Available Studentships (<front>)

Scholarship award: £21,970.00 per annum (Tax Exempt), inclusive of the accommodation package.

Start date: from September 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter, for 12 months

Applications are invited for this 12-month Scholarship programme, which provides an opportunity for new graduates or recently qualified veterinarians to receive high-quality postgraduate training in farm animal studies under the supervision of experienced farm animal clinicians in the Cambridge Farm Animal Veterinary Services ambulatory and referral practice at the University of Cambridge. The emphasis of the programme is on gaining practical clinical experience in farm animal medicine and herd health and will allow the Scholar to identify specific fields of farm animal work in which to specialise, either in preparation for Senior Clinical Training Scholarship programmes, or for specialist private practice.

The internship will cover:

• Case involvement of individual production animals, including emergency and critical care, surgery, anaesthesia, diagnostics, internal medicine and obstetrics
• Involvement in a busy and expanding first opinion farm animal practice and referral hospital
• Training and practice in population medicine and herd health management, with an emphasis on evidence-based medicine
• Experience in teaching and communication
• Basic tuition in research methods and scientific writing
• Opportunity to design and undertake research projects

Summary of benefits

• Competitive tax-free stipend including accommodation in Central Cambridge and bills included package
• Good work-life balance with manageable weekend and night work
• University library and journal access
• 2 weeks of elective/dedicated research time on top of holidays
• Academic opportunities, e.g. teach Cambridge students during rotations and College supervisionopportunities; weekly department research and clinical seminars; journal and book clubs
• Proven track-record with publications and research projects with guidance on presentation and scientific writing skills
• Assigned intern supervisor: - regular progress meetings, interview practice, provision of professional references and CV/cover letter proof reading by experienced senior clinicians to aid residency applications
• Generous CPD allowance and encouragement to present at scientific meetings

To learn more about the Farm Animal Veterinary Services and the Department, please visit: https://www.hospital.vet.cam.ac.uk/farm-animal.

Informal enquiries should be directed to: Ian McCrone, by email: ism27@cam.ac.uk.

Applicants must be a Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons or hold a veterinary degree qualifying them for membership.

A JCTS Application Form (JCTS 1) and Information Pack can be downloaded from the following website: https://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/job.

Applicants should supply a completed Junior Clinical Training Scholarship Application Form (JCTS 1), a CV and Covering Letter giving reasons for wishing to undertake the JCTS in the Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge.

Applications should be submitted via e-mail to: vetmed@vet.cam.ac.uk with the above documents as one attachment, by the closing date stated. Please quote reference PP45804 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The deadline for applications is midnight on Monday 26th May 2025. Interviews will be held Monday 9th June 2025.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications or extend it if we do not receive a sufficient number of applications. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

Please note: The ability to take up this Scholarship is contingent upon you being able to evidence your right to work in the UK, or through gaining the right to work via the UK immigration system. Evidence will need to be provided before an offer can be made. Regrettably, this Scholarship is not suitable for sponsorship via the Skilled Worker or Temporary Worker visa routes as the minimum requirements cannot be met.

Applications are invited for a fully-funded 3-year PhD studentship based in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Cambridge under the supervision of Professor Stephen Price and Dr Alexis Joannides starting October 2025.

Project description:

Gliomas are the commonest primary brain tumour and account for more average years of life loss than all common cancers. They are the commonest cause of cancer death in children and adults under 40 years old. There have been few new treatments for these patients making it imperative we optimise treatments we currently have.

Much of the improvement in survival with gliomas over the last 20 years has been down to surgery. We know surgery can kill more tumour than all other methods and that good resection of tumours can improve the efficacy of other treatments making improvements in surgery complementary to other improvements in treatment. Yet, surgery is the most toxic therapy. Our aim is to remove as much of the tumour as possible without causing neurological deficits.

We are beginning to understand which patients respond best to aggressive therapy and which do not need such aggressive surgery. Much of this is based on molecular subtypes predicting better oncological treatment responses. The problem is that we only find these subtypes some weeks after surgery. If we could diagnose the subtype of tumour intra-operatively, there may be an opportunity to tailor surgery based on these subtypes. Changing therapy for subtypes is an approach that has had significant impact on breast cancer survival.

