University of Exeter, England invites online Application for number of Fully Funded PhD Degree at various Departments. We are providing a list of Fully Funded PhD Programs available at University of Exeter, England.
Eligible candidate may Apply as soon as possible.
(01) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: University of Exeter Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences PhD Studentship: International fee status Ref: 4982
Exeter’s Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences is offering up to three PhD studentships (open to International fee paying students only) for candidates aiming to begin studying in September 2024.
Exeter is a centre for world-leading research across the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. Our departments are consistently placed at the top of national and international rankings.
Deadline : 26 February 2024:
(02) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry. Microscopic ocean life viewed through a new lens. Ref: 4970
This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the NERC Great Western Four+ Doctoral Training Partnership (GW4+ DTP). The GW4+ DTP consists of the Great Western Four alliance of the University of Bath, University of Bristol, Cardiff University and the University of Exeter plus five Research Organisation partners: British Antarctic Survey, British Geological Survey, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, the Natural History Museum and Plymouth Marine Laboratory. The partnership aims to provide a broad training in earth and environmental sciences, designed to train tomorrow’s leaders in earth and environmental science.
Deadline : 9th January 2024
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(03) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry. – Comparative analysis and modelling of cilia motility in a major disease-causing parasite, PhD in Mathematics Ref: 4968
This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the NERC Great Western Four+ Doctoral Training Partnership (GW4+ DTP). The GW4+ DTP consists of the Great Western Four alliance of the University of Bath, University of Bristol, Cardiff University and the University of Exeter plus five Research Organisation partners: British Antarctic Survey, British Geological Survey, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, the Natural History Museum and Plymouth Marine Laboratory. The partnership aims to provide a broad training in earth and environmental sciences, designed to train tomorrow’s leaders in earth and environmental science.
Deadline : 9th January 2024
(04) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry. -Causal graph of cloud controlling factors. PhD in Mathematics Ref: 4967
The main goal of the project is to provide a better understanding of how cloudiness affects, and is affected by, related environmental factors. Success of this goal will be of benefit to a wide range of scientific communities, because the interactions of clouds with the mean climate is consistently the most difficult aspect of climate change to estimate correctly. Here, we aim to apply advanced data analysis techniques to provide a more rigorous, and more statistically significant framework for understanding the connections between clouds and climate. The proposed methodology for the project is to use Causal Timeseries Analysis (CTSA) [4, 5]
to create a causal graph for large-scale cloudiness, its dependence, and its effect on the related environmental factors. Causal graphs are sketches of the causal connections in a set of dynamic variables and can be created from observed timeseries. CTSA overcomes the aforementioned major downsides of existing approaches to CCFs, and can provide the necessary information to develop a theoretical framework for how large scale cloudiness is connected with the rest of the climate system.
Deadline : 9th January 2024
(05) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry. – Advancing weather and climate prediction: breaking the convergence barrier, PhD in Mathematics Ref: 4966
The overall aims of the project are (i) to identify factors, within different components of an atmospheric model, that are barriers to convergence, (ii) to quantify their effect, e.g., in terms of rates of convergence, and (iii) to develop alternative models or methods that remove or mitigate these barriers. Good progress on the project could have significant impact on model development as the Met Office move towards operational sub-km-scale modelling.
The project will start by analysing idealised component models, for which there is a strong possibility to develop a quantitative mathematical understanding. Later, it will use the insights obtained to investigate components of the model used operationally or under development at the Met Office. The project will be jointly supervised by the Met Office. Within the project theme described above, there is considerable scope for the student to develop their own ideas and determine the direction of the project.
Deadline : 9th January 2024
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(06) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry. -Can understanding large-scale dynamical drivers of the regional climate reduce uncertainty in European projections? – PhD in Mathematics Ref: 4965
The aim of this project is to quantify the ability of climate models to represent large-scale features that are relevant to European climate. These drivers include Arctic Amplification, the structure of the jet stream, sea surface temperatures in the North Atlantic, and Arctic Sea Ice, to name a few. The project will utilise the latest generation of global climate models (CMIP6), and also high-resolution regional models (UKCP18 and EURO-CORDEX) to investigate these features.
Using a storylines approach (Harvey et al., 2023; Zappa and Shepherd 2017) the student will quantify plausible changes in atmospheric circulation and uncertainty in meteorological hazards such as heatwaves and extreme precipitation. Through constraining models and downweighting unphysical models, uncertainty in projections can be reduced.
The candidate, with the guidance of supervisors at the University of Exeter and the Met Office, will be able to modify the research focus (e.g. circulation features examined) to reflect their interests as the project evolves
Deadline : 9th January 2024
(07) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD CASE studentship for 2024 Entry. – Improved extreme climate indices for food security risk analysis , PhD in Mathematics Ref: 4963
1. Quantify the effect of extreme weather events on crop yields and prices, and in particular on the occurrence of market ‘shocks’. This work will use statistical data fusion to coherently merge observations and climate model output on extreme weather events, while also combining these data with existing impacts indices and approaches (including process-based models).
