School of Biological and Chemical Sciences
  1. School of Biological and Chemical Sciences
  2. Postgraduate
  3. PhD programmes
  4. PhD projects

PhD projects

The following list contains details of available PhD projects within the School. Please note that these projects are currently unfunded. Applicants are required to have obtained or intend to apply for external funding. See our fees and funding page for information on sources of funding for PhD studies. Applications from candidates intending to self-fund their PhD are also accepted – please visit our self-funding students page for relevant information. Our directly funded PhD opportunities are advertised on our postgraduate research studentships page.

Search our current PhD projects by keyword or supervisor, or filter by research department. Once you have found a PhD project you would like to apply for you should express your interest, usually via email, with the supervisor before you make a formal application. Please refer to our application process for further details.

Other projects may also be possible and should be discussed with a prospective supervisor. The research themes of the School can be found on our research pages and research interests of individual members of staff can be browsed on their personal pages.

 




ProjectSupervisorKeywordshide DepartmentsDepartments

Adaptation to environmental change

 Nichols, Prof Richard Adaptation, Evolution. Environmental change, Genomics, Endangered species, Conservation, Mathematical modelling, Statistics  Biology Biology 

Aryne-mediated synthesis of biologically active heterocycles

 Jones, Dr Chris Organic chemistry, Pharmaceutical chemistry, Synthetic chemistry Chemistry Chemistry
Centromere inheritance in S. pombe and beyond Subramanian, Dr Lakxmi Biochemistry, Cell biology/development, Evolution, Genetics, Microbiology, Molecular biology Biochemistry Biochemistry
Comparative Cognition Versace, Dr Elisabetta Animal/Artificial intelligence, Evolution, Cognition, Comparative psychology Psychology Psychology
Comparative physiology and evolution of neuropeptide signalling Elphick, Prof Maurice Neurobiology, Evolution, Echinoderms, Bioinformatics, Genomics, Transcriptomics, Peptidomics, Molecular histology Biology Biology
Computational modeling of photo-phenomena in condensed phase Crespo-Otero, Dr Rachel Biophysics, Computational chemistry, Materials science, Physical chemistry Chemistry Chemistry
Computational modelling of protein dynamics in heart disease Fornili, Dr Arianna Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Computational chemistry, Pharmaceutical chemistry, Physical chemistry Chemistry Chemistry
Computational simulations of molecular switches Crespo-Otero, Dr Rachel Biophysics, Computational chemistry, Materials science, Physical chemistry Chemistry Chemistry
Contextual information in adaptation Mareschal, Dr Isabelle Neuroscience Psychology Psychology
The contradictory functions of carotenoid-based light-harvesters: Understanding energy harvesting and dissipation in the Fucoxanthin-Chlorophyll Protein (FCP) Duffy, Dr Christopher Biophysics, Applied mathematics, Computational chemistry, Photosynthesis, Structural biology, Quantum dynamics Biochemistry Biochemistry

