Molecular Biology (information studies) PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

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

The School of Molecular and Cellular Biology invites applications from prospective postgraduate researchers who wish to commence study for a PhD in the academic year 2024/25. Read more

Supervisor: Dr A Garvin

Cardiac and skeletal muscle progenitor cells - driving regeneration ability by tryptophan metabolites

Supervisors: Dr A.J. Smith, Dr T.S. Bowen

The School of Biomedical Sciences invites applications from prospective postgraduate researchers who wish to commence study for a PhD in the academic year 2024/25. Read more

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

Pharmacology of ion channels in human genetic disorders

Supervisors: Dr J D Lippiat, Dr S Clapcote, Dr K Simmons, Dr S Muench

The School of Biomedical Sciences invites applications from prospective postgraduate researchers who wish to commence study for a PhD in the academic year 2024/25. Read more

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

How does the E5 oncoprotein contribute to human papillomavirus replication and disease?

Supervisors: Dr A Macdonald, Prof A Whitehouse

The School of Molecular and Cellular Biology invites applications from prospective postgraduate researchers who wish to commence study for a PhD in the academic year 2024/25. Read more

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

Manipulation of neuroimmune responses and behaviour by infectious agents

Supervisors: Dr G Mcconkey, Dr S Clapcote

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

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

Broadening the spectrum of antibacterial drugs to tackle multi-drug resistant Gram-negative pathogens

Supervisors: Prof A O'Neill, Dr M McPhillie, Prof C Fishwick

Research Group: Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology

Antibiotics make possible the treatment and cure of life-threatening bacterial infections and have added over a decade to average human lifespan. Read more

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

Towards new antibacterial drugs to treat infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria: identification and characterization of novel natural product antibiotics

Supervisor: Prof A O'Neill

Antibiotics make possible the treatment and cure of life-threatening bacterial infections and have added over a decade to the average human lifespan. Read more

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

Ageing to Arrhythmias

Supervisors: Dr M K Lancaster, Dr M.A. Colman

Cardiac arrhythmias are a leading cause of sudden death and morbidity. This project aims to identify why they occur in the elderly and novel routes to therapies. Read more

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

University of Bristol School of Biochemistry

Self-funded PhD- Understanding the molecular mechanism of a bacterial genome defence system and its synergy with CRISPR-Cas

Prokaryotes have evolved over billions of years alongside their viruses, the bacteriophages, or “phages”. To prevent viral infection, prokaryotes have evolved rudimentary immune mechanisms, the most widespread and well-studied of which are the Restriction-Modification and the CRISPR-Cas enzymes. Read more

Supervisor: Prof M D Szczelkun

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

University of Bristol School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience

MScR: Involvement of astrocytes in neurological manifestations of Long COVID syndrome

A significant fraction of patients affected by Long COVID, long-term consequences following acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, suffer from mental fatigue and cognitive deficits (1-3). Read more

Supervisor: Prof A Teschemacher

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

University of Liverpool Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology

Biological pathways supporting the formation and function of chromatin (Scholarship)

Every cell in our body contains the same DNA yet each cell expresses a different set of genes. These changes in gene expression are heavily influenced by histone proteins, their role in packaging DNA into chromatin and the “epigenetic” information they carry. Read more

Supervisor: Dr CM Hammond

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

Cancer: Understanding the immunosuppressive role of fibroblast and macrophages in Breast cancer

Supervisors: Dr F Errington-Mais, Dr V Jennings

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) preferentially infect and kill cancer cells, and their clinical efficacy has been demonstrated against a number of different cancers. The most clinically advanced OV is a genetically engineered herpes simplex virus (T-VEC) which expresses GMCSF to aid the development of anti-tumour immune responses; T-VEC is approved for the treatment of metastatic melanoma. Read more

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

Semmelweis University Budapest Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy

Identification of novel inflammatory mechanisms as potential therapeutic targets in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases

The prognosis of chronic heart failure resulting from a heart attack is very poor, even with modern therapeutic devices and drugs, about half of the patients die within 5 years of diagnosis. Read more

Supervisor: Dr Z Varga

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

Semmelweis University Budapest Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy

Finding new targets for treating gut inflammation

The gastrointestinal (GI) mucosa is constantly exposed to a wide variety of luminal aggressors, including gastric acid, pepsin, bile acids and bacterial components. Read more

Supervisor: Dr Z Zádori

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (European/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)

Newcastle University School of Natural and Environmental Sciences

PhD Studentship: Polyoxoniobates for Catalysis in Green Chemical Processes

Award summary . 100% fees covered, and a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £19,237 (2024/25 UKRI rate). The studentship includes attendance at international conferences and annual placements at Mitsubishi Chemical UK, Wilton. . Read more

Supervisor: Dr R.J. Errington

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

Newcastle University Biosciences Institute

PhD studentship - Defining the mechanisms underpinning HIF-1 and HIF-2 dependent transcriptional specificity in hypoxia.

Award summary. 100% of home tuition fees paid and annual living expenses of £18,622. Overview. The cellular response to low oxygen levels (hypoxia), is crucial for cell survival and identity. Read more

Supervisor: Dr B Ortmann

14 June 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

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

University of Nottingham School of Life Sciences

Last chance to apply

Exploring the multi-organ benefits of Rapamune in relation to ageing physiology

PhD Description. Drug repurposing is an emerging avenue of research in the field of Geroscience; a field whose stated aim is to “accelerate research into the basic mechanisms driving ageing which could lead to improved clinical interventions”. Read more

Supervisor: Prof P Atherton

22 April 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

University of Edinburgh School of Biological Sciences

Last chance to apply

Sustainable bio-hydrogen production via engineered microbial metabolism (4-year fully funded PhD studentship with Dstl)

Research Group: Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology

Background and the project. In 2022, carbon emissions from the chemical industry peaked at 935 M ton, making this industry the third largest sector by emissions and responsible for 2.5% of total greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Read more

Supervisor: Prof S Wallace

22 April 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (UK 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)

Cardiff University Cardiff School of Biosciences

Eliminating Harmful Cells to Maintain Homeostatis and Prevent Tumorigenesis

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

Supervisors: Dr F Hamaratoglu, Dr C Hogan

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

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 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)

The University of Manchester Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

Last chance to apply

Repurposing Treg cells for TIL therapy

Tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) therapy is an experimental therapy which uses ex-vivo expanded TIL as a source of living drug to treat cancer. Read more

Supervisors: Dr A Hurlstone, Prof M Travis, Prof R Edmondson, Prof F Thistlethwaite

19 April 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)