Bioinformatics (information studies) PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

University of Leeds Faculty of Biological Sciences

Control and inhibition of virus replication

The Tuplin laboratory utilises a range of cutting-edge approaches to investigate how arboviruses - specifically Chikungunya, Dengue and Zika viruses - control replication and translation of their genomes through interactions between RNA structures, host cell proteins and non-coding RNA, and the potential of such RNA elements/interactions as novel therapeutic targets. Read more

Supervisor: Dr A.K Tuplin

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

University of Leeds Faculty of Biological Sciences

Machine Learning and Molecular Modelling in Mass Spectrometry

This PhD project will harness the power of computational modelling and machine learning (A.I.) to analyse data obtained by mass spectrometry experiments and predict structural characteristics of biomolecules and their interactions. Read more

Supervisors: Prof F. Sobott, Dr A Kalli, Dr H Wang

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

University of Leeds Faculty of Biological Sciences

Manipulation of neuroimmune responses and behaviour by infectious agents

This project is available exclusively to self-funded students who wish to commence study for a PhD in the academic year 2023/24. The project focuses on how infectious agents modify the individuals that they infect and how neuroimmune responses to infection moderate behaviour changes in warm-blooded animals and humans. Read more

Supervisors: Dr G Mcconkey, Dr S Clapcote

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

University of Bristol School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience

MScR - Computational modelling to investigate the role of membrane microdomains in cell signalling

The dynamic organization of the plasma membrane into specialized cholesterol-rich microdomains plays a crucial role in cellular signalling and the regulation of various biological processes. Read more

Supervisor: Dr RC Corey

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

Cancer: Characterization of EGFR signaling activated by the endothelium in the process of breast cancer metastasis to the brain

Supervisors: Dr G Mavria, Dr S Bell

The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is important in normal physiology regulating epithelial development and homeostasis. In cancer, deregulation resulting from mutation, amplification or transcriptional upregulation promotes tumorigenesis. Read more

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

Haematology: Oncogenic reprogramming of immune cells; novel mechanism for drug resistance in leukaemia

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

Under pathogenic challenges, cells of the haematopoietic system become epigenetically reprogrammed and establish immune memory. Read more

Supervisor: Dr P Laslo

Clinical Gastroenterology: Investigation of Fidaxomicin Resistance Mechanisms in Clostridium difficile

Supervisors: Prof M Wilcox, Prof A O'Neill, Dr J Freeman, Dr I Moura

Clostridium difficile is a leading pathogen in healthcare-associated diarrheal infections. C. difficile has a plastic genome with multiple mobile genetic elements and recognized capacity to acquire genes involved in resistance and virulence. Read more

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

Cancer: Repurposing drugs as new treatments for breast cancer

Supervisors: Dr L Matthews, Dr P Meakin

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer, with over 1 million new cases diagnosed worldwide each year. For some types of BC, hormonal treatments have been very effective but one particular BC subtype, triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), is highly aggressive and lacks a targeted therapy. Read more

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

Cancer: Inhibiting cell metabolism to enhance tumour cell death

Supervisors: Dr S Papa, Dr R Tooze

All the cells in our bodies are programmed to die. As they get older, our cells accumulate toxic molecules that make them sick. In response, they eventually break down and die, clearing the way for new, healthy cells to grow. Read more

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

University of Bristol Bristol Medical School

Discovering off-target side-effects and drug repurposing candidates using expression perturbation data

The MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol is the leading group for the development and application of causal analysis and evidence triangulation in health research to improve lives. Read more

Supervisor: Prof T Gaunt

20 May 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

The University of Manchester Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

(MRC DTP CASE) Determination of the role of viruses in the microbiome of biofilms formed in the ear of patients with otitis media

Otitis media (OM) is a very common infection of the middle ear characterised by redness, swelling and build-up of fluid behind the eardrum. Read more

Supervisors: Prof P Vallely, Prof P Klapper, Prof S Lovell, Mrs JN Nichani

13 May 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

King’s College London Department of Surgical & Interventional Engineering

Full scholarship at EPSRC CDT in Advanced Engineering for Personalised Surgery & Intervention

Surgery is recognised as an “indivisible, indispensable part of health care” but the NHS struggles to meet its rising demand. Read more

Funded PhD Programme (Students Worldwide) EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training

Cardiff University Cardiff School of Medicine

The role of extracellular vesicles and intercellular signalling in inherited kidney cancer

This is a Self-Funded/Sponsored PhD opportunity. FUNDING REQUIRED. Full UK/EU or International Tuition Fees. UK Living Expenses. Bench Fees (£60,000 total). Read more

Supervisor: Dr E Dunlop

31 May 2024 PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Durham University Department of Biosciences

Genetics of flowering shoot temperature responses in plants

The shape of plants is shaped by both genetics and environment; changes in response to temperature can be the most dramatic of all. Read more

Supervisor: Dr J Hepworth

3 May 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

Eliminating Harmful Cells to Maintain Homeostatis and Prevent Tumorigenesis

Supervisors: Dr F Hamaratoglu, Dr C Hogan

Hamaratoglu Lab studies cell-cell signalling in development, homeostasis and tumourigenesis. We take advantage of outstanding genetic tools in Drosophila, and use larval imaginal discs as model epithelial organs. Read more

8 May 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

NIHR Leeds BRC: The role of target organs in initiation of autoimmunity in systemic lupus erythematosus

