We have 93 Physiology PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

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Physiology PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

We have 93 Physiology PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

A PhD in Physiology will involve in-depth research on aspects that relate to how an organisms function. You could also be looking at how changes in the external environment effect these functions.

What’s it like to do a PhD in Physiology?

Physiology combines new and cutting-edge technology with traditional studies to recognise and research aspects on the whole organism level.

Some popular Physiology research topics are

  • Genomics
  • Informatics
  • Ovarian physiology
  • Skeletal muscle physiology
  • Diabetes
  • Imaging

By the time you finish a PhD in Physiology, you’ll have gained the experience and understanding of physiological systems.

Like most STEM subjects, Physiology PhDs also come attached with a research aim already defined. Be sure to research well into the scope of the project to make sure it aligns with your interests and qualifications.

You’ll usually be asked to submit an 80,000-word thesis to be defended during an oral viva examination at the end of your PhD.

In the UK, you might be asked to register to an MPhil to begin with. You will be able to upgrade to a PhD after your first year if your supervisor feels your work meets a certain standard.

Entry requirements

You’re required to have a Second-Class Bachelors degree in basic science courses to gain entry into a PhD in Physiology. You might be considered if you have a Lower Second Class degree if you also a Maters with at least a Merit qualification.

Depending on where you study, you might have to submit language test results to show proficiency in the language of instruction at your university.

PhD in Physiology funding options

A PhD in Physiology in the UK is funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) who offer fully-funded studentships along with a monthly stipend. If you’re applying to a PhD with attached funding, you’ll receive guaranteed funding if you are successful in your application.

PhD in Physiology careers

Most Physiology doctoral graduates go on to continue research as postdoctoral research fellows or in academia. If you wish the industry, there are jobs as in industrial research, scientific publishing and pharmaceutical consulting available for you.

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EastBio: Ageing in a rapidly warming Arctic: why do Svalbard reindeer differ in rates of senescence?

This fully funded, 4-year PhD project is part of a competition funded by the BBSRC EASTBIO Doctoral Training Partnership. Individuals of the same chronological age can differ in how rapidly they senesce, the age-related decline in physiological function and fitness. Read more
 Supervisors: Dr E Król, Dr A Douglas, Prof S Albon, Prof D Nussey
 16 November 2026  PhD Research Project  Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
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An Interdisciplinary Approach to Heat Resilience in the UK: Heatwaves, Female Mental Health, and Physical Activity

The team’s mission. London South Bank University (LSBU) is widely recognized for its commitment to diversity and inclusion, both in the UK and internationally. Read more
 Supervisors: Dr FB Bayne, Dr L Zaidell
 30 October 2026  PhD Research Project  Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
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EastBio: AI-informed Metabolic Interventions to Promote Muscle Protection and Repair at the Interface of Exercise, Disease, and Aging

Muscle and fat are two distinct differentiation pathways from the same precursor cells. Schirmer found that during adipogenesis muscle genes move to the nuclear envelope (NE) to be more tightly repressed while fat metabolism genes release. Read more
 Supervisors: Prof E Schirmer, Dr S Galloway, Dr ECR Hall
 16 November 2026  PhD Research Project  Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
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EASTBIO: From Genes to Function: How Genetic Variation Shapes Corticosteroid-Regulated Kidney Sodium Transport

Precise control of renal Na⁺ transport is fundamental to extracellular fluid volume and long-term blood pressure regulation. Fine-tuning occurs in the renal collecting duct, where corticosteroid hormones regulate Na⁺ reabsorption through the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). Read more
 Supervisors: Dr M K Mansley, Prof SP Paracchini
 16 November 2026  PhD Research Project  Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
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How does NRP2 keep blood vessels sealed and calm under stress? (ROBINSON_Q27DTP)

Blood vessels are lined by endothelial cells, which form a living barrier between blood and tissues. These cells must stay tightly connected, sense blood flow, respond to nutrients and communicate with immune cells, while avoiding unnecessary inflammation. Read more
 Supervisor: Dr S Robinson
 30 November 2026  PhD Research Project  Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
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Unraveling the Mechanistic Role of the SNARE Protein Ykt6 in Constitutive Secretion

Constitutive secretion is critical for many physiological important processes, such as inflammation (cytokine secretion), adaptive immunity (IgG secretion) and tissue remodelling (extracellular matrix secretion). Read more
 Supervisors: Prof A Peden, Dr M Collins
 Year round applications  PhD Research Project  Self-Funded PhD Students Only
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Adolescent sleep quality and impact of school start times

About the Project. Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership. Read more
 Supervisor: Prof L R Roden
 23 November 2026  PhD Research Project  Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
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Hormonal regulation of breathing during pregnancy

About the project. Successful offspring development relies on multiple physiological adaptations that prepare the mother for the demands of pregnancy and lactation. Read more
 Supervisors: Dr T Georgescu, Prof N Dale
 23 November 2026  PhD Research Project  Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
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Investigating sleep circuitry

Has it ever seemed strange that we are only conscious for some of time? Sleep is a normal, healthy, vital behaviour. That is, you die without it. Read more
 Supervisors: Dr D Uygun, Prof M Wall
 23 November 2026  PhD Research Project  Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
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Hearing loss, biological ageing and socioeconomic inequality in cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome in older adults in England

  Research Group: Public Health & Epidemiology
Hearing loss affects more than nine million adults in England and is strongly socially patterned, with disadvantaged groups up to twice as likely to experience hearing decline in later life. Read more
 Supervisors: Dr D Tsimpida, Dr M Graham-Brown
 23 November 2026  PhD Research Project  Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
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Genetic mechanism underlying pigmentation, vision and sleep

  Research Group: Genetics
Melanin is a pigment in animal skins and cuticles. Naturally occurred mutations in genes in melanin synthesis pathways cause condition called albinism across animal kingdom. Read more
 Supervisors: Dr K Chen, Dr H Marshall
 23 November 2026  PhD Research Project  Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
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Defining and Targeting Menopause-Associated Muscle Metabolic Dysregulation Using Human Discovery and Cell-Based Models

  Research Group: Global, Lifestyle & Metabolic Health
Second Supervisor. Dr Martin Whitham, School of sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham. supporting supervisors. Read more
 Supervisor: Prof L Breen
 23 November 2026  PhD Research Project  Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
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Defining the Cellular Mechanisms of Resilience During Skeletal Muscle Recovery

Skeletal muscle possesses the capacity to recover from inflammatory, mechanical and metabolic stress. This resilience enables restoration of tissue homeostasis following injury and is fundamental to maintaining function throughout life. Read more
 Supervisors: Dr LAB Baker, Prof D Jones
 23 November 2026  PhD Research Project  Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
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Decoding class B G-protein-coupled receptor structure and function for drug

Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership. Read more
 Supervisor: Dr H A Ayub
 23 November 2026  PhD Research Project  Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
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EastBio: Inflammatory Fat: Understanding how the immune system drives adipose tissue dysfunction using spatial lipidomics

This fully funded, 4-year PhD project is part of a competition funded by the BBSRC EASTBIO Doctoral Training Partnership. In obesity, adipose tissue can become inflamed with the infiltration of immune cells, particularly macrophages, which surround adipocytes to create crown-like structures. Read more
 Supervisors: Prof J.L Griffin, Dr J Rochford, Prof H Wilson
 16 November 2026  PhD Research Project  Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)