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University of Liverpool
Research excellence
As one of the founding members of the prestigious Russell Group of research-led UK Universities, the University of Liverpool is a research focused and research intensive institution. Associated with 9 Nobel Prize winners, we are a global university with strategic collaborations and pioneering partnerships with research institutes, universities, governments and organisations across the world. These partnerships create a platform for research and teaching that brings together some of the greatest minds in the world to tackle some of the toughest challenges affecting our planet and society, to help improve lives worldwide.
At Liverpool, we offer our postgraduate researchers the opportunity to work with internationally recognised and renowned experts and research groups. Increasingly our research activity involves innovative and pioneering collaboration across subject specialisms as well as our collaborations with external national and international partner institutions. Our external partners provide us with an increased range of facilities and resources and ensure our postgraduate researchers are involved in cutting-edge developments in their fields.
Our research power has been ranked 20th in the UK’s most recent 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF). Seven subjects are ranked in the Top 10 for 3* and 4* research excellence: Chemistry (2nd), Computer Science (1st) General Engineering (5th), Archaeology (5th), Agriculture, Veterinary & Food Science (8th), Architecture (9th), and English (10th).
81% of the University’s research is ranked in the highest categories of 4* (world-leading) and 3* (internationally excellent). 90% of the University’s research impact is considered ‘outstanding’ or ‘very considerable’ and makes an enormous contribution to society.
To find out more about postgraduate research at the University of Liverpool, please visit: www.liverpool.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/
Liverpool Doctoral College
Led by the Liverpool Doctoral College (LDC), postgraduate researchers are involved in cutting-edge developments in their fields and benefit from transformational training and development tailored to their needs. We offer unlimited potential for postgraduate researchers at all stages of their career and in many areas and disciplines, to become part of an institution that is renowned for maintaining the very best pioneering research. We attract exceptional students from across the world, who are keen to become active members of our thriving and vibrant LDC research community and study at the heart of world-leading research.
The University of Liverpool is recognised by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) as having one of England’s highest success rates in supervising students through to their doctoral award.
To find out more about the Liverpool Doctoral College please visit: www.liverpool.ac.uk/doctoral-college
Meet us
We appreciate that making the right decision about postgraduate study requires extensive research. Choosing the right university and PhD is key.
You can get the answers to your questions and chat to our staff and students about your options. Find out more by visiting: www.liverpool.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/meet-us
Academic Units
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Ishwar Singh)Chemical and Biological studies of novel antimicrobials
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof M Rosseinsky)Computational Materials Discovery through Crystal Structure Prediction
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof Roman Boulatov)Computational polymer mechanochemistry
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof Alex Cowan)Correlative electrochemical microscopy and Raman spectroscopy for dynamic mapping of water oxidation electrodes
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr G Nixon)Design and development of novel SOD1 degraders for the treatment of Motor Neurone Disease
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr John Ward)Design and Synthesis of New Chiral Heterogeneous Photocatalysts for Light-Driven Asymmetric Organocatalysis
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof M Rosseinsky)Discovery of complex intermetallics as advanced magnetic and electrocatalytic materials
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof M Rosseinsky)Discovery of high-temperature superconductors using Deep Learning
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof M J Rosseinsky)Discovery of inorganic lithium solid electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof M Rosseinsky)Discovery of new oxide ceramic materials
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof M Rosseinsky)Experimental discovery of new Inorganic Materials
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof M Rosseinsky)Experimental Discovery of New Inorganic Materials for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Applications
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof M Rosseinsky)Experimental Discovery of New Inorganic Materials with Unique Crystal Structures
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr A Slater)Flow chemistry to control molecular nanotopology
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Lauren McHugh)Formation of Functional Hybrid Glasses for Adsorptive Applications
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof R Raval)Mapping Microbial Cell Interactions on Designer Biomimetic Surfaces
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof Roman Boulatov)Molecular design and syntheses of mechanophores and mechanochemically active polymers.
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof M Rosseinsky)New materials for catalytic conversion of CO2 to chemicals
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof M Rosseinsky)Physical Crystallography and Materials Discovery
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof Roman Boulatov)Physical organic chemistry of mechanochemically active polymers.
