Applications for fully-funded 4 year PhD studentships starting in Sept 2026 are now closed
For studentships starting in Sept 2027, projects to apply to will be advertised in Oct 2026
Below are projects that were advertised for studentships starting in Sept 2026. We are no longer accepting applications to these projects, but remain viewable to give a flavour of the types of projects across the DTP. Exception: If you have external-funding (including self-funding), these projects are still available to apply to – further information.
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The research theme encompasses the following areas. Click on the link below to be taken to these projects, or scroll though our full list of projects below.
- Advanced Cell & Tissue Models
- Physiological Systems & Neuroscience
- Molecular & Genetic Pathways
- Other
This theme encompasses:
- most cellular and subcellular biology across the evolutionary scale, including all aspects of gene function, protein structure, cytoskeletal and membrane systems, and cell transport and motility. Also includes development and application of complex cell/tissue-based models for advanced mechanistic research.
- whole animal systems as research models, looking at development, physiology and function. It also includes ethical considerations and procedural aspects.
- all aspects of learning and behaviour and sensory biology, from neurobiology function through to higher brain decision making.
- molecular regulation of complex cell autonomous and non-cell autonomous signalling pathways, including transcriptional responses and epigenetic control.
*CASE: These are CASE DTP studentships. As part of the programme, you will be required to undertake a placement with the CASE partner for a minimum of 3 months.
*AP: These are Standard DTP studentships with an associate partner where you will be required to spend time with each of the partners. You will be registered for your postgraduate studies at one of the partner universities of the lead supervisors.
*JD: This project is in collaboration with the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England (UWE) and subject to a joint degree award. Successful applicants will be registered at both these institutions, and graduates will be awarded a joint degree from these two institutions upon successful completion of the PhD programme.
The 'host institution' is where you will be mainly based throughout your PhD. Of note, some projects may involve fieldwork or time away from the listed host institution for e.g. time spent with others within your supervisory team, collaborating university, collaborator or on a CASE/PIPS placement.
To help you decide on your PhD project, you can gain a detailed insight into the working style of the main supervisor and the research environment you will be part of, by visiting our meet our supervisors webpage or ‘clicking’ on the supervisor listed in bold below. You can also find out more about the second supervisor by ‘clicking’ on their name below.
Advanced Cell & Tissue Models
| ID | PROJECT TITLE |
MAIN SUPERVISORY TEAM Main supervisor (bold) + second supervisor – Or equivalents |
HOST INSTITUTION (also the registered university unless otherwise stated) STUDENTSHIP TYPE |
KEYWORDS |
| 271 | Defining a role for mTORC1 in regulating focal adhesions and cell migration |
University of Plymouth/University of Bristol Registered University: University of Plymouth Studentship type: Standard with Associate Partner |
mTOR, Integrin, Adhesion, Migration, Cell Biology | |
| 290 | Development of mRNA-Loaded Lipid Nanoparticles For Targeted Elimination of Cancer Stem Cells in complex 3D models. |
Cardiff University Studentship type: Standard |
Translational Biosciences, Enabling Technologies, Advanced Cell Models, Drug Discovery & Delivery, Bioimaging | |
| 240 | How to make an eye – Mechanics of optic cup formation across species |
University of Exeter (Streatham) Studentship type: Standard |
Development, Morphogenesis, Biophysics, Mechanics, High-resolution microscopy | |
