagenomic Analysis – Mining existing sequencing data to identify viral signatures in the gastrointestinal microbiome.
- Quantitative PCR (qPCR) – Validating the presence of identified viruses in patient samples.
- Data Interpretation & Visualisation – Analysing results to assess potential viral involvement in ME/CFS.
This project offers a unique opportunity to develop both computational and molecular biology skills while contributing to an emerging area of ME/CFS research. It is ideal for students interested in virology, bioinformatics, and microbiome studies.
Application process
Interested applicants should send their CV with a cover letter explaining their interest in ME/CFS and which projects they are interested in.
The deadline for applications is the 31 March 2025 by 17:00 (BST). Successful candidates will be notified by the 31st of April 2025.
Below are details of projects on offer that students can contribute to.
