PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

We have 3,657 PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

Smart, responsive biomaterials for infection-resistant medical devices

A major problem associated with medical devices is infection. With infection rates of approaching 100% in some devices, ways to prevent formation of bacterial biofilm on medical device surfaces are urgently required. Read more

Supervisors: Prof C McCoy, Dr M Wylie

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

More details

Structure-based design of allosteric modulators for G protein-coupled receptors using molecular modelling and pharmacology experiments

Queen’s University Belfast

School of Pharmacy

Almost all physiological processes are regulated through the activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). It has become widely accepted that most GPCRs possess binding sites spatially distinct from their natural ligand binding site (orthosteric site), termed as allosteric sites. Read more

Supervisor: Dr I Tikhonova

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

More details

Sustained Release of Eutectic systems composed of Local Anaesthetics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents from biodegradable electrospun mats to Enhance Post-Surgical Recovery

Queen’s University Belfast

School of Pharmacy

Major abdominal surgery is a metabolically and psychologically significant event associated with prolonged recovery and convalescence. Read more

Supervisor: Prof D Jones

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

More details

Transforming Drug Delivery: AI and Machine Learning in Design, Optimization, and Personalization

Queen’s University Belfast

School of Pharmacy

This research explores the transformative role of digital technologies, particularly machine learning, microfluidics, and bioprinting, in advancing pharmaceutical design and therapeutic delivery. Read more

Supervisor: Prof D Lamprou

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

More details

VAPShield: Development of next-generation endotracheal tube materials for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia

Queen’s University Belfast

School of Pharmacy

Critically ill patients often depend on life-saving devices such as breathing tubes, called endotracheal. tubes (ETTs), to help them breathe when they cannot do so on their own. Read more

Supervisors: Dr M Wylie, Prof C McCoy

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

More details

Next-Generation High-level Disinfectants: Targeting Bacterial Persistence on Medical Surfaces

Queen’s University Belfast

School of Pharmacy

This PhD project explores the development and mechanistic evaluation of advanced disinfection technologies targeting bacterial spores and biofilm-forming pathogens on hard surfaces and medical devices. Read more

Supervisors: Dr M Wylie, Prof C McCoy

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

More details

Next-Gen Drug Delivery: Microfluidic Encapsulation of Biologics into Smart Nanocarriers

Queen’s University Belfast

School of Pharmacy

Provide a brief description of the project. Progress in drug design has led to the development of new peptides, proteins, and drug molecules. Read more

Supervisor: Prof D Lamprou

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

More details

Multipurpose gel formulations containing antiretroviral-loaded lactoferrin nanoparticles and antibiotics for combination HIV prevention and treatment of bacterial vaginosis

Queen’s University Belfast

School of Pharmacy

Summary descriptive text / Example of research project . Lactoferrin . Lactoferrin is a multifunctional globular protein. Read more

Supervisors: Dr S Carmali, Prof K Malcolm

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

More details

Microfluidic Encapsulation of biologics into Nanomedicines

Queen’s University Belfast

School of Pharmacy

Progress in drug design has led to the development of new peptides, proteins, and drug molecules. However, the limited ability to deliver selectively these molecules at well-defined dosing regimens and without invoking drug-resistance remains a significant challenge. Read more

Supervisor: Prof D Lamprou

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

More details

Medicines optimisation in palliative and end of life care

Queen’s University Belfast

School of Pharmacy

Research Group: Healthcare delivery and medicines optimisation

Medicines optimisation at the end of life is essential in palliative and end of life care, where the priority shifts from disease treatment to enhancing quality of life and minimising harm. Read more

Supervisor: Dr C Parsons

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

More details

Investigating Non-thermal ‘Cold’ Plasmas for Enhancing the Delivery and Efficacy of Antibiotics and Complex molecules to biofilms of clinically relevant bacteria

Queen’s University Belfast

School of Pharmacy

Research Group: Infection and antimicrobial resistance

Biofilms, complex multi-species consortia of microorganisms existing either as surface attached communities or non-surface-attached aggregates, are characterised by significantly elevated tolerance to antimicrobial challenges and often an inability to adequately treat the infection with conventional antibiotics. Read more

Supervisors: Prof B Gilmore, Dr T Thompson

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

More details

Infection-responsive coatings for the prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infections

Queen’s University Belfast

School of Pharmacy

Medical care has transformed over the last century with significant improvements in the variety and extent to which various diseases can be treated and/or prevented. Read more

