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PhD Opportunities

Departmental Studentships

The Department of Life Sciences at Imperial College London has funding for up to six departmentally funded PhD studentships, to commence in October 2025. 

We are offering projects across a wide range of Life Science disciplines, from molecular structures to global ecology and all scales in between.  Below, you can find a link to a list of available supervisors with key words describing their research area and a link to their Imperial homepage.  You are encouraged to contact these supervisors for specific details of the projects that they have available.

A list of available supervisors can be found here and research themes in the Department are here . Please direct informal enquiries and project specific requests for further information to the relevant supervisors.

Funding and Eligibility: The studentship will cover UK tuition fees and will provide an annual tax-free maintenance stipend at the standard UKRI level, currently at £21,237 (rising annually by an amount linked to inflation), in 12 monthly instalments. Studentships will be funded for a maximum of 36 months, subject to satisfactory progress.

A BSc in biological, or related, sciences is required at Upper Second Class level or better and candidates with a master's degree, in addition to the BSc, might be given preference. We strongly encourage applications from students from under-represented groups that align with the Department’s equality, diversity and inclusion priorities. These include home (British citizens or residents) students coming from non-Russell group universities and/or are from a minority ethnic group, such as those of Black, Asian or mixed heritage as well as those from white minority ethnic groups (e.g. Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveller). Candidates must be UK nationals (EU candidates with settled status in the UK may be considered), International students are not eligible.

How to apply: Applicants must submit their cv, personal statement and the contact details of two referees to their preferred supervisor. You may only apply to one supervisor. Deadline for applications 6 January 2025, 12 noon.

In line with our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusivity, we would be grateful if all applicants who contact supervisors would complete a confidential Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Questionnaire . This will help us to improve our future policies and processes and provides insight into who is and who isn’t applying. The questionnaire is anonymous and is not seen by potential supervisors.

Supervisors will then select their top candidate to put forward to the Departmental selection panel. Departmental interviews are anticipated to take place the week commencing 6 February 2025.

For queries about the application and interview process please contact Rozan Hamilton-Nixon at [email protected] or James Ferguson at [email protected] .

Further Studentships Currently Recruiting

• Dissecting factors driving the Staphylococcus aureus intracellular lifestyle
• Bioengineering of plant NLR (nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat) immune receptors to enhance disease resistance
• Using multiomics and AlphaFold to develop new bioinformatics approaches to aid personalized medicine
• Engineering of dynamic Synthetic Cells

Applications are invited for a research studentship leading to the award of a PhD degree, under the supervision of Dr. Ana Eulalio, to investigate bacterial determinants of the intracellular lifestyle of the bacterial pathogen Staphylococcus aureus, and their impact on pathogenesis and antibiotic treatment.

The post is supported by a bursary and fees (at the UK student rate only) funded by the Department of Life Sciences. The studentship is for 36 months.

Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of human infections worldwide, causing a broad range of community- and hospital-acquired infections. Although S. aureus is historically considered an extracellular pathogen, substantial evidence demonstrates that S. aureus can be internalized by various cell types. Recently, our lab characterized the interaction of a large collection of S. aureus clinical isolates collected from patients with bone/joint infections, bacteremia, and infective endocarditis with host cells (epithelial and endothelial cells, osteoblasts and macrophages). This analysis revealed that the vast majority of the isolates are facultative intracellular and identified seven intracellular phenotypes, with various levels of replication, persistence, and host cell death. The presence of S. aureus inside host cells can contribute to its ability to evade antibiotic treatment and immune responses, explaining, at least in part, treatment failure and recurrence of disease.

Despite the relevance of the intracellular lifestyle to S. aureus pathogenicity, a comprehensive identification of host and bacterial factors relevant to this process is yet to be performed. We are addressing this question by applying functional genomics approaches, specifically: i) microscopy-based, high-throughput screenings of S. aureus mutant collections (for bacterial factors) and siRNA/CRISPR libraries (for host factors); ii) transcriptomics and proteomics to identify host and bacterial factors regulated during infection with S. aureus clinical isolates.

