Dr Jordan Skittrall

If you are considering approaching me regarding a possible research project or position

I regularly receive unsolicited approaches regarding possible research positions. Many of these approaches are cut-and-paste and/or propose work that I am not best-placed to support. I do my best to reply to all approaches that have considered and specify why, in particular, you want to work with me, and to all approaches from clinicians wanting to discuss research opportunities in virology in general (which I support as one of my departmental roles). I do not expect you to understand the detail of my work before an approach to work specifically with me – but please do ensure you have checked the general area is correct if you would like a reply!

Areas in which I may be able to support projects

My research is mostly computational/theoretical, and if you want to undertake a bench-based project, it is likely that one of my colleagues in the Division of Virology will be better placed to help. My main area of research is investigating virus genomics from a mathematical perspective, with a long view towards therapeutics for human disease. Please note that whilst my interests cover identifying viral targets for vaccines, they do not extend into the immunological components of vaccine design. If you are a clinician, I may be able to work with you on smaller projects in clinical diagnostics and in system design. I sometimes have educationally-focussed projects available.

I am open to discussing the following possibilities:

• Research degrees
• Undergraduate summer student projects
• Course projects during undergraduate degrees (including Part II projects in virology, and student-selected components, if you are student in Cambridge)
• Research attachments during clinical academic training

Please note that, as a matter of principle (ensuring I do not exclude students on economic grounds), I only take summer students if we are able to find funding to pay you – I have worked successfully with students before to find funding. Please take the timing of this into account – for a summer project it is usually best to start around January time.

Because of the cross-disciplinary nature of my research, it is likely that you will need at least the equivalent of two years of undergraduate study in a relevant area (biological sciences, medical sciences, mathematics, or computing) for a summer project to be productive. You do not need to have expertise in all of the disciplines my work crosses – simply experience of enough areas and willingness to develop an interest in the others.

Clinical academic training

I specifically support clinical academic training in Medical Virology, but I am happy to speak to (human) clinicians looking for opportunities anywhere in infection, and can do my best to direct you appropriately. For this to be applicable, you will need to be eligible to work as a medical doctor in the United Kingdom (registered with the General Medical Council with a licence to practise).