2. Develop improved approaches for assessing extreme event impacts (building on existing approaches and exploring new avenues), and demonstrate them for a small number of representative case studies in agriculture across land uses and geographies.
3. Perform future assessments of impacts, using the improved/developed indices to support risk assessment, resilience and adaptation planning.
The project will provide feedback to the development of climate observations and models, building on the assessment of current capabilities in Task 1. The student will be given opportunities to develop their own ideas and interests within the scope of the project, in discussion with the Lead Supervisor.
Deadline : 9th January 2024
(08) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry. – UK Climate Extremes under a World with Active Climate Intervention , PhD in Mathematics Ref: 4962
In this project you will employ dynamical downscaling approaches with a state-of-the-art model to evaluate the regional climate impacts of SAI and MCB in the UK. In particular, you will evaluate high-impact climactic events such as precipitation and temperature extremes, storm surges, wind gusts, and air pollution episodes which can be resolved by RCMs but not by low resolution GCMs, to identify the impacts of SAI and MCB to the UK population economy immediately after the start of solar geoengineering and into the far-future.
You will have significant freedom in designing the research direction including the design of the simulations and the scope of the climate impacts investigated. In designing your research direction, you will benefit significantly from the wide expertise in climate change, climate intervention, and climate modelling at the University of Exeter and the Met Office and will have access to resources in both institutions including art high-performance computers at the Met Office. The proximity of the two institutions permits regular travel between them, allowing for a broad breadth of communication and training in meteorology.
Deadline : 9th January 2024
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(09) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry. – Emergent constraints on future climate extremes , PhD in Mathematics Ref: 4961
A promising method for reducing this uncertainty, the emergent constraint approach, combines empirical relationships found in model ensembles with observations to constrain an unknown sensitivity. The basic idea is to identify an element of the observable climate (𝑋) that varies significantly across the model ensemble, and which exhibits a statistically significant relationship, 𝑓, with variations in some important variable (𝑌) describing the simulated future climate.
There is uncertainty in the mean temperature and precipitation we will experience in the future, however there is even more uncertainty in deviations from the mean. Large deviations are climate extremes such as heat waves and floods. Although these are rare events, this project will use the emergent constraint technique to get a better handle on these future extremes – will heat waves become less common or more frequent leading to more fires?
Deadline : 9th January 2024
(10) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry – Project Partner choice and behavioural variation in social networks, PhD in Psychology. Ref: 4975
The student will learn to carry out analyses of simulated and real social networks with some of the pioneers in the field. They will also develop skills in computational modelling and game theory to make predictions that can be tested with real data. The project will focus on the causality between partner choice and individual behaviour, drawing on game theoretical approaches and network theory. One possibility is that reputation may select for consistency in individual behaviour. Another possibility is that behaviour may be influenced by social partners, so may be expected to change if partners change. The student will be involved from the beginning in project design. For instance, decisions will be made about what behaviours to focus on, how to capture these behaviours efficiently, the types of games to examine, and how to incorporate information in computational models of social networks. Supplementary to theoretical models and analysis of empirical social networks, the student can also carry out behavioural experiments in the aquarium facility at the University of Bristol with Prof. Ioannou. Here, social networks can be quantified in three-spined sticklebacks and compared to individual behavioural types. Small groups can be assayed, comparing groups made of individuals that prefer to associate with one another, groups of individuals with typical behavioural types that closely associate with one another but who do not closely associate in the network, and groups of individuals that are not typical of closely associated individuals in the network.
Deadline : 9th January 2024
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(11) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: University of Exeter Astrophysics group PhD Studentships – 2024/25 entry Ref: 4977
The astrophysics group at the University of Exeter, which is embedded within the Physics and Astronomy Department, conducts world-leading research on a variety of observational and theoretical topics. Areas of particular strength include the study of how stars and planets form, the characterisation of stars and extra-solar planets, and the modelling of astrophysical systems (including stellar interiors, planetary atmospheres, and discs) using numerical simulation.
We wish to recruit motivated and talented students to join our thriving community of researchers, which consists of more than two dozen PhD students, twenty academic staff and long-term research fellows, and numerous postdoctoral scholars. Applications are now open for students wishing to begin their study at Exeter in Autumn 2024.
Deadline : 22nd January 2024
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(12) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry – Connecting space and terrestrial weather. PhD in Physics. Ref: 4974
The aim of the project is to determine which aspects of external forcing induced by solar variability have a significant effect on surface climate. In addition, we will investigate what forcing (e.g., gravity waves) should be included in the space weather prediction models. The methodology will consist of the development of the extended atmosphere model, including implementation of the required neutral and ion photochemistry, and validation of the model against observed climatologies and case studies of specific solar events. This will build on the recent progress made in improving the representation of the radiative transfer and photochemistry in the Met Office models. Importantly, the student will have the opportunity to shape the direction the project and bring in their own ideas. For example, they can choose to focus more on the top-down or bottom-up aspects of the atmosphere interaction
Deadline : 9th January 2024
(13) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry. – Improving local weather forecasts for urban areas using machine learning , PhD in Mathematics Ref: 4964
This project will explore machine learning approaches for post-processing high-resolution weather forecasts, including traditional regression-based approaches, as well as more modern techniques such as artificial neural networks. One challenge will be to develop efficient methods that can combine large amounts of data, from ensembles of model runs and observation data from a variety of different sources, including crowdsourced observations that are particularly dense in urban areas. The project will identify a number of past high-impact events, including convective thunderstorms, to demonstrate the performance of the improved forecasts. The final output of the project will be a well-calibrated and thoroughly tested post-processing model that can be used to specifically improve forecasts over urban areas under uncertain weather conditions.