| 289 | Microbial metabolites as signals for gut cell communication: mapping epithelial signalling and developing rapid readouts in model systems |
University of West England (UWE) Studentship type: CASE |
Epithelial barrier function, gut microbiome, intestinal inflammation, microbial metabolites, molecular diagnostics | |
| 134 | Modelling the Emergence and Maturation of Primitive Blood Lineages ex vivo Using Primate Stem Cell-Based Models |
University of Exeter (Streatham) Studentship type: Standard |
Stem cell, embryo model, molecular signalling, immunology, neuroscience | |
| 85 | Peroxisome-organelle interplay under cellular stress conditions |
University of Exeter (Streatham) Studentship type: Standard |
Molecular cell biology, organelle biology, protein biochemistry, biomedicine | |
| 209 | Signalling mechanisms regulating lysosomal membrane integrity and quality control |
University of Bristol Studentship type: Standard |
Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Lysosomes, Cell Signalling, Microscopy |
Physiological Systems & Neuroscience
| ID | PROJECT TITLE |
MAIN SUPERVISORY TEAM Main supervisor (bold) + second supervisor – Or equivalents |
HOST INSTITUTION (also the registered university unless otherwise stated) STUDENTSHIP TYPE |
KEYWORDS |
| 98 | Brains, Blades, and Zebrafish: Dissecting Rhomboid Protease Roles in Neuronal Development and Signalling |
University of Bristol Studentship type: Standard |
Neurodegeneration, zebrafish, proteomics, synapse, iPSC, CRISPR | |
| 59 | Building bridges between immunity and memory: unveiling novel roles of antimicrobial peptides in neural function. |
University of Bristol Studentship type: Standard |
Memory, antimicrobial peptides, Drosophila, neuroscience, neuroinflammation | |
| 109 | Characterizing the role and function of lipid droplets in neuronal metabolism. |
University of Bath / University of West England (UWE) Registered University: University of Bath Studentship type: Standard with Associate Partner |
Lipid droplets, neurones, lipolysis, metabolism, neurotransmission. | |
| 268 | CircadiAgeing: Clock excitability, circadian rhythms and healthy ageing |
University of Bristol Studentship type: Standard |
Circadian rhythms, Clock neuron excitability, Ion channel activity and modelling, Model systems: fly and mouse, Dynamic clamp | |
| 282 | Creating a functional map for brain-gut signalling in a simple worm model |
University of Exeter (Streatham) Studentship type: CASE |
High throughput-screening, Fluorescence Microscopy, Neuroscience, Animal behaviour, Molecular biology | |
| 199 | From Flies to Human Cells: understanding astrocyte reactivity and dopaminergic modulation in brain injury |
University of Bristol Studentship type: Standard |
Neuroinflammation, Astrocytes, Dopamine, iPSC, Drosophila | |
| 291 | How Astrocytes Shape Learning in Brain and AI Networks |
University of Exeter (Streatham) Studentship type: Standard |
Glia, brain computation, neural networks, deep learning, in vivo imaging | |
| 264 | How does the cerebellum process thoughts and feelings to guide healthy behaviour? |
University of Bristol Studentship type: Standard |
Neuroscience, Neurodiversity, Emotional brain, Cognition, Imaging | |
| 245 | How neurons know a visual cue is predicting a reward |
University of Exeter (Streatham) Studentship type: Standard |
Superior colliculus, dopamine, serotonin, classical conditioning, synaptic plasticity | |
| 345 | Investigating galanin regulation of pancreatic islet hormone secretion in live zebrafish |
University of Exeter (Streatham) Studentship type: Standard |
Pancreatic islet function, intercellular communication, neural signalling, calcium dynamics, zebrafish model | |
| 292 | Investigating the antilypolytic and hypoglycaemic effect of exogenous ketones in humans. |
University of Exeter (St Luke’s) Studentship type: Standard |
Physiology, Nutrition, Metabolism, Skeletal muscle, Adipose | |
| 261 | Investigating the Effects of Diabetes and Obesity Medications on the Brain-Kidney Axis |
University of Bristol Studentship type: Standard |