This project will develop methods to look at how we can make intra-operative diagnosis in gliomas. It will focus on how we can obtain tissue intra-operatively and how we can analyse the tissue. Initial work will focus on assays for 2-hydroxyglutarate in tumour samples with IDH mutations. The project will involve working with scientsts and clinicians to obtain data from the operating theatre from patients with brain tumours.

This project will be based in the Cambridge Brain Tumour Imaging laboratory is a unique laboratory involved in using imaging and other techniques o guide and improve surgery.

This project is funded through the NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Brain Injury (HRC) Fellowship Programme, which has been designed to support the research needs across its 5 themes: prevention & education, acute care & monitoring, restoration & rehabilitation, diagnostics and life-course. Central to the programme are the 7 core academic projects, across 4 academic partners.

In addition to the institutional training and education support, the HRC rolling educational programme will be delivered through a mixture of tutorials, workshops, web-based training resources, networking events and peer-led activities. This will equip fellows with unique considerations for developing HealthTech solutions, including modules in navigating the Regulatory and Commercial landscape, Essentials of Health Economics, Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement, How to Sell to the NHS, Research Inclusion, Research Design and Funding Support.

Funding

The studentship will cover the student's fees and stipend for three years at the current UOC rate for October 2025, £19,000.00 and Home fees of £10,356.00.

The studentships are available to students who qualify for UK Home fees.

Please check for Home eligibility (https://www.fee-status.admin.cam.ac.uk/) and entry requirements (https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/cvcnpdpcn/requirements)

All applications should be made online via the University's Applicant Portal for a PhD in PhD in Clinical Neurosciences. Deadline to apply is 30 April 2025. Please apply via the application portal - https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/cvcnpdpcn/apply

Applications should include academic transcripts, CV, statement of purpose and 2 references. An application is only complete when all supporting documents, including the 2 academic references, are submitted. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure their referees submit their references before the closing date. Please also explain your motivation why you wish to pursue a PhD in this area, outline your research interests and background, and describe the qualities and experience you will bring to the role.

Any queries about the project, please contact Mita Brahmbhatt (NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Brain Injury) at mb994@cam.ac.uk

Any questions regarding application processes, please contact the Education team on pgneurosci@medschl.cam.ac.uk.

Please quote reference ZE45542 and project title on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Project Summary:

Gram negative bacteria are major plant, animal, and human pathogens. There is an urgent unmet need to find new antibiotics against these pathogens (although little progress has been made in the last 40 years. Phenotypic screening has failed to find new compounds with novel mode of action while rational (structure-guided) antibiotic discovery has proved impossible in most cases because of a failure to understand the permeability, retention, and metabolism of chemicals. We have recently completed a systematic analysis of chemical retention and xenometabolism in mycobacteria (funding by the Gates Foundation) demonstrating that we can predict compound entry, retention and metabolism using ML approaches, for new unseen compounds to guide antibiotic discovery. The proposal will (i) modify these methods to map out permissive chemical space in a gram-negative bacteria, (ii) leverage existing mutant libraries to define molecular mechanisms of influx, efflux, and metabolism, and (iii) use this information to employ in silico screening and generative AI methods to create new antibiotics for soluble essential and vulnerable targets. The studentship will be co-supervised by Professor David Spring (Department of Chemistry).

This studentship is 3 years in length, from October 2025, and includes fees and maintenance for students eligible for Home fees. This studentship is part of BBRSC-Cambridge Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership.

Applicants should hold (or expect to obtain) the equivalent of a UK 2.1 or higher in an undergraduate honours or Masters degree in a relevant subject.

To be appointed applicants must meet our minimum entry criteria which can be found at: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/cvmdpdmed

For eligibility for home fees please check: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/finance/fees/what-my-fee-status.

All applications should be made online via the University's Applicant Portal for a PhD in PhD in Medicine. Please apply via the application portal here - https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/cvmdpdmed

Please quote reference RC45508 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Applications are invited for a fully-funded 3-year PhD studentship based in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Cambridge under the supervision of Dr Topun Austin starting October 2025.

Project description

Acute brain injury in the newborn is a major cause of death and lifelong disability, including cerebral palsy, intellectual deficits, epilepsy and autism spectrum disorders with significant physical, psychological and economic burden on individuals, their families and society.