Supervisor: Dr M Wylie

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

More details

Formulation of hybrid peptide-lipid nanoparticle formulations for targeted nucleic acid delivery

Queen’s University Belfast

School of Pharmacy

The project aims to develop next-generation delivery systems that combine the structural advantages of lipid nanoparticles with the targeting and membrane-translocating properties of peptides. Read more

Supervisors: Dr E McErlean, Dr V Kett

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

More details

Elucidating novel anti-cancer drug responses in advanced ovarian cancer

Queen’s University Belfast

School of Pharmacy

Ovarian cancer is one of the most lethal gynaecological malignancies, often diagnosed at advanced stages due to non-specific symptoms and a lack of early detection methods. Read more

Supervisor: Dr F Furlong

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

More details

PhD in Enhancing next generation Li-ion prototypes

University of Warwick

WMG

Research Group: Battery Research Materials and Cells (BMAC)

The PhD project will focus on the development and characterization of next generation Li-ion battery prototypes using the WMG pilot line facilities for… Read more

Supervisor: Prof LP Piper

1 October 2026 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

More details

Development of silicone-based personal lubricant products containing antiretroviral drugs for prevention of sexual acquisition of HIV infection

Queen’s University Belfast

School of Pharmacy

Three drug products are now available to prevent HIV prevention: . Truvada®/ Descovy®—daily oral pills containing the antiretroviral drugs emtricitabine and tenofovir . Read more

Supervisor: Prof K Malcolm

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

More details

Development of dual-functional antibacterial and antifungal polymers to prevent medical device-associated infections

Queen’s University Belfast

School of Pharmacy

Medical device-related fungal infections caused by Candida spp., e.g., in urinary catheters, account for 17.8% of catheter-associated urinary tract infections, posing significant health risks, especially in individuals with compromised immunity. Read more

Supervisor: Dr SZ Zhang

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

More details

Developing novel therapeutic strategies to better treat Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Queen’s University Belfast

School of Pharmacy

One in two people will develop cancer in their lifetime and it is a leading cause of death. While significant progress has been made in the treatment of some cancers, there still remain some forms of the disease with limited treatment options and poor outcome. Read more

Supervisor: Dr N Buckley

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

More details

Developing cost-effective and eco-friendly antiviral nano-agents

Queen’s University Belfast

School of Pharmacy

Humans have been fighting viruses throughout history, from smallpox, Ebola, HIV to SARS, MERS and Zika, which have costed billions of lives and made severe socio-economic impacts irreversibly. Read more

Supervisor: Dr YG Ge

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

More details

Developing and characterising novel targeted nanocomposites serving as adjuvants to existing standard-of-care cancer treatments

Queen’s University Belfast

School of Pharmacy

One in two cancer patients will receive radiotherapy as part of their standard-of-care treatment. For patients with a localised cancer diagnosis effective radiotherapy represents the best chance for a curative outcome but is not without risk. Read more

Supervisor: Dr J Coulter

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

More details

Design and Evaluation of an eye-on-a-chip Microfluidic Device

Queen’s University Belfast

School of Pharmacy

With the increasing prevalence of debilitating eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and dry-eye syndromes, there is a pressing need for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Read more

Supervisor: Prof D Lamprou

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

More details

Biomaterial coatings with lubricious, slippery coatings for improved urinary catheter performance

Queen’s University Belfast

School of Pharmacy

Intermittent urinary catheterisation is commonly used to address chronic urinary retention in patients suffering from conditions such as spinal cord injury, stroke, and multiple sclerosis. Read more

Supervisor: Dr M Wylie

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

More details

Bioactive, biodegradable coatings for urinary medical devices

Queen’s University Belfast

School of Pharmacy

The incidence of infection associated with indwelling medical devices is considerable and increases with the dwell time and location of the device. … Read more

Supervisor: Prof D Jones

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

More details

Bacteriophage-derived antimicrobial proteins

Queen’s University Belfast

School of Pharmacy

Antimicrobial resistance is a global health challenge and there is an urgent need for precision antimicrobials that can eradicate pathogens and biofilms without driving broad-spectrum resistance. Read more

Supervisors: Dr T Skvortsov, Dr S Carmali

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

More details

A novel top-down approach to produce super small drug nanocrystals to target intracellular organelles

Queen’s University Belfast

School of Pharmacy

Would you like to join a highly dynamic, international research group to develop super small drug nanocrystals (NCs)? In this project, you will develop drug NCs of ~100 nm to target intracellular organelles. Read more