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Lauren McHugh)Porous MOF Glass Membranes for Environmental Remediation
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr John Ward)Reaction Optimisation using Intelligent Mobile Robots (collaboration with AstraZeneca)
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof L Hardwick)Redox mediators for long-life lithium-air batteries
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr A Slater)Self-optimising reactors for supramolecular materials discovery
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof J Bower)Sustainable enantioselective C-C cross-couplings: reaction development and applications in synthesis (sponsored by AstraZeneca)
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Martina Manes)Data-driven investigation of fire incidents in residential buildings with new construction techniques
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Davide Dapelo)Lattice-Boltzmann, hydrodynamics/biochemistry coupled models for anaerobic digestion in wastewater treatment
The Department of Earth & Ocean Sciences is one of the top six departments accorded 1- M mainstream status by the University Grants Committee in the 1988 major review of Earth Sciences in British Universities, which means "... departments providing teaching and research in mainstream Earth Sciences, including substantial single honours courses and acting as major equipment centres ", thus attracting more staff and more funds for both research and teaching.
In the 2001 & 1996 Research Assessment Exercises conducted by the University Funding Council, the Department was awarded a Grade-5 rating which means "Research quality that equates to attainable levels of international excellence in some sub-areas of activity and to attainable levels of national excellence in virtually all others" .
In the 1994 Assessment of Quality of Education conducted by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, we were awarded the highest grade "Excellent" which means "Education of a generally very high quality" . It has been ranked among the top 6 UK Geology Departments in The Times 2004 "The Good University Guide"
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Emma Michie)Fault seal potential of heterogeneous sequences for CO2 storage
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Lesleis Nagy)How rusty can a memory be? Understanding the impact of oxidation on palaeomagnetic recorders
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Jamie Wilson)Is ocean circulation the ultimate driver of marine carbon sequestration by biology?
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Valerio Selis)Evaluation of healthcare Internet of Things (IoT) systems to monitor and protect older people via IoT trust.
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr L Bosworth)Investigating the interaction between immune cells and biomaterial scaffolds
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Morag Rose)Disabled people, active travel and climate activism in the UK
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Kasey Clark)Exploring river-induced stagnation as a novel driver of coastal hypoxia in the tropics
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Carmen Cabrera-Arnau)Uncovering the relationship between commuting, mental health and income in the UK and its geographical underpinnings
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Olga Gkountouna)Understanding privacy concerns in the use of location in social media
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Jonathan Hogg)Locating Cold War Imaginaries at York and Dover
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Naoki Koseki)Counting curves on Calabi-Yau 3-folds
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr E Azmoodeh)Forecasting fractional rough volatility: a machine learning approach
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Andreas Alpers)Geometric superpixel clustering and segmentation
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Emily Nixon)Identifying mechanisms and drivers for Nipah virus dynamics in Pteropus bat populations
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Daniel Colquitt)Mathematical modelling of multiscale multiphysics structured interfaces
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Christopher Overton)Modelling drivers of competition and coexistence in evolutionary dynamics – with applications to SARS-CoV-2
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Stewart Haslinger)Modelling Ultrasonic Inspection of Branched Stress Corrosion Cracks using Machine Learning and AI
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof Kate Black)3D printing of next generation heatsinks for the automotive industry (Industry-funded)
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Neale Watson)Understanding the turbulent air environment around hospital helipads for safe air ambulance operations
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof Michael Clague)A new approach to targeting medulloblastoma: combining chemistry with cell biology
Project List:
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof P Weightman)Early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer utilizing an IR fingerprint of exosomes in blood
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Brianna Heazlewood)Examining isotope effects in ion–molecule reactions
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof Andrew Mehta)Leptoquarks at ATLAS Run III
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof Costas Andreopoulos)Quantum Computing for Neutrino Scattering
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr J Coleman)Quantum Technology for Fundamental Physics: the MAGIS and AION experiments, combined with future satellite-based experiments
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof M D'Onofrio)Search for new physics on the FASER experiment at the LHC
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr HR Sharma)Surface Properties of High Entropy Alloys
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr J Alaria)Thin film intermetallic materials for spintronic applications
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Rachel Loopstra)Drivers of Healthy Start uptake across England and Liverpool.
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof John Bridgeman)GREENCDT Analysis and validation of non-Newtonian sludge flows using novel computational fluid dynamics and decomposition techniques
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Dan Faulkner)GREENCDT Evolution of properties of clay and mudstone rocks governing fluid flow in an Excavation Disturbed Zone around a geological disposal site for nuclear waste storage
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Rachel Smedley)GREENCDT Rock erosion during cold climates of the next 1 million years: risk assessment for siting a UK Geological Disposal Facility.