The PhD student will pursue a project along the above-described lines of research, particularly focused on characterization of key S. aureus factors controlling the intracellular lifestyle. The PhD student will receive training in microbiology and cell biology approaches, including bacterial and mammalian cell culture, microscopy, transcriptomics, and high-throughput screening.

Supporting publication: Microscopy-based phenotypic profiling of infection by Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates reveals intracellular lifestyle as a prevalent feature. Rodrigues Lopes I, Alcantara LM, Silva RJ, Josse J, Pedrero Vega E, Cabrerizo AM, Bonhomme M, Lopez D, Laurent F, Vandenesch F, Mano M, Eulalio A (2022) Nature Communications 13(1):7174.

Requirements and eligibility

The studentship provides 3 years of funding (starting date according to availability). Applicants should have a BSc honours degree (at least 2.1 or equivalent) in Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, or a related discipline. Applicants with a Masters degree (at Merit level or better) in addition to the BSc will be given preference. Intellectual ability, enthusiasm and self-motivation are essential.

Funding provides full support for tuition fees for the three-year duration of the studentship (home fees only), and an annual tax-free stipend of £21,237 per year (rising annually by an amount linked to inflation).

How to apply:

Please direct informal enquiries and requests for further information to Dr. Ana Eulalio ( [email protected] ). Please email a single PDF file including a brief cover letter describing your relevant interests and research experience, your C.V. and names and contact information of three referees. Applications will be considered as they are received, so early applications are encouraged.

• In line with our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusivity, we would be grateful if all applicants who contact supervisors would complete a confidential Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Questionnaire . This will help us to improve our future policies and processes and provides insight into who is and who isn’t applying. The questionnaire is anonymous and is not seen by potential supervisors. We strongly encourage applications from students from under-represented groups that align with the Department’s equality, diversity and inclusion priorities. These include home (British citizens or residents) students coming from non-Russell group universities and/or are from a minority ethnic group, such as those of Black, Asian or mixed heritage as well as those from white minority ethnic groups (e.g. Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveller). Candidates must be UK nationals (EU candidates with settled status in the UK may be considered), International students are not eligible.

The Kourelis lab is dedicated to addressing fundamental questions in plant-microbe interactions, particularly focusing on the function and evolution of immune receptors. We are deeply interested in understanding how these receptors work and how they have evolved over time, with the ultimate goal of using this knowledge to bioengineer disease resistance genes that are specifically tailored to meet diverse challenges (see Kourelis et al ., 2023 and Marchal et al ., 2022). To pursue these objectives, we employ a unique interdisciplinary approach that combines bioinformatics and evolutionary biology with technical expertise in synthetic biology.

The PhD project focuses on bioengineering of plant NLR (nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat) immune receptors to enhance disease resistance. This research presents an exciting prospect for candidates to expand their skillset within a multidisciplinary research setting, utilizing cutting-edge technologies that integrate protein biochemistry and synthetic biology. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work with advanced techniques including Gibson Assembly and Golden Gate cloning for receptor engineering, high-throughput functional characterization of bioengineered immune receptors, and CRISPR genome editing. This work will be conducted in a dynamic and supportive research environment, with access to state-of-the-art facilities and a network of international collaborators. The PhD project will offer comprehensive training in these synthetic biology techniques, biochemistry, and plant-pathogen interactions, preparing the candidate not only for the successful completion of their PhD, but also for a competitive edge in their future career in academia or industry.

We are seeking a final year undergraduate (at least 2.1 or equivalent) or Master's student (at Merit level or better) who is driven by curiosity and fascinated by molecular mechanisms. The ideal candidate will possess basic molecular biology and biochemistry lab skills. However, instead of specific expertise, we are searching for individuals with the right mindset. We value individuals who approach scientific exploration with an open and inquisitive attitude, and who are excited by the prospect of tackling complex biological questions with potential real-world impact.