Deadline : 9th January 2024
(14) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry – Unravelling the key thermal environment of tropical forest trees. Phd in Geography (Physical) Ref: 4960
The overall aim of the project is to device the thermal strategies of key tropical montane forests. The data to be analysed consists of diurnal cycles of leaf-to-air temperature differences across experimental warming and irrigation levels, across dominant tropical Andean (collected in Jan-Feb 2023) and Afromontane tree species (to be collected in Sept-Oct 2024) and leaf structural characteristics that influence leaf temperature. The successful candidate will analyse the various data sets which can be used to answer various research questions developed by the student and the supervisory team. There is room for the candidate to bring their own ideas and influence research direction.
Deadline : 9th January 2024
(15) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry. – Understanding pathways of methane production in tropical peatlands , PhD in Geography Ref: 4959
The successful candidate will join a multi-disciplinary team of scientists to gain a deeper understanding methane production in tropical peatlands using the following approaches:
(1) Collection of tropical peat cores. This may involve field work in Colombia. (2) Quantification of changes in methane production and pathways through time using biomarkers and compound specific isotopes in these peat samples4,5. (3) DNA sequencing of the present day microbiome in order to determine the presence of different methanogenic archaea groups (4) Isotopic investigation of current methane emissions in the chosen study site(s).The student will be encouraged to be involved in the design of the project, including bringing in their own ideas in order to influence the direction of the research according to their interests.
Deadline : 9th January 2024
(16) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry. Understanding the dynamics of bovine tuberculosis infection in wild badgers. Ref: 4973
The project will build upon recent work that utilised a new advance in statistical inference for infectious disease systems, the individual forward filtering backward sampling (iFFBS) algorithm, in order to fit dynamic transmission models of bTB infection to the Woodchester Park data. This framework provides a flexible, powerful and efficient way to model infectious disease systems in small- to medium-size populations where individual-level data is available. Previous work has utilised this method to tackle challenging aspects of modelling infectious disease data in a system like Woodchester Park, including age-dependent mortality with censoring, stochastic capture-mark-recapture data, imperfect diagnostic testing and spatio-temporal meta-population structures. These models have provided key evidence supporting the existence of superspreading badgers, and have generated novel estimates for individual effective reproduction numbers. Despite the presence of superspreaders, the current model also estimates that the population-level effective reproduction number is less than one, suggesting that it may be possible to control the disease though targeted, rather than blanket, control policies, such as vaccination of at-risk social groups, or culling of potential superspreader animals.
Deadline : 9th January 2024
(17) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: Map based cloning and characterisation of plant loci conferring resistance to the root infecting fungus Take-all (Rothamsted based) – BBSRC SWBio DTP. Ref: 4978
Ensuring global food security for the ever-growing global population is a major concern. Fungal pathogens destroy a substantial amount of all food and feed crops each year (~15%). Take-all (TA) is the most important threat to wheat root system health. This disease is caused by the fungus Gaeumannomyces tritici, which infects the roots and damages the vasculature tissue of the plants, thereby adversely affecting water and nutrient uptake. In high disease years, TA causes over 50% yield loss in the field and causes nitrate leaching from the soil into neighbouring watercourses as a result of the crop’s reduced capacity to uptake soil nitrogen. Growers have few effective TA management strategies and there are no characterised sources of genetic resistance, so there is an urgent need to identify and deploy reliable, environmentally-friendly and durable sources of TA resistance. The best way forward is to find and exploit genetic sources of resistance to protect UK, European and global wheat crops from TA disease without compromising plant health and yield.
Deadline : 9th January 2024
(18) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: The Transport & Cycling of Terrigenous Carbon in UK and Falkland Island Coastal Waters. NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry. Ref: 4971
During this project you will investigate processes that transform carbon transported between land and the ocean within several contrasting environments in order to better understand the fate and impact in receiving waters and overlying atmosphere. There will be opportunities to join existing research teams at the host organisations in order to address the following high level questions:
- What mechanisms control CO2 and CH4 release from an agriculturally dominated estuary (Tamar – SW England)
- How do the carbon characteristics differ between estuaries and coastal waters associated with drained and re-wetted peatlands (East Anglia)
- How does remineralisation of peat deposited on the sea-bed impact the chemistry of benthic sediments and overlying waters (Falkland Islands)
Human activities on land have resulted in the elevated release of material between land and ocean, this project will work alongside areas of impacted land in addition to those which are undergoing restoration attempts. Each of the areas highlighted above will require the student to work between rivers and the coastal zone in order to collect samples and deploy sophisticated analytical instrumentation in order to characterise dissolved and particulate carbon, dissolved oxygen and concentrations and fluxes of methane and CO2.