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr W Christian)GREENCDT Structural damage assessment using infrared detectors in fusion environments
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Maulik Patel)GREENCDT Surface modification of alloys to reduce Hydrogen permeability in fusion alloys
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Maulik Patel)GREENCDT Time-Temperature Transformation Phase Diagrams for Developing Advanced Glass Ceramic Nuclear Waste forms
The School of Veterinary Science at Liverpool University is strongly committed to research, and was rated 5 for research excellence in the last research assessment exercise.
The Faculty organises its research by groupings in a number of themes which cross department and faculty boundaries and introduce a broad perspective to research. This fosters a vibrant and productive research environment where individuals can draw on the expertise of colleagues from a variety of fields. The themes are:
• Epidemiology
• Infection Biology
• Animal Molecular Physiology
• Musculoskeletal Systems
• Mammalian Behaviour and Evolution.
In addition to these broad thematic areas individual research groups provide a focus for more specific interest. In 2007, these groups are:
• Epidemiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Parasitology
• Reproduction and Production
• Gastroenterology
• Proteomics and Functional Genomics
• Neurobiology
• Connective Tissue
• Mammalian Behaviour and Evolution.
The Schoolmaintains strong links with other schools and Faculties within the University, including the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and School of Biological Sciences, as well as other national and international institutions.
Support for the School’s research is obtained from a variety of sources, including research councils, DEFRA, animal charities and the pharmaceutical and other industries.
The School is committed to the advancement of learning.
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr S Tew)Characterising novel regulation processes for a structurally important skeletal gene
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr B Wilm)Defining the role of WT1 in cellular and molecular processes during gastrulation, in embryos and gastruloids
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof Claire Eyers)Diversifying the histone code: defining the role of non-canonical phosphorylation in chromatin structure
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr L Bonnett)Joint models for longitudinally measured outcomes and non-terminal recurrent event processes – developing a framework
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Louise Roberts)Rockpools or rocking pools? Sensing the vibrations of coastal animals and understanding the potential effects of vibrational noise
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr B Mehdi)Toward Li Metal Battery: Operando Observation on Solid-state Electrolyte and High-Voltage Cathode
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof M Peffers)Defining the Epigenome in Tendon Ageing
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof M Peffers)Identification of the role of small nucleolar RNAs in cartilage ageing
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof M Peffers)Identifying novel SNORD116 targets and signaling pathways
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof M Peffers)Investigating the mechanistic effects of nutraceuticals on myoblast proliferation and differentiation for healthy muscle ageing and improved performance
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr David Wilkinson)Plasminogen-activator inhibitor (PAI-1) in the musculoskeletal system: a key serine proteinase inhibitor regulating joint homeostasis
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Masoud Isanejad)Role of diet to combat Heart Failure and Stroke comorbidities: based on metabolomic approach
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof M Peffers)SnoRNA dysregulation is a driver of chondrocyte ageing and contributes to osteoarthritis
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof Alex German)Studying the effects of a nutritional intervention on inflammageing, health, cognition and physical activity in senior cats
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof M Peffers)The role of the meniscus in osteoarthritis
The Institute of Integrative Biology lies at the heart of a thriving biomedical science campus in Liverpool. Based primarily in the Biosciences Building with additional sites at Leahurst and Ness Gardens, we provide one of the most vibrant and integrated biosciences environments in the UK. The Institute comprises 220 staff (including 75 Principal Investigators) and 150 postgraduate students. With a research income of ~£9.5m annually, our scientists deliver ground-breaking research within four key research themes.
We have established world-class research facilities that support scientists across all four research themes. The facilities include the Centre for Genomic Research, the GeneMill Synthetic Biology Laboratory, the Centre for Proteome Research, the Centre for Computational Biology and Modelling, the Centre for Cell Imaging, NMR Centre for Structural Biology, the Barkla X-laboratory of Biophysics and the Henry Wellcome Laboratory of Mammalian Behaviour and Evolution.
Through our research partnerships with companies such as Unilever and AstraZeneca, strong global links into major research enterprises in Japan, Brazil, USA and China and our scientific outreach, we are having true impact across the world. Our staff deliver on research and provide research-led undergraduate teaching. Our postgraduate students enjoy a first class experience with strong supervision and mentorship in an exciting research environment. Our Athena Swan Silver Award is evidence of our full commitment to providing opportunities for development to all our staff, regardless of background or gender. We hope to welcome you as a member of staff, a student or a partner in our vision for biology with impact, from genes to ecosystems.