For more details on the project and the lab, candidates can directly contact me: [email protected]

Some technical details about the application process:

• The deadline for application is January 12th. Applicants should send a CV, personal statement, and the contact details of two referees directly to me at: [email protected]
• Studentships will be funded for 36 months with an annual tax-free maintenance stipend currently at £21,237 (rising annually by an amount linked to inflation).
• Candidates must be UK nationals (EU candidates with settled status in the UK may be considered). International students are not eligible.

Project Description

Applications are invited for a prestigious EPSRC research studentship leading to the award of a PhD degree, under the supervision of Dr. Alessia David (Dept of Life Science) and Prof Johnson (Dept of Medicine), to develop new bioinformatics approaches for the identification of new genes and genetic variants responsible for human disease. The post is supported by a bursary and fees (at the UK student rate only) are funded by the EPSRC. The studentship is for 36 months from October 2025.

The identification of genes and genetic variation responsible for human disease and the interpretation of their function within a biological network is a crucial step towards personalized medicine and the discovery of novel biomarkers. DNA sequencing projects from individual research groups and the 100K Genomes Project at Genomics England are providing an unprecedented amount of DNA sequencing data that need to be analysed to derive biologically meaningful information. This task cannot be performed manually and requires computational resources.

Recent major development in the field of 3D protein modeling with AlphaFold and the unprecedent wealth of information now available for genome variation in human and model organisms allow to expand the use of multiomics to develop new prediction algorithms to identify genes and genetic variants that can disrupt protein function/structure and biological pathways. In this project you will develop new robust bioinformatics algorithms for predicting the effect of genetic variants and identify new candidate genes for human disease. You will use the wealth of information on gene expression, protein interactions, and three-dimensional protein structure, experimentally determined and modelled by the in house Phyre2 homology modeling software and by the deep learning algorithm AlphaFold. You will apply these new bioinformatics algorithms to genomic and clinical data to interpret their biological relevance. You will have the opportunity to develop effective visualisation web tools to make these new algorithms available to the biomedical community. You will work closely with clinicians to design bespoke approaches that ensure the utilization of these new bioinformatic resources by the biomedical community. Programming experience, preferably in Python, is essential for this position .

The Department of Bioinformatics in the Department of Life Sciences at Imperial College has strong expertise in developing robust bioinformatics resources for the biomedical community, such as the Missense3D prediction algorithm suite for the interpretation of genetic variants (> 8000 users and > 400 citations since its release in 2019) and the Missense3D-DB database, a large catalog of precomputed predictions for 4 million human genetic variant which is included in DECIPHER at the European Bioinformatics Institute. The group of Prof M Johnson, in the Department of Medicine, has extensive expertise in using cell transcriptomics data in particular for the identification of new genetic mechanisms underlying neurological disorders.

You will receive training in the use of genomics, proteomics and 3D protein structures to develop new bioinformatics resources and in their application to analyze patients’ genetic data.

The studentship provides 3 years of funding starting October 2025.

Applicants should have a BSc honours degree (at least 2.1 or equivalent) in computing, biochemistry, biophysics, computational biology, or bioengineering with additional interest in biology. Applicants with a Master degree (at Merit level or better) in addition to the BSc will be given preference. Interdisciplinarity may be given preference. Candidates should also have demonstrably strong programming skills in a high-level programming language, preferably Python . Enthusiasm and self-motivation are essential. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and communities, and are committed to having a diverse, inclusive team.

Funding provides full support for tuition fees for the three-year duration of the studentship, and an annual tax-free stipend of approx. £21,237 per year.

Please direct informal enquiries and requests for further information to Dr. Alessia David ( [email protected] ). Please email a single PDF file including: a brief cover letter describing your relevant interests, research and coding experience, your C.V. and names and contact information of three referees.