Data science & machine learning for genomic analysis

 Wurm, Dr Yannick Genomics, Data science, Machine learning, Genetics, Bioinformatics, Software engineering Biology Biology
Developing novel drugs to target Chagas disease Wilkinson, Dr Shane Chagas disease, Trypanosoma, Nitroreductase, DNA repair, Interstrand crosslink, Prodrugs Biochemistry Biochemistry
Developing prodrugs to target neglected tropical diseases Wilkinson, Dr Shane Chagas disease, Trypanosoma, Nitroreductase, DNA repair, Interstrand crosslink, Prodrugs Biochemistry Biochemistry
Developing novel drugs to target Leishmaniasis Wilkinson, Dr Shane Leishmaniasis, Nitroreductase, DNA repair, Interstrand crosslink, Prodrugs Biochemistry Biochemistry
Developing novel synthetic strategies for the synthesis of metallic ceramics at lower temperature Giordano, Dr Cristina Materials chemistry, Nanotechnology, Physical chemistry, Synthesis Chemistry Chemistry
Development and characterization of new energy materials Abrahams, Dr Isaac Electrochemistry, Inorganic chemistry Materials science Chemistry Chemistry
Divergent synthesis of polycyclic heterocycles via direct C(sp3)-H bond activation Jones, Dr Christopher Organic chemistry, Pharmaceutical chemistry, Synthetic chemistry Chemistry Chemistry
Dynamic interactions between people in complex decision making contexts Osman, Dr Magda Psychology, Behaviour, Mental model, Decision making Psychology Psychology
Electrocatalysts in Nanotubes: A Nanotechnology Computational and Experimental Approach  Di Tommaso, Dr Devis Computational chemistry, Environmental chemistry, Materials science, Physical chemistry Chemistry Chemistry
Exploring the impact of plant genome size on community structure dependent on soils and underlying geology Leitch, Prof. Andrew Botany/Plant science, Cell biology/development, Ecology, Conservation, Genetics Biology Biology
Evolutionary genomics in ants Wurm, Dr Yannick Genetics, Social evolution, Next generation sequencing, Bioinformatics Biology Biology
G-Protein Coupled Receptors as therapeutic targets in drug discovery Howell, Dr Lesley Medicinal chemistry, Pharmaceutical chemistry, Synthetic chemistry Chemistry Chemistry
How do human cells ensure the accurate segregation of chromosomes? Draviam, Prof Viji Biochemistry, Cancer/Oncology, Cell biology/development, Genetics, Molecular biology Biochemistry Biochemistry
Identification of inhibitors of the pro-survival protein Mcl-1 Howell, Dr Lesley  Medicinal chemistry, Pharmaceutical chemistry, Synthetic chemistry Chemistry Chemistry
Improved computational methods for quantitative proteomics Bessant, Prof. Conrad Analytical chemistry, Biochemistry, Applied mathematics, Bioinformatics, Computer science, Data analysis, Software engineering Biochemistry Biochemistry
Ion-Selective Organic Materials for Bioelectronic Applications Nielsen, Dr Christian Organic chemistry, Materials chemistry, Synthetic chemistry   Chemistry Chemistry
The evolution of immunity in species exposed to invading pathogens Knell, Dr Rob Ecology, Conservation, Evolution, Parasitology, Immunity Biology Biology
Light-driven Fe-catalysed reduction of C-C multiple bondsAn approximation to the direct use of alkenes and alkynes as nucleophilic alkyl-/alkenyl- synthons Cambeiro, Dr Xacobe Organic Chemistry Chemistry Chemistry
Loneliness and its effects on vision and decision making Mareschal, Dr Isabelle Psychology, Mental health, Cognitive psychology Psychology Psychology
Luminescent metal complexes for optoelectronics based on fluorinated organic ligands Wyatt, Dr Peter Organic Synthesis, Photonic Materials, Organofluorine, Luminescence, Optoelectronics  Chemistry Chemistry
Magnetic metal carbides and nitrides as alternative materials for bio-related applications Giordano, Dr Cristina Materials chemistry, Nanotechnology, Physical chemistry, Synthesis Chemistry Chemistry
Mechanisms that drive aneuploidy in cancers Draviam, Prof Viji Biochemistry, Cancer/Oncology, Cell Biology/Development, Data Analysis Biochemistry Biochemistry
Metal catalysed activation of dioxygen (air) for selective substrate oxidation Sheriff, Dr Tippu Selective Oxidation, Dioxygen, Hydrogen Peroxide, Catalysis, Green Chemistry Chemistry Chemistry

Metal-free C(sp3)-H arylation of unsaturated heterocycles

 Jones, Dr Christopher Organic Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Synthetic Chemistry Chemistry Chemistry
Modelling of hybrid nanostructures for nanoelectronics and renewable energy applications Crespo-Otero, Dr Rachel, Palma, Dr Matteo Biophysics, Computational chemistry, Materials science, Physical chemistry, Chemistry Chemistry

Molecular diagnostics for pollinator health

 Wurm, Dr Yannick Ecology, Ecosystems, Molecular diagnostics, Pollination, Crop production Biology Biology
Molecular genetics of psychiatric disease Brennan, Prof Caroline Bioinformatics, genes, psychiatric disease, zebrafish Psychology Psychology
Neural dynamics of learning from feedback: tracking and affecting subjective feedback evaluation Di Bernardi Luft, Dr Caroline Electrophysiology, Signal processing, Artificial intelligence, Brain stimulation Psychology Psychology
Neuronal control of appetite and neurodegeneration  and Chan, Dr Li Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration, Cognition, Behaviour, Zebrafish  Psychology Psychology
New microbial quality testing for drinking water device Zarbakhsh, Dr Ali Environmental chemistry, Materials science, Physical chemistry Chemistry Chemistry
New tools for conservation: dissecting the relative contribution of genetic and epigenetic changes to adaptive evolution Eizaguirre, Dr Christophe Ecology and conservation, Evolution, Genetics Biology Biology
Protein Misfolding and the Molecular Basis of Alzheimer’s Disease Viles, Dr John Biochemistry, Neurodegeneration, Protein mis-folding Biochemistry Biochemistry
Self-assembled block copolymers as drug delivery systems for skin treatments Resmini, Prof Marina Nanomaterials, Drug delivery, Self-assembled nanoparticles, Dermal delivery Chemistry Chemistry
Social dynamic decision making Osman, Dr Magda Psychology, Neuroscience Psychology Psychology
Social Groups, Resilience, Health and Well-being Jones, Dr Janelle Social groups, Identity, Mental health, Stress, Resilience, Well-being, Psychophysics, Psychoneuroendocrinology Psychology Psychology
Uncovering 3D genome architecture in annelid worms Martin-Duran, Dr Chema Bioinformarics, Cell biology/development, Evolution, Invertebrates, Genomics, Statistics, Molecular biology Biology Biology