Students are offered a comprehensive programme of training and support by Liverpool Doctoral College as well as the Institute, and also project specific training. Applications are invited for studentships funded by BBSRC, NERC, MRC and others. We also welcome self-funded students.
Full details of available projects are on the Institute’s Home Page (http://www.liv.ac.uk/integrative-biology/). Applications are by email, indicating the project(s) of interest (and supervisors) in priority order, giving the reasons for this, together with a c.v. including the names and contact details (e-mail) of two academic referees. This should be sent to: Mrs. Bernie King, Institute of Integrative Biology, Bioscience Building, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZB (email: iibapply@liv.ac.uk). Please indicate where you first saw this project advertised.
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr J Hartwell)Engineering more water-use efficient crops: functional genomics of CO2 fixation during Crassulacean acid metabolism
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Riccardo Proietti)Assessment of the stiffness of the aortic wall by Pulse Wave Velocity to predict risk of thoracic aortic aneurysm among hypertensive patients: The T-watch study
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Sunil Logantha)Cellular and molecular markers of atrial fibrillation in patients with thyroid dysfunction.
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Karl Bates)Investigating the effects of a training aid on golf putting mechanics
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Freddy Frost)ITCH-CF: Investigating The Cardiovascular Health of people living with Cystic Fibrosis in the CFTR modulator era
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr P Sharma)Mechanistic understanding of how Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver disease (NAFLD) can lead to cardiovascular dysfunction using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) derived cardiomyocytes and hepatocytes.
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Karl Bates)Modern human variation as a model for locomotor evolution in ancestral hominins
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Masoud Isanejad)Nutrition and Exercise Human Clinical Trial for common older age conditions, including Physical Function, Sarcopenia and Frailty, Dementia, Cognitive Impairment, and cardiovascular disease
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Sunil Logantha)Thyroid hormone regulation of heart rate and cardiac function.
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Tao You)A systems biology analysis of thioredoxin reductase inhibition to support discovery of a novel antifungal treatment
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof LG Yu)Developing new cancer therapeutic agents from foodstuff: characterizing galectin interaction with novel inhibitors
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof R Goodacre)Development of in situ Raman spectroscopy methods and instrumentation for monitoring industrial bioprocesses
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr P Sharma)Do mutation in Sirt6 hold secrets to longevity? Epigenetic mechanisms of patient derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) differentiation into cardiomyocytes.
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr B Wilm)Modelling scar formation in endometriosis
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr David Dickens)Molecular characterisation of a novel transporter for the atypical antipsychotic clozapine
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof LG Yu)Molecular characterization of galectin-ligand interactions in cancer and beyond
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr A Kanhere)Novel non-coding RNAs in regulating cancer epigenome
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Tao You)Personalising cancer treatment with modelling tumour evolution based on genomics biomarkers and PK/PD
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof J Y Goulermas)Discovery of new materials for applications on glass using Deep Machine Learning and Data Analytics
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Rathish Das)Efficient use of shared memory in multiprocessor systems
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Qiyi Tang)Towards safe recurrent neural networks via model checking its interpretable structure
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Louwe Kuijer)Using hybrid protocols for fast and reliable peer-to-peer communication
At Liverpool we are passionate about quality in both our teaching and research, and this is reflected in our 'vision',
"To be an acknowledged centre for international-level research in a range of 21st century engineering disciplines and an innovative higher education centre whose programmes attract students from all over the world."
The School of Engineering is highly active in research, many of its activities earning the highest 5 and 5* grades in the recent 2001 research assessment exercise (RAE). The School offers a comprehensive selection of programmes in a wide range of engineering subjects including Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Civil Engineering, Materials Science, Engineering, Engineering Product Design and Engineering Applications of Lasers.
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof Raechelle D'Sa)Additive manufacturing of biodegradable drug delivery implants
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Hyung-Joon Seo)Development of HBMIM model for 3D automatic monitoring of heritage building
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof Raechelle D'Sa)Engineered nanomaterials for water purification and decontamination
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Stefania Soldini)Post-Impact Ejecta Dynamics in Binary Asteroids