Supervisor: Dr A Paredes

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

More details

4D printed Biomaterials in cancer therapeutics

Queen’s University Belfast

School of Pharmacy

According to WHO, cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, with nearly 1 in 6 deaths been due to cancer. The principal modes of cancer management are surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and pharmaceutical agents. Read more

Supervisor: Prof D Lamprou

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

More details

Structure - response in liposomal design

Queen’s University Belfast

School of Pharmacy

Provide a brief description of the project. Lipid-based drug delivery systems offer tremendous potential for addressing unmet medical needs, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and infectious diseases. Read more

Supervisor: Dr J Tian

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

More details

Peptide hydrogels as a long-acting multipurpose drug delivery platform for combined contraception and HIV prevention

Queen’s University Belfast

School of Pharmacy

Provide a brief description of the project. HIV in women, girls and mother-to-child transmission in pregnancy remain a significant source of new infections and the needs of females are inadequately addressed. Read more

Supervisor: Dr G Laverty

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

More details

Peptide-like hydrogels: A post-surgical sustained release drug delivery implant for the treatment of glioblastoma brain tumours

Queen’s University Belfast

School of Pharmacy

Provide a brief description of the project. Glioblastoma is the most aggressive and malignant form of brain tumour with ~3,200 new cases annually within the UK and a median survival of 15 months. Read more

Supervisors: Dr G Laverty, Prof K Malcolm

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

More details

Understanding how Li-ion cell failure affects battery system design

University of Warwick

WMG

Research Group: Battery Systems

There exists an inherent variability in how lithium-ion batteries fail – an event commonly referred to as “thermal runway”. This uncertainty drives additional cost and complexity into the design and validation methods employed for battery systems created for electric vehicles, aerospace or stationary storage. Read more

Supervisors: Prof J Marco, Assoc Prof TV Vincent

1 October 2026 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

More details

We have 3,657 PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

We have 3,657 PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

Smart, responsive biomaterials for infection-resistant medical devices

Structure-based design of allosteric modulators for G protein-coupled receptors using molecular modelling and pharmacology experiments

Sustained Release of Eutectic systems composed of Local Anaesthetics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents from biodegradable electrospun mats to Enhance Post-Surgical Recovery

Transforming Drug Delivery: AI and Machine Learning in Design, Optimization, and Personalization

VAPShield: Development of next-generation endotracheal tube materials for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia

Next-Generation High-level Disinfectants: Targeting Bacterial Persistence on Medical Surfaces

Next-Gen Drug Delivery: Microfluidic Encapsulation of Biologics into Smart Nanocarriers

Multipurpose gel formulations containing antiretroviral-loaded lactoferrin nanoparticles and antibiotics for combination HIV prevention and treatment of bacterial vaginosis

Microfluidic Encapsulation of biologics into Nanomedicines

Medicines optimisation in palliative and end of life care

Investigating Non-thermal ‘Cold’ Plasmas for Enhancing the Delivery and Efficacy of Antibiotics and Complex molecules to biofilms of clinically relevant bacteria

Infection-responsive coatings for the prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infections

Formulation of hybrid peptide-lipid nanoparticle formulations for targeted nucleic acid delivery

Elucidating novel anti-cancer drug responses in advanced ovarian cancer

PhD in Enhancing next generation Li-ion prototypes

Development of silicone-based personal lubricant products containing antiretroviral drugs for prevention of sexual acquisition of HIV infection

Development of dual-functional antibacterial and antifungal polymers to prevent medical device-associated infections

Developing novel therapeutic strategies to better treat Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Developing cost-effective and eco-friendly antiviral nano-agents

Developing and characterising novel targeted nanocomposites serving as adjuvants to existing standard-of-care cancer treatments

Design and Evaluation of an eye-on-a-chip Microfluidic Device

Biomaterial coatings with lubricious, slippery coatings for improved urinary catheter performance

Bioactive, biodegradable coatings for urinary medical devices

Bacteriophage-derived antimicrobial proteins

A novel top-down approach to produce super small drug nanocrystals to target intracellular organelles

4D printed Biomaterials in cancer therapeutics

Structure - response in liposomal design

Peptide hydrogels as a long-acting multipurpose drug delivery platform for combined contraception and HIV prevention

Peptide-like hydrogels: A post-surgical sustained release drug delivery implant for the treatment of glioblastoma brain tumours

Understanding how Li-ion cell failure affects battery system design

Select your nearest city

Do you want hassle-free information and advice?

Sign in to view and filter all scholarship opportunities