In line with our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusivity, we would be grateful if all applicants who contact supervisors would complete a confidential Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Questionnaire . This will help us to improve our future policies and processes and provides insight into who is and who isn’t applying. The questionnaire is anonymous and is not seen by potential supervisors. We strongly encourage applications from students from under-represented groups that align with the Department’s equality, diversity and inclusion priorities. These include home (British citizens or residents) students coming from non-Russell group universities and/or are from a minority ethnic group, such as those of Black, Asian or mixed heritage as well as those from white minority ethnic groups (e.g. Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveller).

Do you want to design and construct synthetic life-like cells? Is it possible to build synthetic cells that mimic the essential functions of living systems? Could these synthetic cells, equipped with programmable functionalities, perform specialized tasks in biological environments and help uncover the mechanisms underlying cellular processes?

This PhD studentship offers the chance to explore these fundamental questions and contribute to groundbreaking research in bottom-up synthetic biology.

The project focuses on the design and construction of synthetic cells that mimic life-like behaviours. Synthetic cells are minimal systems built from the bottom up using biomolecules and synthetic components and offer unprecedented potential to unravel fundamental biological principles and pave the way for novel biotechnological applications.

The project will explore advanced methodologies to assemble and characterize synthetic cells that mimic features such as motility, fusion, communication, and responsiveness to environmental stimuli. As part of this interdisciplinary research effort, you will gain expertise in advanced techniques such as vesicle fabrication, polymer chemistry, and biophysical characterization, while working in a collaborative and cutting-edge research environment. By leveraging advanced materials science, membrane biophysics, and chemical engineering approaches, the research aims to create synthetic cells with programmable behaviours, thereby advancing our understanding of cellular systems. Moreover, synthetic cells offer the opportunity of producing smart cell-like agents to tackle pressing needs in diagnostics, therapeutics, biosynthesis, and bioremediation.

Funding and Eligibility

A BSc in Biochemistry, Physical Chemistry, Biophysics or related, sciences is required at Upper Second Class level or better and candidates with a master's degree (at Merit level or better), in addition to the BSc, will be given preference. Intellectual ability, enthusiasm and self-motivation are essential.

The studentship will cover UK tuition fees and will provide an annual tax-free maintenance stipend at the standard UKRI level, currently at £21,237 (rising annually by an amount linked to inflation), in 12 monthly instalments. Studentships will be funded for a maximum of 36 months, subject to satisfactory progress. The studentship is expected to start in October 2025.

How to apply

Please direct informal enquiries and requests for further information to Dr. Claudia Contini ( [email protected] ). Please email a single PDF file including a brief cover letter describing your relevant interests and research experience, your C.V. and names and contact information of three referees. Applications will be considered as they are received, so early applications are encouraged. Deadline for application: 13th February 2025.

In line with our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusivity, we would be grateful if all applicants who contact supervisors would complete a confidential Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Questionnaire . This will help us to improve our future policies and processes and provides insight into who is and who isn’t applying. The questionnaire is anonymous and is not seen by potential supervisors. We strongly encourage applications from students from under-represented groups that align with the Department’s equality, diversity and inclusion priorities. These include home (British citizens or residents) students coming from non-Russell group

universities and/or are from a minority ethnic group, such as those of Black, Asian or mixed heritage as well as those from white minority ethnic groups (e.g. Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveller). Candidates must be UK nationals (EU candidates with settled status in the UK may be considered), International students are not eligible.

[email protected] +44 (0)20 7594 6407

[email protected] +44 (0)20 7594 3096

[email protected]  (South Kensington courses)

[email protected] (Silwood Park courses)

Other contacts

Director of postgraduate studies, dr david mann, [email protected], postgraduate tutor (south kensington), dr tony southall  , [email protected], dr abigail clements, [email protected], postgraduate tutor (silwood park), dr will pearse   , [email protected], dr emma ransome, [email protected].