Deadline : 9th January 2024
(19) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: University of Exeter’s Living Systems Institute – Ph.D. Studentships 2024/25 Ref: 4902
Your Ph.D. project will work across disciplines to generate new and important knowledge.
The Living Systems Institute is home to mathematicians, physicists, bioengineers, biologists, and biomedical scientists. Our interdisciplinary and collaborative research philosophy is embodied in three cross-cutting themes:
Mathematics of Life – Developing and analysing mathematical models to explain and predict function and dysfunction in biological systems.
Physics of Life – Uncovering the fundamental physical principles that govern the dynamic organisation of living systems.
Engineering Life – Reverse engineering biological phenomena from molecular and cellular component.
These themes drive investigation, discovery, and application across all scales of life: gene expression and genomics, structure/function, phages and viruses, microbes, stem cells and development and neuroscience.
Deadline : 8th January 2024
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(20) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry – The evolution of eukaryotic gene order: Following the birth, life and death of a eukaryotic gene cluster, PhD in Biological Sciences. Ref: 4947
Here, we propose to follow the real-time evolution of the pulcherriminic acid gene cluster as model system to study the evolution of gene order in eukaryotes. This cluster is present in distantly related yeasts and provides host species with growth advantages under iron-limiting conditions and in competition with other microbes. Pulcherriminic acid has recently become of interest to the biotech industry as a biocontrol agent.
Deadline : 9th January 2024
(21) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry. – High-resolution monitoring of marine vertebrates in changing polar oceans with eDNA , PhD in Biological Sciences. Ref: 4946
The student will use bioinformatic procedures based on sequence-level classification to maximise the utility of eDNA datasets for biomonitoring to inform the future implementation of eDNA biomonitoring in relation to marine biodiversity management (Figure 1). The PhD student will:
1. Further develop a bioinformatics pipeline to classify eDNA sequence datasets to examine polar communities at the population level (instead of basic cataloguing at the species, genus and family levels) and use the recovered phylogenetic signal to measure intra- and intercommunity diversity as captured by eDNA sampling.
2. Take advantage of available molecular sequence databases, e.g. Genbank (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genbank) and generated by Tara Ocean Expeditions (www.oceans.taraexpeditions.org) to investigate trophic links between vertebrates and phyto- and zooplankton community diversity.
3. Feedforward results to web-based platforms to visually represent the geographical and temporal distribution of such diversity for better interfacing with end-user management needs.
4. Use existing portable DNA sequencing equipment to trial field protocols that integrate real-time eDNA sequencing and bioinformatic web-based frameworks.
Deadline : 9th January 2024
(22) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry. – Small animals, big impact: Understanding how polar zooplankton physiology drives ocean biogeochemistry, PhD in Biological Sciences. Ref: 4945
Mesozooplankton are central to the ecology and biogeochemistry of the global ocean, so much so that their activities help regulate Earth’s climate. They collectively consume ≥25% of global marine primary production and their faeces dominate the sinking flux of organic matter that locks away atmospheric carbon in the deep ocean. The mesozooplankton communities in polar ecosystems are dominated by calanoid copepods (pictured), the success of which is largely attributable to their ability to store vast amounts of lipid. Polar copepods gorge on prolific diatom blooms during the spring and summer months before descending into the ocean’s interior, where they overwinter for 6-9 months as immature adults in a state of reduced metabolic activity called ‘diapause’.
This annual ontogenetic migration, recently termed ‘the seasonal lipid pump’ (SLP), directly transports vast amounts of carbon directly into the deep ocean where it may become locked away from the atmosphere for centuries or millennia. Despite the potential significance of the SLP in climate regulation, we know very little about diapause physiology. What controls the depth at which copepods establish diapause? What is their metabolic rate in diapause, and how is it regulated? How do animals in diapause control their buoyancy whilst consuming their ‘lipid life jacket’? How do they ‘know’ when to re-ascend to the surface? Answering these, and other fundamental questions about diapause physiology, is the key to developing our understanding of the SLP and mechanistically representing this process in global biogeochemical models that predict future climate.
Deadline : 9th January 2024
(23) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry. – Identifying the chemical signals needed to revive dormant bacteria. PhD in Biological Sciences. Ref: 4944
The research group of Dr Sariqa Wagley (Biosciences, University of Exeter) seeks to appoint a PhD student in Microbiology with a focus on bacterial dormancy to start in September 2024.
The research group of Dr Sariqa Wagley (NERC Independent Research Fellow) focuses on understanding bacterial dormancy in the natural environment with an overarching aim of finding new ways to predict and prevent infections from arising. Dr Wagley is leading research on how bacterial species that lay dormant in the environment (in aquaculture settings) can resuscitate to become actively growing cells when conditions are fortuitous for their growth. Dr Wagley has expertise in molecular microbiology, field sampling, fluorescently activated cell sorting, imaging flow cytometry, proteomics and sequencing. The student will be part of a lively inclusive and dynamic group that care about the benefits of work life balance and research integrity. The student will also benefit from being part of the Microbes and Disease Group and Exeter Microfluidics networks within Biosciences and this will further extend the community of interdisciplinary experts the student can work with.