Globally 15 million newborn infants are born preterm, and it is the largest cause of death in children under 5 years. Preterm infants are at risk of acute brain injury at birth and are also at risk of neurodevelopmental problems as a consequence of being born too soon. In infants born at term, global hypoxia-ischaemia, perinatal stroke and traumatic brain injury result in an annual rate of acute brain injury of 3.5/1000 live births. Early accurate diagnosis is essential for timely management for these infants.

Structural brain imaging with cranial ultrasound (CUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remain the traditional means of neurological assessment but are limited in their ability to reliably predict the extent or nature of injury and future impairment. While CUS is portable and repeated scans can be undertaken at the cotside, they lack the spatial resolution of MRI. MRI, however, requires transfer of sick and vulnerable infants to the MRI scanner and offers only a single snapshot of brain structure. The limitation of conventional imaging is due to the complex relationship between brain structure and function in the developing brain. This inability to accurately predict those infants who will go on to develop problems makes it extremely challenging to focus resources on those infants who would benefit from early intervention to improve their outcome.¿

This project aims to assess the functional integrity of the brain repeatedly at the cotside in neonates with acute brain injury by developing a novel portable dual-modality functional brain imaging system. The system combines the complimentary technologies of functional diffuse optical tomography (fDOT) and functional ultrasound (fUS). fDOT uses multi-channel near infrared light to produce high spatial and temporal resolution images of regional changes in cortical blood flow and oxygenation, reflecting brain activity throughout the cerebral cortex. fUS ultrasound waves are similar to CUS but using novel image reconstruction techniques and parallel computing technologies reaching 10,000 frames per second, enables very sensitive mapping of regional cerebral blood volume changes in deep cerebral structures. Combining these modalities will enable the first ever functional whole-brain imaging (cerebral cortex and deeper structures) at the cotside from newborn infants with acute brain injury.

The project will involve working with scientists and clinicians to obtain data from the cotside of both healthy and preterm infants as well as infants at risk of acute brain injury, from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Cambridge. Working in collaboration with scientists and engineers both in Cambridge, but also University College London and INSERM, Paris, novel image reconstruction techniques will be developed to enable simultaneous optical and ultrasound data to be displayed.

This project is funded through the NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Brain Injury (HRC) Fellowship Programme, which has been designed to support the research needs across its 5 themes: prevention & education, acute care & monitoring, restoration & rehabilitation, diagnostics and life-course. Central to the programme are the 7 core academic projects, across 4 academic partners.

In addition to the institutional training and education support, the HRC rolling educational programme will be delivered through a mixture of tutorials, workshops, web-based training resources, networking events and peer-led activities. This will equip fellows with unique considerations for developing HealthTech solutions, including modules in navigating the Regulatory and Commercial landscape, Essentials of Health Economics, Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement, How to Sell to the NHS, Research Inclusion, Research Design and Funding Support.

Funding

The studentship will cover the student's fees and stipend for three years at the current UOC rate for October 2025, £19,000.00 and Home fees of £10,356.00. The studentship is are open to students who are eligible for UK Home fees, however, if you are an international student, you can still apply and be considered, but you will need provide fees to cover the shortfall between Home and International fees.

Please check for Home Fees Eligibility (https://www.fee-status.admin.cam.ac.uk/) and Entry requirements (https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/cvcnpdpcn/requirements)

All applications should be made online via the University's Applicant Portal for a PhD in PhD in Clinical Neurosciences. Deadline to apply is 30 April 2025.

Please apply via the application portal here - https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/cvcnpdpcn/apply.

Applications should include academic transcripts, CV, statement of purpose and 2 references. An application is only complete when all supporting documents, including the 2 academic references, are submitted. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure their referees submit their references before the closing date. Please also explain your motivation why you wish to pursue a PhD in this area, outline your research interests and background, and describe the qualities and experience you will bring to the role.

Any queries about the project, please contact Mita Brahmbhatt (NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Brain Injury) on mb994@cam.ac.uk

Any questions regarding application processes please contact the Education team on pgneurosci@medschl.cam.ac.uk.

Please quote reference ZE45486 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Developing novel patient centred pathways, following acute presentation with mild traumatic brain injury

A fully funded PhD at the University of Cambridge, under the supervision of Dr Virginia Newcombe is available.

An estimated 60 million people worldwide each year sustain a traumatic brain injury of which 80%-90% are classified as a mild TBI (mTBI, concussion). Common causes include sporting injuries, falls and road traffic collisions.