Research opportunities

Design and prototyping of a novel biosensor for measuring nutritional equivalence of plant based proteins.

One full scholarship is available in the School of Food Science and Nutrition in 2025/26. This scholarship is open to Home (UK, Ireland) and international applicants and covers UK tuition fees plus a maintenance grant (&pound;19,237 in 2024/25) for full-time study. Please note that international applicants would have to pay the difference between Home and International student tuition fees.<br /> <br /> This fully funded PhD place provides an exciting opportunity to pursue postgraduate research in the fields of Chemistry and/or Biochemistry. <br /> <br /> The award is open to full-time candidates who have been offered a place on a PhD degree at the School of Food Science and Nutrition.

<p paraeid="{3e60791f-59f7-44f5-bdd2-22c49e77460e}{196}" paraid="1284043278">There is a need to develop representative, robust and readily measurable the nutritional equivalence of alternative and plant based proteins compared to the animal protein foods they aim to reduce/replace. This is critically important at the population level, where the nutritional equivalence of plant based foods will be essential to deliver safe, nutritious and sustainable foods and diets for all. The type and quantity of amino acids circulating in our blood reflect health and disease risk and also provide an ideal tool for measuring nutritional equivalence.  Current measurement methods require direct quantification in blood samples, often making it difficult to collect sufficient data from large cohorts or at the population level.   </p> <p paraeid="{3e60791f-59f7-44f5-bdd2-22c49e77460e}{232}" paraid="1018876566">Employing state of the art experience in biosensors and nutrition facilities at Ulster University, and expertise in gut microbiology, alternative proteins and standardisation of biological measurements at University of Leeds, this PhD project aims to develop and prototype a new biosensor for amino acids and derivatives, suitable for continuous measurement of target metabolites in human interstitial fluid. Advancing on current clinical use of continuous glucose monitoring, this new tool is designed to take the next giant step in continuous metabolite monitoring and provide both the fundamental nutri-kinetics measurements of microbial amino acid metabolism and a prototype biosensor device capable of tracking metabolite kinetics on a continuous basis and in real time. This tool will also provide a novel and powerful new approach for measuring the nutritional equivalence of alternative proteins and new plant based protein foods, which are essential for achieving dietary protein transition and reducing our impact on climate change.  </p> <p paraeid="{3e60791f-59f7-44f5-bdd2-22c49e77460e}{252}" paraid="1158814417">The successful PhD candidate will receive expert training in biosensor design, analytical chemistry, microbial ecology, in vitro gut models, metabolite analysis, human nutrition, biochemistry and standardisation of biochemical measurements. Moreover, they will benefit from an internship at the Ulster University (between 12 to 18 months) and close collaboration with other partners, both in the Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems and NAPIC, especially the National Measurements Laboratory at Leeds.  </p> <p paraeid="{3e60791f-59f7-44f5-bdd2-22c49e77460e}{252}" paraid="1158814417">This project aims to:</p> <ul> <li paraeid="{3e60791f-59f7-44f5-bdd2-22c49e77460e}{252}" paraid="1158814417">Investigate how different protein sources regulate circulating profiles of amino acids and related metabolites using both in vitro models and healthy subjects.  </li> <li paraeid="{3e60791f-59f7-44f5-bdd2-22c49e77460e}{252}" paraid="1158814417"> Select a panel of amino acid and related metabolites (AaRMs) which respond to diet and have potential to influence host physiological processes. </li> <li paraeid="{3e60791f-59f7-44f5-bdd2-22c49e77460e}{252}" paraid="1158814417">Investigate different biochemical signalling solutions suitable for biosensor development. </li> <li paraeid="{3e60791f-59f7-44f5-bdd2-22c49e77460e}{252}" paraid="1158814417">Develop a prototype amino acid/related metabolite biosensor with potential for application as a wearable, continuous AaRMs measurement.</li> </ul> <p>The experimental work carried out at the University of Leeds and Ulster University, with Prof Chris Gill and Prof James Davis, Ulster University, as external supervisors. The PhD student will get excellent opportunities to do placements with our industrial partners and the wider community in UK and abroad within NAPIC – please see the website for partners of NAPIC: <a aria-label="Link https://napic.ac.uk/partners/" href="https://napic.ac.uk/partners/" id="menurm75" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" title="https://napic.ac.uk/partners/">https://napic.ac.uk/partners</a>.</p> <p paraeid="{6d93a545-c271-413b-a72c-f30f9d25d956}{33}" paraid="1554547130"><strong>Information about the award</strong></p> <ul> <li paraeid="{6d93a545-c271-413b-a72c-f30f9d25d956}{33}" paraid="1554547130">We are offering 1 full-time PhD scholarship in the School of Food Science and Nutrition for one candiate, covering a maintenance grant of £19,237 per year and UK tuition fees for three years, subject to satisfactory academic progress. <strong>Please note that international applicants are welcome to apply but would need to cover the difference between UK and International tuition fees. The maintenance stipend is paid monthly and cannot be used to pay your fees. You can read more about research degree fees <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-fees/doc/research-degrees-fees">here</a>.</strong></li> </ul> <p paraeid="{6d93a545-c271-413b-a72c-f30f9d25d956}{33}" paraid="1554547130"><strong>Duration of the award</strong></p> <ul> <li paraeid="{6d93a545-c271-413b-a72c-f30f9d25d956}{33}" paraid="1554547130">Full-time (3.5 years).  The award will be made for one year in the first instance and renewable for a further period of up to three years, subject to satisfactory academic progress.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Other conditions</strong></p> <ul> <li>Applicants must not have already been awarded or be currently studying for a doctoral degree.</li> <li>Awards must be taken up by 1 October 2025.</li> <li>Applicants must live within a reasonable distance of the University of Leeds whilst in receipt of this scholarship.</li> </ul>