When bacteria encounter extreme or unfavourable environmental conditions, they enter a state of dormancy to protect themselves, however, they can re-awaken when favourable environmental conditions return. These dormant cells can act as a reservoir of disease in the environment and are a concern for human health. A major problem in the prevention of bacterial diseases is that dormant cells are not detectable by routine tests making them difficult to study. In this project, we will exploit new approaches to understand the mechanisms by which dormant bacterial Vibrio cells (our study organism) emerge as active disease-causing pathogens in the environment. The student will detect and quantify Vibrio species in their various functional states (active and dormant) from water, sediment, and shellfish sites from a coastal site in England and will require a background in microbiology. There will be opportunities to carry out field work and gain expertise in a broad range cutting-edge techniques including flow cytometry, cell sorting, and preparing samples for Mass spectrophotometry (LCMS) for studying chemical signals involved in bacterial dormancy. This project will be flexible and will be developed together with Dr Sariqa Wagley depending on the strength and interests of the PhD student.
Deadline : 9th January 2024
(24) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: Biotechnological Solutions for the Energy Transition to C-Zero – MSc by Research (Funded) Ref: 4979
The continued use of fossil fuels is unsustainable due to their finite supply, environmental harm, and contribution to climate change. Shell Technology Center Houston (STCH) provides research and development capabilities in Shell’s global centre of expertise for Biotechnology, a rapidly growing area that will enable Shell to develop and implement new solutions to support the transition from fossil-fuels to a sustainable bioeconomy. Research at STCH focuses on the growing areas of advanced biofuels and chemicals by microbial fermentation and bioprocessing, renewable natural gas (RNG), metagenomics, and carbon sequestration via biological sinks.
The successful applicant will integrate Shell Biodomain’s bio-based research programmes and will be able to focus on one or several areas depending on their interests, including: (i) microbial characterization and engineering, (ii) genomic analysis, (iii) bio-feedstock development, and (iv) new, biological methods for post-process clean-up. The project will include significant hands-on lab work, data analysis, presentation and report writing.
Deadline : 22nd December 2023
(25) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry. – Contrasting water-use strategies across tropical African and Latin American savannas , PhD in Geography Ref: 4958
This project aims to address differences in plant water use strategies across savanna ecosystems that have evolved independently in South America and Africa, mainly investigating some key plant functional traits and leaf phenology in both continents. This will be met through field campaigns in Zambian and Brazilian savannas, where plant trait measurements will be made. However, these objectives are still broad, and we aim to encourage the involvement of the candidate in co-designing a cutting-edge research plan, its specific questions and how they would be addressed.
Deadline : 9th January 2024
(26) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry. – Blue carbon and ecosystem functioning in mangroves under pressure , PhD in Geography Ref: 4957
The aim of this PhD project is to determine what processes control mangrove carbon accumulation and investigate the impacts of human activities in a mangrove system under pressure: the Magdalena delta in Colombia. The Magdalena delta is undergoing rapid change: the building of dams and dikes is changing sediment supply to the coastal system and increasing pressure from urban development is driving significant mangrove degradation. You will have the opportunity to collect sediment cores from strategically selected locations from this delta and use state-of-the-art tools to unravel how mangrove carbon storage is affected by ecosystem and landscape change.
The project can be developed to fit your interests. Possible objectives are:
– Reconstruct mangrove forest evolution by analysing fossil-pollen from the collected sediment sequences.
– Quantify carbon accumulation over the past ca. 1000 years and link trends to ecosystem evolution.
– Characterize organic matter composition and determine the origin of sequestered carbon.
– Evaluate spatial variations in carbon accumulation to elucidate effects of mangrove degradation.
This project enables you to conduct interdisciplinary research (combining geomorphology, palaeoecology and biogeochemistry) and explore the role of tropical coastal wetlands in sequestering carbon. Project results will be crucial to develop mangrove restoration goals and sustainable management strategies.
Deadline : 9th January 2024
(27) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry. – Investigating the spatiotemporal oceanic uptake and redistribution of Excess heat in the Southern Atlantic using biogeochemical and transient tracers. PhD in Physical Geography Ref: 4956
Understanding ocean excess heat uptake that has accumulated in the Earth system as a result of anthropogenic greenhouse emissions (Cheng et al., 2023) is crucial for assessing future climate warming, with the oceans having taken up ~90% of the excess heat (von Schuckmann et al., 2020). Among them, although occupying only a quarter of the global ocean area, the seas surrounding Antarctica, so called the Southern Ocean, accounts for about three-quarters of this excess heat uptake (Frölicher et al., 2015). This important role of the Southern Ocean in controlling ocean reservoirs of heat is due to its unique circulation pattern and its role in ventilating much of the global ocean by forming subtropical mode, intermediate and bottom waters (Figures 1a and 2). Yet, the uncertainties remain about excess heat history and redistribution in particular for the poorly sampled deep ocean below 2000 m depth mostly explore by ship hydrographic surveys and below which the Argo programme is just starting to explore (Strass et al, 2020, Meijers et al, 2023).