26 May 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

Autoimmune diseases such as SLE have traditionally been understood to result from aberrant haematopoietic adaptive immune system that targets normal tissues such as the skin and joints. Read more

Supervisor: Dr E Vital

NIHR Leeds BRC: Pre-clinical evaluation of novel regenerative medicine strategies for knee osteoarthritis

Supervisors: Prof H Pandit, Prof D McGonagle

Historically, articular cartilage was considered incapable of spontaneous repair. However, biomechanical correction in osteoarthritis (OA) using high tibial osteotomy or joint distraction demonstrated the remarkable joint to regeneration by “merely” correcting joint alignment. Read more

26 May 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

INRAE Inrae - Paris-Saclay Food and Bioproduct Engineering Research Unit

FAIROmics - PhD fellowship in Food Microbiology - Omics-driven investigation of unique features of olive fermentation isolates beneficial for plant fermentation with probiotic properties.

About the Project. Plant-based dairy and meat alternatives have grown in popularity in recent years for various reasons, including sustainability and health benefits, as well as lifestyle trends and dietary restrictions. Read more

Supervisors: Dr KA Karatzas, Dr MWB Wells-Bennik, Dr MD Dasenaki, Prof VV Valdramidis

15 May 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Maastricht University Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM)

In Silico targeting of unstructured extracellular histones: En route to a new horizon of drug discovery to target disordered proteins) – second call for applications

Applications can only be submitted via our website. The specific position for Doctoral Candidate 6 (DC6) in the consortium, which is part of Work Package 2 (WP2), aims. Read more

Supervisor: Dr G Nicolaes

30 April 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

INRAE Inrae - Paris-Saclay Food and Bioproduct Engineering Research Unit

FAIROmics - PhD fellowship in applied mathematics - Optimal Transportation to improve databases integration.

About the Project. Plant-based dairy and meat alternatives have grown in popularity in recent years for various reasons, including sustainability and health benefits, as well as lifestyle trends and dietary restrictions. Read more

Supervisors: Dr SD Déjean, Dr PSP Saint-Pierre, Dr NS Savy, Prof DR Remondini, Dr EG Giampieri

15 May 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

INRAE Inrae - Paris-Saclay Food and Bioproduct Engineering Research Unit

FAIROmics - PhD fellowship in plant-based food fermentation genomics.

About the Project. Plant-based dairy and meat alternatives have grown in popularity in recent years for various reasons, including sustainability and health benefits, as well as lifestyle trends and dietary restrictions. Read more

Supervisors: Dr MWB Wells-Bennik, Dr HB Bachmann, Dr EH Hester, Prof M Zwietering, Prof VV Valdramidis, Dr MD Dasenaki, Dr KA Karatzas

15 May 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

University of Reading Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Accelerating molecular phylogenetic inference using high performance computing.

Project Overview. Molecular phylogenetic inference, constructing evolutionary histories from molecular data, is an activity universal to all biological disciplines. Read more

Supervisor: Dr A Meade

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

University of Dundee School of Life Sciences

Expanding the ligandable E3 ubiquitin ligases for targeted protein degradation

Out of more than 600 E3 ubiquitin ligases in cells, currently only a handful have small molecule binders that can be used for PROteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) and harnessed for targeted protein degradation. Read more

Supervisors: Prof G Sapkota, Dr S Virdee

30 June 2024 PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

The University of Manchester Department of Computer Science

Interpretable machine learning to identify biomarkers from multi-omics data of human cancer

This project aims to address the critical field of cancer research, a leading cause of death globally. Read more

Supervisor: Dr H Zhou

Year round applications PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Short and long-distance communication in cancer: Feedback regulation of Ras signalling in tumourigenesis and cachexia

Supervisors: Dr F Hamaratoglu, Dr C Hogan

Hamaratoglu Lab studies cell-cell signalling in development and tumourigenesis. We take advantage of outstanding genetic tools in Drosophila, and use larval imaginal discs as model epithelial organs. Read more

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

University of Birmingham School of Biosciences

Analysis of pathogen determinants recognized by the hypervariable immune receptor Dscam

Background. To mount an immune response, host organisms must first recognize the pathogen with which they are infected. The first line of defense against pathogen infection in animals is provided through the innate immune response. Read more

Supervisor: Dr M Soller

Year round applications PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Max Planck Society International Max Planck Research School for Molecular Organ Biology

10+ fully funded PhD positions at the IMPRS for Molecular Organ Biology

10+ fully funded PhD positions at the IMPRS for Molecular Organ Biology. PhD Studies in the Heart of Europe. The International Max Planck Research School for Molecular Organ Biology (IMPRS-MOB) offers fully funded positions to talented and enthusiastic students holding a relevant Master‘s degree. Read more

Funded PhD Programme (Students Worldwide) Germany PhD Programme Max Planck Research Programme

Improvements of asparaginase-based treatment for Childhood ALL

Supervisors: Dr O V Gerasimenko, Dr J Gerasimenko

Project Description. Most popular current treatments for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in clinic are based on asparaginase (Raja et al 2012). Read more

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

Molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-atherogenic actions of natural products

Supervisors: Dr D Ramji, Dr T Hughes

Atherosclerosis, the underlying cause of myocardial infarction, stroke and peripheral vascular disease, is responsible for most deaths in the western world with mortality increasing at a marked rate in developing. Read more

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