<p>Formal applications for research degree study should be made online through the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees">University's website</a>. You will need to create a login ID with a username and PIN.</p> <ul> <li>For ‘Application type’ please select ‘Research Degrees – Research Postgraduate’.</li> <li>The admission year for this project is 2025/26 Academic Year.</li> <li>For ‘Planned Course of Study’ please select ‘PhD Food Science and Nutrition Full-time’.</li> <li>For ‘Proposed Start Date of Research’ please select 1 October 2025.</li> <li><strong>In the research information section, you must state clearly that the project you wish to be considered for is ‘NAPIC: Design and prototyping of a novel biosensor for measuring nutritional equivalence of plant based proteins’ and name <a href="https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/faculty/staff/10441/professor-kieran-tuohy">Professor Kieran Tuohy</a> as your proposed supervisor.</strong></li> </ul> <p>If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (below).</p> <p><em>As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education. Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+ and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability.</em></p> <p>In your applications, plase state that you wish to apply for the position of <strong>Design and prototyping of a novel biosensor for measuring nutritional equivalence of plant based proteins </strong>position and add Professor Kieran Tuohy as the named academic. </p> <p>If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (below).</p> <p><em>As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education. Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+ and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability.</em></p>

Applicants to this scholarship in the School of Food Science and Nutrition are expected to hold a bachelor degree in a relevant subject (2.1 or above or equivalent) or a good honours degree together with a Masters degree. Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact the Postgraduate Research Admissions team prior to making an application.

The minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study is an IELTS of 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid. Some schools and faculties have a higher requirement.

<p>For further information please contact Prof Kieran Tuohy (<a href="mailto:[email protected]" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">[email protected]</a>) </p>

Biochemistry PhD

Most students complete this programme in 4 years full-time.

We are renowned for our broad range of world-leading and internationally excellent research on animals, plants and microorganisms.