Deadline : 9th January 2024
(28) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry. – Revealing ancient British agricultural expansion using next-generation methods , PhD in Physical Geography Ref: 4955
This PhD will aim to reconstruct the sediment taxonomic record of Mere Tarn using microscopy, flow and imaging cytometry, DNA analysis and radiometric dating. These data will be used to perform a high-resolution multifactorial analysis of how the biodiversity around Mere Tarn has changed over time and how human activity has influenced the local environment. Refinement of these methods will develop a framework for identifying indicators of agriculture which can be applied to key sites across the British Isles. The project can be further refined to meet the interest of the student.
Deadline : 9th January 2024
(29) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry. – Developing understanding of rainfall-triggered landslides in India to facilitate effective early warning systems, PhD in Physical Geography Ref: 4954
In this project, the successful candidate will use data science approaches to analyse satellite observations to improve our knowledge of past landslide events. Statistical comparisons of this new landslide inventory will be made with rainfall and other meteorological events using both satellite and NWP data. Analysis of landslide parameters and antecedent weather conditions will be used to inform the development of impact-based weather warnings in India. The Met Office UM partnership with NCMRWF and WCSSP India project with IMD provide a unique opportunity to translate pioneering science into active services. It is anticipated that this research will contribute to the improvement of multi-hazard warnings to make them region specific – the longer-term ambition being that vulnerable areas are evacuated before a disaster occurs, thereby saving lives.
Deadline : 9th January 2024
(30) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry. – The net effect of microbial siderophores on above- and belowground soil health. Ref: 4953
The first aim is to determine how theoretically important variables (i.e. spatial structure and resources) affect siderophore production and detoxification, using several approaches: (i) analytical/numerical models to examine how interactions within and between species affect community-wide siderophore production under different ecological constraints. (ii) experimental evolution to verify theoretical predictions. (iii) soil chemical analyses to determine collective detoxification. (iv) genomics/transcriptomics to determine the genetic changes (mutation versus gene regulation) underpinning phenotypic changes in siderophore production.
The second aim is to determine how siderophore-based cooperation in the rhizosphere affects the efficacy of phytoremediation, i.e. the synergistic action between plants and microbes to clean up toxic metal waste. This part of the project will primarily use potting experiments – comparing the performance of plants grown with microbial communities that have diversified in terms of their siderophore production.
Deadline : 9th January 2024
(31) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry. – Rare Earth Element Mineralisation in Carbonatites of Mozambique , PhD in Geology Ref: 4952
This PhD project builds on existing and ongoing research at Camborne School of Mines on the architecture and genesis of carbonatite-hosted REE deposits. Monte Muambe offers an exceptional opportunity to investigate the relationships between intrusive and extrusive alkaline silicate rocks, carbonatites, and REE mineralisation at a previously little-studied structural level. The locality is only partially mapped, and the project will build heavily on initial field observations to categorise different intrusive events, and their stratigraphic relationships. Follow-on work will be flexible depending on the interests of the student, but will involve some degree of whole-rock geochemistry, mineralogy, and isotope geochemistry and/or geochronology. The supervisory team has already visited Monte Muambe and has an understanding of the logistical requirements of work in the area.
Deadline : 9th January 2024
(32) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry. – From hyperthermal to cold snap -using Early Jurassic brachiopods to understand climate, evolution and palaeoecology, PhD in Geology Ref: 4951
The principal objectives of the project are to characterise upper Pliensbachian to lower Aalenian brachiopod collections from Portugal in terms of their shell structures (using SEM), chemical and isotopic composition (using optical and mass spectrometry). These data will allow to constrain past environmental conditions and processes responsible to shift Earth from a major hyperthermal to a significant cooling event, but also allow to assess brachiopod palaeoecology and evolutionary links which otherwise are only assessed by traditional palaeontological techniques. While these project targets are fixed, there is significant opportunity for you to input and modify research questions and explore topics and methodologies you particularly wish to develop as part of your career plans and interests.
Deadline : 9th January 2024
(33) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry. – Bayesian Sampling Methods for Geophysical Inversion using Multi-component Seismic Data , PhD in Mathematics Ref: 4950
This project will explore advanced signal and image processing, machine learning approaches, in particular, deep-learning and Bayesian inference methods for parameter estimation, uncertainty quantification and probabilistic inversion of large-scale geological models fusing multicomponent geophysical/seismic data such as 3 component acceleration from geophones and pressure data from hydrophones and other petrophysical data. Here, the aim is to reduce computational time utilising the recent advancements in deep neural networks and deep Gaussian processes to approximate the physical data generation process, i.e. the seismic wave propagation and reservoir fluid flow simulations. The main target of this project is to explore and compare the Markov Chain Monte Carlo samplers and nested sampling approaches for Bayesian model comparison in seismic imaging. Uncertainty quantification in such geophysical inverse problems in terms of both seismic source properties and unknown elastic geological models (density, compressional and shear wave velocity) and petrophysical parameters like permeability, porosity etc. is a complex problem [4]-[5]. Geophysical inverse problems rely on the travel-time calculation between sources and receivers. However, uncertainties in the velocity model can make these estimates highly erroneous. Alternatively, a full seismic wave-based inversion can be attempted for improved imaging, albeit being computationally challenging. The project will also explore the inversion results of 3-component geophone recordings apart from pressure measurements by hydrophones. Traditional inversion or seismic imaging methods involve a series of heuristic filtering steps that can be more optimally selected using a deep machine learning based expert system [6].