Neuroscience, Physiology, Molecular biology, Proteomics, Genome-wide association study | |
| 272 | Population shape, microstructure and mechanics: towards personalised eye models |
University of Plymouth / Cardiff University Registered University: University of Plymouth Studentship type: Standard with Associate Partner |
Ocular biomechanics, Collagen microstructure, Finite element modelling, Statistical shape modelling, Biophysics | |
| 186 | Probing sleep as a regulator of emotional memory and behaviour |
University of Bristol Studentship type: CASE |
Neuroscience, pharmacology, behaviour, sleep, stress | |
| 352 | Suspended animation: waking sleeping beauties. |
University of Bristol Studentship type: Standard |
Torpor, Mathematical Biology, Neuroscience, Network, Physiology | |
| 221 | Understanding pattern separation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus: a pathway to preserving memory |
University of Bristol Studentship type: Standard |
Neural networks, Electrophysiology, Optogenetics, Computational modelling, Advanced Imaging |
Molecular & Genetic Pathways
| ID | PROJECT TITLE |
MAIN SUPERVISORY TEAM Main supervisor (bold) + second supervisor – Or equivalents |
HOST INSTITUTION (also the registered university unless otherwise stated) STUDENTSHIP TYPE |
KEYWORDS |
| 172 | Chromatin-mediated control of morphogenesis and virulence in Aspergillus fumigatus |
University of Exeter (Streatham) Studentship type: Standard |
Chromatin, developmental biology, microbiology, Epigenetics, genomics | |
| 354 | Deciphering the Role of TET Enzymes in regulating stem cell potency and fate commitment |
Cardiff University Studentship type: Standard |
Epigenetics, DNA methylation, DNA demethylation, DNA repair, stem cell biology
|
|
| 160 | Dissecting the Link Between Lipid Peroxidation and Platelet Receptors in Thrombosis. |
University of Bath Studentship type: Standard |
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs); bioinformatics; molecular biology; proximity proteomics; protein networks. | |
| 158 | Enhancer Editing in Human Stem Cells: CRISPR Perturbation and Chromatin Profiling |
University of Exeter (St Luke’s) Studentship type: Standard |
Chromatin, enhancers, stem cells, CRISPR, gene regulation | |
| 213 | Epigenetics of the brain in healthy ageing |
University of Exeter (St Luke’s) Studentship type: Standard |
Epigenetics, genetics, bioinformatics, computational and mathematical modelling, cell models
|
|
| 107 | Evolutionary mechanisms underlying differences in the innate immune response |
University of Exeter (Penryn) Studentship type: Standard |
Innate Immunity, Host-pathogen interactions, Molecular evolution, Phylogenetic modelling, Genetics | |
| 116 | How do neurons interpret epigenetic information in DNA? |
|
University of Bristol Studentship type: Standard |
Epigenetics, DNA-protein interactions, proteomics, neurodegeneration |
| 142 | Imaging the birth and life of gene transcripts in vivo |
University of Exeter (Streatham) Studentship type: Standard |
Gene expression, mRNA processing, neural crest, motor neurons, zebrafish | |
| 255 | Impact of plant extracellular vesicles (PDEVs) on gastrointestinal cells *JD |
University of West England (UWE) / University of Bristol (Registered at both: joint degree award) Studentship type: Standard with Associate Partner |
Plant derived extracellular vesicles, gastrointestinal cells, biological interactions, molecular mechanisms | |
| 275 | Investigating a potential mechanism for mammary epithelial cell dynamics *JD |
University of West England (UWE) / University of Bristol (Registered at both: joint degree award) Studentship type: Standard with Associate Partner |
Biological interactions, Hyperglycaemia, Hypoxia, Hormonal influences and Mammary epithelium | |
| 239 | Investigating novel interactions of the Merlin gene in cell behaviour |
University of Exeter (Streatham) / University of Plymouth Registered University: University of Exeter Studentship type: Standard with Associate Partner |
Cell culture, molecular biology, biochemistry, statistical analysis, in vivo
|
|
| 305 | Mapping the epigenetic landscape in cells under compressive forces |
University of Bath Studentship type: Standard |
Microfluidics, mechanobiology, epigenetics, mathematical modelling, gene expression | |
| 167 | Mapping the Regulatory Landscapes of Annelid Genomes using comparative genomics |
Cardiff University Studentship type: Standard |
Comparative genomics, genomics, gene regulation, annelids | |
| 64 | Mechanical regulation of secretory pathway structure and function |
|
University of Bristol Studentship type: Standard |
Cell biology, signalling, mechanobiology, secretory pathway |
| 211 | Mechanisms of mechanosensation and membrane tension modulation in red blood cell development *JD |
University of West England (UWE) / University of Bristol (Registered at both: joint degree award) Studentship type: Standard with Associate Partner |
Red blood cell, erythropoiesis, mechanosensor, membrane tension, cell biology | |
| 365 | Molecular Pathways of Viral Manipulation of Cellular Immunity |
Cardiff University Studentship type: Standard |
Virology, Immunology, Bioinformatics, Biological Interactions, Immunological Pathways | |
| 288 | Reconstructing ancestral animal cell types by a single cell analysis and comparative genomic approach |
University of Exeter (Streatham) Studentship type: Standard |
Stem Cells, Single Cell Transcriptomics, Evolution, Systems Biology, Bioinformatics | |
| 178 | Ribosome specialization as a regulator of gene expression |
University of Bristol Studentship type: Standard |
Ribosome specialization, mRNA translation, Organoids | |
| 267 | Targeted Protein Degradation as a Cutting-Edge Tool to Study Tyrosine Kinases in Platelet Signaling and Function |
University of Bristol Studentship type: Standard |
PROTACs, protein degraders, platelets, tyrosine kinases, molecular modeling | |
| 185 | The 5’UTR and mRNA translational repression |
Cardiff University Studentship type: Standard |
mRNA Translation, Spermatogenesis, Drosophila, Developmental Biology, Bioinformatics | |
| 273 | The fitness effects of loss-of-function mutations in bacterial populations |
University of Bath Studentship type: Standard |
Whole Genome Sequencing, Adaptation, Mutation, Bacteria, Bioinformatics, Loss-of-Function | |
| 163 | The role of reductive evolution in the origin of eukaryotic cells |
|
University of Bath Studentship type: Standard |
Evolution, phylogenetics, origin of eukaryotes, symbiosis, reductive evolution |
| 296 | Understanding the molecular mechanisms of environmental and chemical stressors on pigmentation in larval zebrafish |
|
University of Exeter (Streatham) Studentship type: CASE |
Molecular, Zebrafish, Pigmentation, Expression, Development |
| 246 | Understanding the Post-Endocytic Sorting of Cannabinoid Receptors in Neurons |
University of Bristol Studentship type: Standard |
Cannabinoid Receptor, Endocannabinoid System, Endosomal sorting, Synapse, Neuroscience. |
Other
| ID | PROJECT TITLE |
MAIN SUPERVISORY TEAM Main supervisor (bold) + second supervisor – Or equivalents |
HOST INSTITUTION (also the registered university unless otherwise stated) STUDENTSHIP TYPE |
KEYWORDS |
| 233 | Coordination Between Actin and Microtubule Motors During Endocytosis |
University of Bristol Studentship type: Standard |
Cytoskeleton, endocytosis, intracellular trafficking, cryo-EM, molecular motors | |
| 169 | Decoding DNA Repair: Molecular Insights into Sequence-Specific Recognition |
Cardiff University Studentship type: Standard |
DNA structure, DNA repair, Molecular Dynamics, Computational Biology | |
| 159 | Genome packaging as a driving force of RNA virus assembly |
University of Bristol Studentship type: Standard |
Virology, RNA, biological interactions, virus assembly, biochemistry | |
| 270 | Spindle orientation in the developing fly embryo: a joint mathematical-experimental approach |
University of Exeter (Streatham) Studentship type: Standard |
Drosophila development, spindle orientation, mathematical modelling, computer simulation, image analysis |