The research areas covered by this programme are:

• Cell and developmental biology
• Evolution and biodiversity
• Infection and immunity
• Medical and industrial biotechnology

Most of our PhD students go straight into careers as postdoctoral scientists in academic institutions, research institutes, industry and healthcare. Others have entered a diverse range of careers from scientific writing/journalism, teaching, management and business/finance.

Find out what our research graduates go on to do

Department of Life Sciences

• Programme structure

Most students complete this programme in 4 years. You cannot take less than 2 years to finish your research and the maximum time you are allowed is normally 4 years.

You may start this programme at any time. Most students start in September.

Occasionally we make changes to our programmes in response to, for example, feedback from students, developments in research and the field of studies, and the requirements of accrediting bodies. You will be advised of any significant changes to the advertised programme, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.

Your academic progress and general welfare will be monitored by your supervisor.

Academic milestones

• Registration
• Candidature
• Confirmation
• Give notice of intention to submit a thesis / portfolio
• Submission for examination
• Examination (Viva Voce)
• Examiners report
• Final submission of thesis / portfolio
• Programme content
• Doctoral skills online
• Doctoral skills workshop
• Research project
• Supervisory team

Research content

The great strength of the department is its academic breadth with specialisms including:

• Biodiversity
• Molecular structure and function
• Neuroscience
• Plant sciences

You will benefit from working with academics and their groups operating at the cutting-edge of their discipline – you will quickly become an expert yourself and learn how to become an independent researcher capable of designing and carrying out your own research. In addition you will learn how to work in teams, gain technical expertise, develop your skills of critical analysis and learn how to present scientific data in an accessible form through writing and oral presentation within the department and at conferences.

You will also have fun through your research and the vibrant postgraduate culture that exists in our department and will be encouraged to share your enthusiasm for your discoveries.

Professional Development

Professional development is a crucial element of doctoral study, not only in supporting your research but also as part of your longer term career development. Our DoctoralSkills workshops and courses will help you build your skills and help you succeed in your doctorate.

Read more about professional development support

Assessment methods

Assessment description.

Most research students who do a PhD register in the first instance as probationer for the degree of PhD. Candidates are expected to carry out supervised research at the leading edge of their chosen subject, which must then be written up as a substantial thesis.

The confirmation of the PhD programme (and the end of the probationary period) is subject to students passing an assessment process, which normally involves submission of written work and on oral examination which usually takes place 12 months after the initial registration.

The final stage of the PhD degree is the oral or viva voce examination, in which students are required to defend the thesis to a Board of Examiners.

• Entry requirements

Academic requirements

We normally require a student to have a first or upper second-class honours degree, or equivalent qualifications in a relevant subject.

English Language requirements

• IELTS: 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in all components
• The Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic): 62 with no less than 59 in any element
• TOEFL IBT: 90 overall with a minimum 21 in all 4 components

You will need to get your English language qualification within 24 months prior to starting your course.

If you need to improve your English language skills before starting your studies, you may be able to take a pre-sessional course to reach the required level.

Two references are required. At least one of these should be an academic reference from the most recent place of study.

• Fees and funding

Fees and funding information for Biochemistry PhD

Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on whether you are a Home or Overseas student.

Learn how we decide fee status

Tuition fees are liable to increase annually for all University of Bath students. If you aren't paying your fees in British pounds, you should also budget for possible fluctuations in your own currency.

Find out more about student fees

Funding options

Find funding for Doctoral research

Payment options

You can pay your tuition fees by Direct Debit, debit card, credit card or bank transfer.

Paying your tuition fees

• Application information
• Programme title Biochemistry PhD
• Final award PhD
• Mode of study Full-time
• Course code RSBB-AFM02
• Department Department of Life Sciences
• Location University of Bath Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY

3 months prior to the intended start date (for international applicants) or 2 months prior to the intended start date (for home applicants). For example, for an end of September start, the deadline is 30 June (international) and 31 July (home).