Deadline :9th January 2024
(34) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry. – Applying Bioacoustics and Artificial Intelligence to study the spatial ecology of endangered species in Borneo. Ref: 4949
This project benefits from a large collection of recordings collected by us and project partners in Indonesian Borneo over the last 5 years. The initial focus will be on applying machine learning solutions to White-Bearded Gibbon detection in these recordings and using this to estimate population densities and other aspects of this species’ ecology. Secondly, the aim is to use lessons learned from this process to create and test a general workflow for applying the methodology to a wide range of species. There will be substantial flexibility in the specific direction of the research within these broad aims, depending on the interests of the student and priorities identified by project partners.
Deadline : 9th January 2024
(35) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for 2024 Entry. – AI for ocean health: machine learning emulators for predicting key ocean health indicators under climate change , PhD in Computer Science. Ref: 4948
This project will test the hypothesis that machine learning (ML) models can be used to accurately reproduce the results of sophisticated mechanistic marine ecosystem models at a fraction of the computational cost. Our aim is to create ML based emulators that can do the job of the mechanistic models faithfully (see Fig.1) and make these available to the research and policy communities as an open-source tool. More specifically, our central hypothesis is that ML models trained on the outputs of CMIP6 Earth system models will be able to reveal crucial patterns in the responses of net primary production, oxygen, and acidity to changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, temperature, and other key physical variables.
Deadline : 9th January 2024
(36) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: Metamaterials PhD Studentships – 2023/24 entry Ref: 4634
Exeter’s Centre for Metamaterials Research and Innovation (CMRI) is a community of academic, industrial, and governmental partners that harnesses world-leading research excellence from theory to application, and enables simulation, measurement, and fabrication of metamaterials and metamaterial-based devices. Our breadth of research is our centre’s strength: our PhD students, researchers and academics solve multi-faceted research questions and challenges.
Our work spans physics, engineering, maths, and computer science, including electromagnetism (from visible and infra-red through to THz and microwave), acoustics and fluidics, undertaken in parallel with research on numerical, analytical and AI modelling techniques. The materials we work with have wide application, e.g., imaging; sensing and spectroscopy; communication and antennas; acoustic and RF signature control; mechanical and vibration control; energy storage and harvesting etc.
Our cohort-based doctoral training programme in metamaterials has been running for 10 years, and is currently home to a diverse community of over 30 active PhD postgraduate researchers (PGRs).
As a centre for innovation and research, we pride ourselves on being able to offer a stimulating, challenging and collaborative environment for PhD study. Our PGRs are supported in developing their scientific knowledge alongside transferrable and technical skills in preparation for careers across academia, industry and elsewhere. Since 2018, around 70 graduates have entered employment in industry and as postdocs in Higher Education Institutions in and outside of the UK; see our graduate destinations.
Deadline : 31st December 2023
(37) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: THz and mm-wave detection through silicon luminescence Ref: 4782
Unlike X-rays, radiation in the mm-wave THz bands is intrinsically safe, non-ionising and non-destructive. These frequencies also correspond to a “sweet spot” in the electromagnetic spectrum, where radiation can pass unimpeded through typical clothing materials, making them ideally suited for security imaging applications. However, THz and mm-wave radiation has also proven difficult to detect using standard approaches,, and this part of the electromagnetic spectrum is often referred to as the “terahertz gap”, where it is currently difficult to develop applications due to a lack of detector technology.
In this project we will develop a new technology for detecting THz and mm-waves, exploiting a very recent discovery by the Exeter THz group: by measuring heating induced changes to luminescence, one can make a very sensitive detector for these frequencies. This discovery, once fully developed, could have wide ranging applications, effectively turning any silicon based camera, such as a modern smartphone, into a sensitive THz detector.
Deadline : 31st December 2023
(38) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NIHR Exeter BRC PhD Studentship: Do class I HDAC inhibitors have the potential to arrest the progression of type 1 diabetes? Ref: 5009
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is caused by the selective destruction of insulin producing beta-cells. This process is mediated by autoreactive immune cells which erroneously target beta-cell proteins. Immune cells detect their targets through interaction with the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) which is found on the surface of all cells. However, the levels of this complex are dramatically increased on beta-cells during T1D development, thereby increasing the visibility of these cells to the immune system and expediting disease progression. Thus, targeting of the mechanisms which underpin MHC-I ‘hyper-expression’ may be beneficial to individuals with T1D.