Current clinical pathways in the ED focus on immediate needs. For example, using a CT scan of the brain to decide whether a patient needs surgery urgently for bleeding, and do not take into account potential longer term problems. Reducing ED waiting time may be important for patients as symptoms may worsen in the noisy environment. In addition, the number of people attending EDs for all health issues is rising, leading to longer waiting times.

There is also growing appreciation that "mild" is a misnomer as these patients may have ongoing functional, symptomatic and cognitive deficits that may benefit from further management. Our failure to prognosticate in this group means those with persisting problems are often lost to the ongoing care they need, and a presentation to ED could be a potential opportunity for stratification of need and signposting to appropriate onward care.

Rapidly evolving technologies offer potential to change the clinical pathway in EDs and improve care of people who have sustained a mTBI. For example a machine learning algorithm developed to detect TBI lesions on CT (BLAST-CT, developed by our group in collaboration with academics at Imperial College London) has the potential to assist emergency physicians to identify patients with normal scans. Blood biomarkers offer the potential to aid both diagnosis and prognostication in mTBI in the Emergency Department (ED) setting. Understanding the potential clinical utility of these technologies requires an understanding of existing care pathways, how these are enacted in practice, any inadvertent consequences, challenges in adoption and acceptance by both clinicians and patients, and where the information provided by them would make the most difference to both clinical decision making and ultimately patient outcomes.

This project will aim to understand how implementation such technologies may effect pathways. This work will involve scoping of existing care pathways and the impact on mTBI patient experience, including the identification of care gaps and unmet need. It will take advantage of data collected as part of the NIHR EME funded study BRAINS-TBI (Biomarkers for RAtional Investigation for Neurological decision Support in TBI, Chief Investigator Newcombe, NIHR159241); a UK multi-centre study of >2000 patients with mTBI, as well as other linked datasets, and consider health delivery models that could incorporate such innovations and technologies into routine practice. Specific details of the PhD project will be determined by the student's interests.

This project, home fees and stipends, is funded through the NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Brain Injury (HRC) Fellowship Programme, which has been designed to support the research needs across its 5 themes: prevention & education, acute care & monitoring, restoration & rehabilitation, diagnostics and life-course. Central to the programme are the 7 core academic projects, across 4 academic partners.

In addition to the institutional training and education support, the HRC rolling educational programme will be delivered through a mixture of tutorials, workshops, web-based training resources, networking events and peer-led activities. This will equip fellows with unique considerations for developing HealthTech solutions, including modules in navigating the Regulatory and Commercial landscape, Essentials of Health Economics, Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement, How to Sell to the NHS, Research Inclusion, Research Design and Funding Support.

This studentship covers a stipend at the current UK Research and Innovation rate Home Fees and University Fees at the Home rate. International students will be considered if the shortfall in fees is covered from elsewhere

The studentship will be funded for three years from October 2025.

Closing date: 16th May 2025

To be appointed applicants must meet our minimum entry criteria which can be found at: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/cvmdpdmed

For eligibility for home fees please check: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/finance/fees/what-my-fee-status.

Applicants should hold (or expect to obtain) the equivalent of a UK 2.1 or higher in an undergraduate honours or Masters degree in a relevant subject.

All applications should be made online via the University's Applicant Portal for a PhD in Medicine. Applications should include academic transcripts, CV, statement of purpose and 2 references.

An application is only complete when all supporting documents, including the 2 academic references, are submitted. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure their referees submit their references before the closing date.

Please also explain your motivation why you wish to pursue a PhD in this area, outline your research interests and background, and describe the qualities and experience you will bring to the role.

If you have any queries regarding the application process please contact the Clinical School HR Team via email cshrstaffhub@admin.cam.ac.uk.

For information about how your personal data is used as an applicant, please see the section on Applicant Data (https://www.hr.admin.cam.ac.uk/hr-staff/hr-data/applicant-data )on our HR web pages.

Please quote reference RC45467 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

SCHOLARSHIP AWARD: £28,738.00 (Subject to change)

A three-year Senior Clinical Training Scholarship in Small Animal Medicine (Residency) is available, to start on 11 August 2025. The training programme covers all aspects of small animal medicine, including cardiology, oncology, medical neurology, diagnostic imaging and clinical pathology, and is approved by the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

The Scholar will register for the Diploma of the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. The training programme requires participation in the Department's clinical service, including the out-of-hours rota, in addition to small-group teaching of veterinary students.

An applicant must be a Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, or hold a veterinary degree that qualifies them for membership. Completion of an appropriate internship or a minimum of two years' experience in small animal practice, during which you have gained knowledge of UK veterinary regulations and practices, is essential.

Closing date for applications: Midnight on Monday, 10 February 2025.

Interviews will be held early April 2025.

Informal enquiries should be directed to Nick Bexfield, Clinical Director of Small Animal Services, by email: nb289@cam.ac.uk

A SCTS application form (SCTS1) and information pack can be downloaded from the following website: https://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/job

Applicants should supply a completed SCTS Application Form (SCTS1), Curriculum Vitae and Covering Letter giving reasons for wishing to undertake this SCTS in the Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge.

Applications should be submitted via e-mail to vetmed@vet.cam.ac.uk with the above documents as one attachment no later than the closing date stated.

Once an offer of employment has been accepted, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a health assessment.

Please note: The ability to take up this Scholarship is contingent upon you being able to evidence your right to work in the UK, or through gaining the right to work via the UK immigration system. Evidence will need to be provided before an offer can be made. Regrettably, this Scholarship is not suitable for sponsorship via the Skilled Worker or Temporary Worker visa routes as the minimum requirements cannot be met.

Supervisor: Dr Magdalena Crossley

Department/location: Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute (CRUK CI)

Course start date: 1st October 2025

Overview

Dr Magdalena Crossley wishes to recruit a PhD student to work on the project entitled: 'Investigating the causes and consequences of R-loop dysregulation in cancer'.

For further information about CRUK CI's newest research group, please visit our website at: https://www.cruk.cam.ac.uk/research-groups/crossley-group/

Project details

RNA-DNA hybrid structures, including R-loops, form on the genome and have physiological roles in regulating gene expression. However, dysregulation of R-loops can threaten genome maintenance and has been linked to cancer, neurodegeneration and autoimmunity. We investigate, at the molecular level, how R-loops and RNA-DNA hybrids become pathological, impacting genome stability and innate immunity.

We recently discovered that dysregulation of R-loop metabolism by cancer-associated mutations leads to the excision of R-loops. Excised RNA-DNA hybrids are exported from the nucleus and build up in the cytoplasm of cells, activating an innate immune response (Crossley et al., Nature 2023). We developed new biochemical, genomics and imaging approaches to study RNA-DNA hybrids across different cellular compartments. PhD projects are expected to gain mechanistic and translational insights into this novel and fascinating population of nucleic acids. Projects will be tailored to the successful individual(s) based on interests and previous experience, incorporating one or more of the following areas:

• Genome biology and cellular dynamics of RNA-DNA hybrids, eg their biogenesis from oncogene activation, retroelements and mitochondria.
• RNA-DNA hybrids in innate immunity and cellular responses, eg senescence.
• Extracellular RNA-DNA hybrid release.
• Developing genomics and computational approaches for interrogation of RNA-DNA hybrids in cells and patient samples.

Your project will explore the role of RNA-DNA hybrids in human cells, with the aim to translate our mechanistic findings into patient samples and inform new therapeutic entry points.

You can expect to develop innovative skills in both experimental and computational approaches, benefit from close mentoring, and have an opportunity to shape the scientific direction of a new research group.

Further reading

1. Crossley M. P., et al. Nature (2023). doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07064-1
2. Crossley M. P., et al. JCB (2021). doi: 10.1083/jcb.202101092
3. Crossley M. P., et al. NAR (2020). doi: 10.1093/nar/gkaa500
4. Crossley M. P., et al. Mol. Cell (2019). doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2019.01.024

Preferred skills/knowledge

We are looking for candidates with excellent laboratory and/or computational skills, a strong background in biochemistry, molecular biology, genomics or computational biology/bioinformatics, as well as a keen interest in RNA/genome biology. Successful candidates are expected to have excellent communication, organisational and time-management skills, an inquisitive mind, and be highly motivated to drive an independent research project.

Funding

This four-year studentship is funded by Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute. It includes full funding for University fees and, in addition, a stipend currently of £21,000 per annum for four years.

Eligibility

We welcome applications from both UK and overseas students. Applications are invited from recent graduates or final-year undergraduates who hold or expect to gain a First/Upper Second Class degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject from any recognised university worldwide.

Deadline

The closing date for applications is 24th March 2025 with in-person interviews expected to take place in April/May 2025.

How to apply

Please apply via the University Applicant Portal. For further information about the course and to access the Applicant Portal, visit:
https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/cvcrpdmsc

You should select to commence study in Michaelmas Term 2025 (October 2025).

Additional information

To complete your online application, you will need to answer/provide the following:

• Choice of project and supervisor:

Please ensure that you name the project (with reference code) and Dr Madzia Crossley as supervisor, where indicated.

• Course-specific questions

(a) You will be asked to give details of your Research Experience (up to 2,500 characters)

(b) Your Statement of Interest (up to 2,500 characters) should explain why you wish to be considered for the studentship and what qualities and experience you will bring to the role.

• Supporting documents

Applicants will be asked to provide:

(a) Academic transcripts

(b) Evidence of competence in English (if appropriate)

(c) Details of two academic referees

(d) CV/resume

Please quote reference SW45073 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Project details

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) accounts for 75% of renal cell cancers. It is defined by bi-allelic knockout of the VHL gene consistent with a classical "two-hit" model of carcinogenesis. We previously demonstrated through multiregional whole genome sequencing that the first hit, loss of chromosome 3p occurs 5 to 20 years prior to the second hit - either via a point mutation or epigenetic silencing of the VHL gene. There is a further delay of between 10 and 30 years prior to diagnosis. Over this time, the small cluster of two to three hundred cells grows to a clinically detectable cancer at least 1-2 cm in diameter, where longitudinal radiological data have revealed highly variable growth rates, typically between 2 and 3 mm per year.

With the increased detection of kidney cancers though cross-sectional imaging, there is an increasing need to effectively risk stratify tumours to those that require urgent treatment and those that can be managed in a more conservative manner.

This studentship aims to explore the factors that either promote or repress tumour growth over this long period of time. It will leverage a unique large-scale clinical cohort that has undergone comprehensive genomic profiling. The overall aim is to find ways of either preventing tumour progression or to predict how tumours might behave in the future. The precise composition of the PhD project will be defined based on the candidate's particular interests and the opportunities available. Analysis techniques can include:

• Whole genome and targeted duplex DNA sequencing
• Epigenetic sequencing
• Bulk RNA and spatial transcriptomics
• Radiomic analysis
• AI/ ML approaches to integrate the above data-streams

The project will be hosted in the Early Cancer Institute, Department of Oncology.

Candidate

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual capable of thinking and working independently. Applicants should have or shortly expect to obtain a minimum of a good upper second-class honours degree from a UK university, or an equivalent standard from an overseas university, in a relevant discipline.

Funding

Funding for this post is available for three years. Funding will cover the student's stipend and tuition fees at home or international rates.

This studentship is funded by generous donations from Tzo Tze Ang and Eashwar Krishnan, and will be awarded to an outstanding postgraduate student (home or international) undertaking a PhD in urological cancer research in the Department of Surgery.

The successful candidate will be known as a Krishnan-Ang Scholar and will join a cohort of postgraduate students already supported by the donors at Trinity College.

Eashwar and Tzo Tze were both undergraduates at Trinity: Eashwar read Natural Sciences (Matric. 1996) and Tzo Tze read Electrical & Information Sciences (Matric. 1997).

Eligibility

The funding for this studentship covers students accepted for a PhD in urological cancer research in the Department of Surgery.

How to apply

The deadline for applications is 3 March 2025

Apply via the University Application portal here for the PhD in Surgery programme. You should name the 'Krishnan-Ang Studentship for Cancer Research, Urology' in your application and list Mr Thomas Mitchell your prospective supervisor.

All prospective candidates are encouraged to contact Mr Thomas Mitchell at: tjm61@cam.ac.uk prior to applying, to discuss this opportunity in greater detail and refine the potential research proposal.

For application process queries, please contact clusterPG@medschl.cam.ac.uk

Interview and selection process

Interviews will take place in April 2025.

All candidates who have not been shortlisted will be informed of the outcome of their application.

Please quote reference RD45095 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Applications are invited for a fully-funded 4-year PhD studentship based in the Department of Pathology at the University of Cambridge under the supervision of Dr Arwen Altenburg starting October 2025.

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules play an essential role in alerting immune cells to cellular changes in infected and cancer cells. They do this by presenting peptides derived from pathogen and tumour proteins to immune cells. To evade immune detection, viruses have evolved strategies to manipulate MHC class I or other proteins in the antigen processing and pathway. Our research explores the MHC class I pathway in virus infections to enhance our understanding of MHC class I biology and virus-host interactions. Through the characterisation of these dynamics, we aim to enable future innovation of vaccines and therapeutics.

For more information please see here: https://www.path.cam.ac.uk/graduate/fully-funded-studentships

Funding* will cover the student's stipend at the current Research Council rate and University Fees. The studentship will be funded for four years from October 2025.

The studentships are available to students who qualify for UK Home fees. Please check for eligibility details; https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/finance/fees/what-my-fee-status.

Applicants should hold (or expect to obtain) the equivalent of a UK 2.1 or higher in an undergraduate honours or Masters degree in a relevant subject. The studentship is open to those eligible for the Home rate of University fees.

All applications should be made online via the University's Applicant Portal; https://apply.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/applicant/login?dswid=6631 for a PhD in Pathology (BLPA22). Applications should include academic transcripts, CV, statement of purpose and 2 references. An application is only complete when all supporting documents, including the 2 academic references, are submitted. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure their referees submit their references before the closing date (2nd March 2025). Please also explain your motivation why you wish to pursue a PhD in this area, outline your research interests and background, and describe the qualities and experience you will bring to the role.

Please quote reference PK44971 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Somatic evolution of the immune response to chronic inflammation and liver cancer progression through single-cell multiomics

Applications are invited for a fully-funded 4-year PhD studentship based in the Department of Pathology at the University of Cambridge under the supervision of Dr Heather Machado starting October 2025.

Our body's immune system is one of the most powerful tools in the fight against cancer. An improved understanding of how the adaptive immune system evolves in the context of cancer, including the effects of chronic inflammation and the phenotypic changes from premalignancy to cancer progression, could lead to improved cancer outcomes. However, these immune dynamics are difficult to study directly in humans due to longitudinal sampling constraints. To overcome these obstacles, this project will apply state-of-the-art lineage tracing techniques and single-cell multiomics to track CD8+ T cell dynamics in an inflammatory premalignancy and the resulting liver cancer.

For more information please see here: https://www.path.cam.ac.uk/graduate/fully-funded-studentships

Funding* will cover the student's stipend at the current Research Council rate and University Fees. The studentship will be funded for four years from October 2025.

The studentships are available to students who qualify for UK Home fees.

Please check for eligibility details; https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/finance/fees/what-my-fee-status.

Applicants should hold (or expect to obtain) the equivalent of a UK 2.1 or higher in an undergraduate honours or Masters degree in a relevant subject. The studentship is open to those eligible for the Home rate of University fees.

All applications should be made online via the University's Applicant Portal for a PhD in Pathology (BLPA22). Applications should include academic transcripts, CV, statement of purpose and 2 references. An application is only complete when all supporting documents, including the 2 academic references, are submitted. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure their referees submit their references before the closing date. Please also explain your motivation why you wish to pursue a PhD in this area, outline your research interests and background, and describe the qualities and experience you will bring to the role.

Please quote reference PK44919 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Asthma and COPD are widespread chronic respiratory diseases that impose a heavy social and economic burden. Traditional treatments often follow a "one-size-fits-all" approach, merely suppressing symptoms without achieving true health improvements. The MSCA Doctoral Network RESPIRE-EXCEL is set to revolutionize this by introducing precision medicine tailored to individual patients. We are looking for 15 enthusiastic PhD students to join our innovative project. As a PhD student in RESPIRE-EXCEL, you will be part of a dynamic, international team of young researchers. You will undertake your own research project at your host organization, focusing on your specific area of interest. To broaden your expertise, part of your PhD will be conducted at other RESPIRE-EXCEL partner organizations via internships.

Our program offers advanced interdisciplinary courses led by top experts in Precision Medicine for Respiratory Diseases. You will gain cross-sectoral competencies and multidisciplinary knowledge, enabling you to collaborate effectively with industry, healthcare, and academia. The RESPIRE-EXCEL consortium includes numerous academic, industrial, and societal partners from across Europe and the UK, such as the European Lung Foundation and the European Respiratory Society. Are you ready to make a difference in the field of respiratory medicine? Explore the PhD positions available in the RESPIRE-EXCEL project and join us in shaping the future of precision medicine for asthma and COPD! For a more detailed description of the PhD projects please visit the website.

Charting Cellular & Molecular Mechanisms of Disease (Mechanisms)

To define asthma and COPD endotypes, we will study cellular and molecular mechanisms in lung tissue. Using existing datasets and advanced techniques, we will map gene regulatory networks and predict responses. We will analyze lung tissue with spatial transcriptomics, proteomics, and lipidomics to identify disease mechanisms and treatment targets. RESPIRE-EXCEL partners will support these integrated analyses.

Identifying Disease Endotypes for Patient Stratification (Biomarkers)

To stratify patients for precision medicine, we need biomarkers in nasal swabs or blood that reflect lung disease mechanisms. We will analyze samples from asthma and COPD patients using advanced techniques to identify patient clusters and link them to disease mechanisms. This will help distinguish asthma and COPD endotypes for targeted treatments.

Cellular & Molecular Basis for Treatment Responses to Biologicals (Treatment)

To achieve disease remission with precision medicine, we will identify which asthma and COPD endotypes respond to treatments like Tezepelumab, Dupilumab, and Mepolizumab. We will analyze patient samples before and after treatment using scRNA-seq, immunohistochemical analyses, and functional studies. This will help identify responder and non-responder endotypes, explore new treatments, and understand treatment responses.

Endotype-based Models for Validation of Targets and Biomarkers (Models)

Current treatments may not cover all asthma and COPD endotypes. We will identify and validate targets for additional endotypes. RESPIRE-EXCEL will create a comprehensive lung disease atlas, integrating various datasets. We will also develop COPD model atlases using scRNA-seq data from patients, cultured cells, and mouse models. This will guide target validation and drug discovery. Additionally, we will generate primary cell culture models to study endotype-specific mechanisms using air-liquid interface and 3D epithelial organoid culture models.

Please apply via the bleow link: https://werkenbijumcg.nl/-/vacatures/phd-positions-to-study-precision-medicine-for-respiratory-diseases/10419-02s0009emp

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

This is a 3.5 year fully funded studentship including a UKRI-aligned stipend (£19,237 for 2024/25), a cost of living allowance of £2,200 per annum, and Home rated university tuition fees. International applicants may apply, however will attract tuition fees at the overseas rate and must show evidence of their ability to cover the difference between Home fees and Overseas fees for the duration of study.

Students without English as a first language must provide evidence that they meet the English language requirement, e.g. with an average IELTS score of 7.0, as detailed: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/blpapdpth/requirements.

The student will be registered with the University of Cambridge and will work at both The Pirbright Institute and in Cambridge. Highly subsidised Pirbright Institute student housing will be offered. A full range of research and transferrable skills training will be made available to the student as appropriate.

Principal Supervisors: Dr Jonas Albarnaz (The Pirbright Institute), Prof Stephen Graham (University of Cambridge)

Co-Supervisor: Dr Dalan Bailey (The Pirbright Institute)

Research Group: https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/our-science/research-groups/capripoxvirus-biology

PROJECT DETAILS:

An evolutionary arms race for supremacy exists between viruses and their hosts' immune systems. Viruses rely on cellular resources and machinery for their replication, and cells defend themselves from viruses by recognising and blocking infections. Therefore, viruses continually evolve new strategies (i) to subvert cellular biosynthetic machinery to support viral replication whilst (ii) escaping the host cell's antiviral defences, and in turn hosts counter-evolve to overcome viral antagonism of their antiviral defences. Mammals are equipped with a complex immune system that plays an essential role fighting off viral infections through the actions of professional immune cells that recognise and mount an antiviral immune response, processes that have been investigated in detail. However, there exists another layer of immunity that functions at an intracellular level, where newly infected cells try to recognise and abort infection before the virus can take over the cellular biosynthetic machinery. We investigate these early virus-host interactions at the cellular level.

Full Project Details: https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/careers-and-learning/education-programme/postgraduate-studentships

ELIGIBILITY AND FUNDING:

This studentship is open to science graduates with, or who anticipate obtaining, at least a 2:1 or equivalent in a relevant biological subject in an undergraduate degree, or with a Masters degree - subject to university regulations. Other first degrees, e.g. veterinary science, will be considered. You should be looking for a challenging, interdisciplinary research training environment and have an active interest in the control of infectious diseases.

Please quote reference PK44721 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.