• Regulator The Office for Students (OfS)

Applicant profile

See our guide about how to apply for doctoral study

Immigration requirements

This PhD is covered by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS). If you are an international student, you may require an ATAS certificate to join this course and you can find out more about the visa requirements for studying in the UK .

For additional support please contact the Student Immigration Service for matters related to student visas and immigration.

• Programme enquiries

Doctoral Admissions

• Apply for this programme
• Related programmes
• Biochemistry PhD part-time

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Life Sciences PhD Biochemistry: AI solutions to guide treatment strategies for Cancers of Unknown Primaries (CUPs) (2025)

What you get.

This is a 3.5-year PhD studentship funded in the Sussex Cancer Research Centre, funded by Brighton and Sussex Medical school and the University of Sussex School of Life Sciences, starting on 1 st October 2025. Funding will cover tuition fees for UK students (at the Home rate), a stipend at the UKRI rate, and consumables. International applicants are welcome to apply but will be required to cover the difference between Home and International fees.

Type of award

Postgraduate Research

PhD project

In general, the types of treatment available to a cancer patient is determined by the type or ‘site’ of the original tumour. However, for 3-5% of all cancers, termed 'cancer of unknown primary' or 'CUP’s,' the original tumour site is unknown, making it particularly challenging to decide on the best treatment strategy for the disease as it presents at diagnosis, in secondary sites. For a minority of CUP patients (15–20%), the tumour can be attributed to a distinct clinical entity that benefits from primary site-specific treatment; however, the remaining 80–85% of patients belong to a group with a poor CUP prognosis.  In Sussex, despite extensive clinical and diagnostic work-up, including physical examination, radiological imaging, and histopathological investigation, approximately 300-500 of the cancers diagnosed annually, are designated as CUPs. 

The major aim of this proposal is the development of artificial intelligence (AI) methods to aid the diagnosis and inform treatment strategies to improve the outcome for Sussex CUP patients. 

  Research Environment:   This project is a collaboration between the bioinformatics group at the University of Sussex, Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) and the CUP Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) at the Royal Sussex County Hospital (RSCH), University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.  At Sussex the student will be trained in genomics, programming, bioinformatics, big data and data science, cancer biology and therapeutics.  They will attend weekly online MDT meetings with the CUP team and will be trained in the interpretation of pathology and radiology outputs, at the RSCH and/or Brighton and Sussex Medical School.

Eligibility

The ideal candidate would have a first degree in Life Sciences (e.g. Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences etc) and a Master’s degree in a computation discipline (e.g. Bioinformatics, Data Science etc) or a proven ability in computer programming.  Alternatively, the project would suit a candidate from a mathematical or computation discipline (e.g. Computer Science, Maths, Statistics, Data Science) who is happy to be trained in cancer biology.  You may also be considered for the position if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.

Candidates for whom English is not their first language will require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with not less than 6.0 in any section or equivalent proficiency - English language requirements

Applications are particularly welcomed from candidates with protected characteristics – e.g., from Black and other ethnic minorities – who are under-represented in postgraduate research at our institution.

How to apply

Please submit a formal application using the online admissions portal attaching a CV, degree transcripts and certificates, and two academic referees. A research proposal is not required. Instead, please upload a personal statement describing your subject areas of interest, skills and previous experience, motivation for Doctoral Research, future goals, and why you are applying to this project.

On the application system select Programme of Study – PhD Biochemistry. Please select ‘funding obtained’ and state the supervisor’s name where required.

Interviews will be held in February 2025.

Informal enquiries are welcome and should be submitted to Dr Frances Pearl at [email protected]

For queries about the application process, please see the online application guide or contact Emma Chorley: [email protected] 

For enquiries about the project, please contact Frances Pearl: [email protected]

Availability

At level(s): PG (research)

Application deadline: 1 February 2025 23:45 (GMT)

The award is available to people from the following country: