We are seeking ambitious postgraduate researchers passionate about pushing the boundaries of knowledge in biological and biomedical sciences. We are particularly interested in receiving applications for projects that align with our key research priorities across ecology, genetics and biomedical science. Across these biological sub-disciplines, we collaborate with national and international researchers, utilising cutting-edge technologies. We are also interested in projects related to these themes that may be multi- or interdisciplinary, as well as those with a sustainability focus.
Successful applicants will join a vibrant and supportive research environment, offering expert supervision. All postgraduate researchers (PGRs) are registered in the University’s Graduate School and housed in the faculty or department that is most appropriate for the project on which they are working. PGRs working on biological and biomedical sciences projects are typically housed in the Department of Biology.
Key research themes and potential projects
Ecology and Evolution
Our ecology research priorities include forest adaptations to climate change, mitigating impacts of habitat change on biodiversity and conservation of species in rare habitats. Projects use plants, fungi, invertebrates and amphibians to explore how to sustainably manage grasslands and forests in different contexts across the globe.
Our ecology research priorities include forest adaptations to climate change, mitigating impacts of habitat change on biodiversity and conservation of species in rare habitats. Projects use plants, fungi, invertebrates and amphibians to explore how to sustainably manage grasslands and forests in different contexts across the globe.
Potential topics include (but are not limited to):
Biodiversity value of ancient grasslands
Landscape connectivity in the British flora
Ecology of mycorrhizal fungi
Soil microbial communities
Ecology, evolution and conservation of Canary Island reptiles
Protecting pollinators using computer vision
Captive husbandry and management of the red titi monkey (Plecturocebus cupreus)
Genetics
Our genetics research priorities include vectors of disease, plant evolution, ecological and conservation genetics, divergent eukaryotic stress response mechanisms, soil microbiology and antibiotic discovery.
Our genetics research priorities include vectors of disease, plant evolution, ecological and conservation genetics, divergent eukaryotic stress response mechanisms, soil microbiology and antibiotic discovery.
Potential topics include (but are not limited to):
Dual-RNAseq for deep understanding of host-microbe interactions using the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
Uncovering the intestinal genetic decision-making process to mount specific responses to gut microbes (pathogen vs non-pathogen, complex microbial community vs single species microbial community)
Exploiting natural variation of the innate immune system to design new infectious disease treatments
Atypical stress response mechanisms in the early branching eukaryote Trypanosoma brucei
Biomedical – new therapies for diseases
Our biomedical science research priorities include regulation of cell signalling in cancer, degenerative conditions and endocrine hormone expression, pregnancy complications, age-related conditions, wound healing, gene therapies, nanotherapeutics and gene expression in specialised tissues involved in diseases of the brain, eye and skin with translational potential.
Our biomedical science research priorities include regulation of cell signalling in cancer, degenerative conditions and endocrine hormone expression, pregnancy complications, age-related conditions, wound healing, gene therapies, nanotherapeutics and gene expression in specialised tissues involved in diseases of the brain, eye and skin with translational potential.
Examples of potential topics include:
Effect of chronic inflammation on endometrial receptivity
Epigenetic regulation of pituitary hormone expression
Combinatorial gene and drug therapies for neuroblastoma or glioblastoma
New gene therapy approaches for cardiovascular-related disorders (including lipoproteins)
Exosome research for diagnostics and/or therapies of different disorders (including glaucoma, cardiovascular or cancer)
Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy
How the immune system reacts to pathogen infections
Please direct all enquiries about proposed projects on topics related to Biological Sciences to Dr Jayne Charnock and Dr Claire Harper, Graduate School Research Degree Coordinators for Biological Sciences, stating the specific research theme(s) of interest.
