PhD Opportunities in the Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing

PhD candidate applications are sought to a number of disciplines within the Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing at the University of Sunderland. Applicants should be self-funded and ideally wish to study full-time.

The Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing has benefited from multi-million pound investment over the last six years in both working environment and infrastructure to support teaching and research activity, more information on the Faculty can be found here.

We can provide an excellent research environment within a vibrant setting, with supervision and mentoring from leading academics. In addition, you will have opportunities to develop your research with established partners in academia, the pharmaceutical industry and allied healthcare related sectors.

Currently, we have a number of PhD research proposals within the Faculty and including:

Pharmaceutical Sciences

• New tools for the diagnosis of pathogenic bacterial infections, Dr. Mark Gray, Dr. Callum Cooper, Dr. Stephanie Myers
• Development of chemical agents to synthesise insulin-producing pancreatic β-cells, Dr. Amit Nathubhai
• Development of a novel anti-Ran-GTPase peptide nanoparticles for blockade of regulator of chromosome condensation 1 (RCC1) function in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells: A novel approach for anti-metastatic therapies, Dr. Ahmed Faheem & Prof. Amal Ali Elkordy

Psychology

• Using a social identity approach to impact place-related behaviours, Dr. Stephanie Wilkie

Cancer Cell Biology

• The Role of Autophagy in Glioblastoma, Dr. Shafiq Ahmed & Dr. Jane Armstrong

For the following PhD projects, refer to research proposals which are found under the staff profile section titled “Teaching and supervision”, Subsection “Research interests for potential research students”

Molecular/Cellular biology

• New nutritional strategies to modulate postprandial cardiometabolic risk in metabolic disease, Dr. Matthew Campbell

Pharmaceutics

• Design of a novel, unique, non-viral vector (cyclodextrin complex based liposomes): A potential approach for gene therapy to treat genetic and acquired diseases, Prof. Amal Ali Elkordy

Also, other opportunities for self-funded applicants are available across all schools within the Faculty:

• School of Medicine
• School of Psychology
• School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
• School of Nursing and Health Sciences 1, 2, 3

However for those opportunities and prior to any application, each candidate should contact a potential supervisor to discuss their research interest and create a research proposal.

Information on PhD study, university fees, entry requirements and making an application can be found here.

Start dates are 1 October, 1 February, and 1 May.

All international students studying at postgraduate level are awarded a £1,500 scholarship in each year of study. You do not have to apply for this scholarship; it is automatically applied to reduce your total annual tuition fee.

PhD Projects