We have studied the signalling processes which regulate MHC-I and have discovered that interferons (IFN) released during diabetes pathogenesis play an important role in elevating MHC-I levels. Moreover, we have pinpointed a transcription factor, STAT1, as a central player in this process. STAT1 activity is thought to be primarily controlled by phosphorylation, however recent data suggest that acetylation may also be a key regulator of this process. In support of this we have shown that inhibitors of enzymes which promote deacetylation of proteins (histone deacetylases (HDAC)), can prevent the phosphorylation and activation of STAT1. During this PhD the student will explore whether broad spectrum HDAC inhibitors already in clinical usage can impede IFN signalling and subsequent MHC-I upregulation in beta-cells. These data will inform whether these drugs could be repurposed as a T1D treatment.
Deadline : 2nd January 2024
(39) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NIHR Exeter BRC PhD Studentship: Accelerating the discovery of the molecular basis of neurodevelopmental disorders in under-represented populations. Ref: 5006
This study will utilise cutting-edge in-house genomic/omic technologies (long-read sequencing, transcriptomics), bioinformatics, protein modelling approaches, and fundamental molecular-functional analyses. Family-based and cohort level analyses will be undertaken using extensive in-house databases, UK Biobank data and the Genomics England research environment. A background in genetic studies and/or bioinformatic analyses of genomic data, particularly involving neurological or developmental disorders, would be an advantage.
The study benefits from excellent established research infrastructure, international collaborations and exciting pilot data and aims to:
1. Describe the clinical features and genetic basis of two recently discovered candidate new neurodevelopmental disorders and confirm their pathomolecular basis.
2. Undertake genomic-omic studies of monogenic neurodevelopmental disorders in under-represented communities (e.g. Pakistani communities) discovering further new disorders/novel complex disease mechanisms.
3. Utilise genomic data for population studies (UK Biobank, Genomics England, in-house datasets) to develop specific allele frequency databases. This valuable resource will greatly aid interpretation of rare genomic variants for diagnostic pipeline incorporation, addressing genomic knowledge inequalities impacting these under-represented populations.
Deadline : 2nd January 2024
(40) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NIHR Exeter BRC PhD Studentship: Precision medicine data science for type 2 diabetes Ref: 5004
This fully-funded PhD studentship is a research-intensive programme providing training in cutting-edge data science and machine learning methods applied to large-scale electronic health record and clinical trial datasets. The student will conduct independent research as part of Exeter’s world-leading, multi-disciplinary, and highly collaborative clinical diabetes research group (https://sites.exeter.ac.uk/exeterbrc/our-research/diabetes/).
The research programme will focus on precision medicine in type 2 diabetes, a condition affecting over 500 million people worldwide and accounting for over 10% of NHS expenditure in the UK. A precision medicine approach aims to improve type 2 diabetes care by tailoring treatment to an individual based on their clinical characteristics and genetics.
Deadline : 2nd January 2024
(41) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NIHR Exeter BRC PhD Studentship: Studying cardiovascular genetics in mid versus later life to improve understanding and clinical prediction. Ref: 5007
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the UK is more common in older people, with prevalence increasing from 5% in middle age to over 20% in people aged over 75. Many risk factors are known (obesity, smoking, etc.) but the clinical features vary with age. Identifying high-risk individuals and intervening to reduce risk remains a complex clinical challenge. Studies of genetics in CVDs are providing insights into mechanisms and clinical prediction tools, yet these are generally from cohorts focussed on mid-life. Improving our understanding using a life course genetics approach will allow more personalised approaches to patient care, tailoring interventions and improving health outcomes.
The UK Biobank is a large study of 500,000 adults, with linked genetics and electronic medical records data. As time progresses, the age of the participants is increasing, providing exciting opportunities to study the effect of genetics on CVD risk at different ages. We want to find out if there are unique genetic factors contributing to CVD as people age. By doing this, we hope to design more personalised approaches to predict and manage cardiovascular health. We hypothesise that genome-wide genetic analyses of specific CVD, such as heart attack and stroke, in different age groups will uncover different biological pathways and risk factors.
Deadline : 2nd January 2024
(42) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NIHR Exeter BRC PhD Studentship: Investigating the effect of hyperglycaemia on immune cell function Ref: 5010
This PhD project explores the interface between metabolism and immunology. The goal is to increase our understanding of how high blood glucose levels (hyperglycaemia) alters immune cell function. This information may help us to make medicines to better treat people with diabetes during an infection.
In the UK, over 4 million people live with diabetes, a disease characterised by high blood glucose levels. Treatment effectiveness varies greatly, and hyperglycaemia increases the likelihood of major long-term complications. In people with diabetes that experience hyperglycaemia, immune responses to fight an infection (for example a virus) are worse, leading to increased hospitalisation and death, as was the case during COVID-19 for people with diabetes and hyperglycaemia compared to individuals without diabetes. This suggests that in people with diabetes, high blood glucose levels alter immune pathways and modify immune cell function.
During this PhD project, the student will aim to identify how hyperglycaemia modifies immune pathways and leads to altered immune responses to infection. The research will focus on the effect of hyperglycaemia on immune cell function. According to the results (and interest), the student will be supported to direct their own research focus. Studies will be performed in vitro, using human immune cell lines and primary immune cells from people with diabetes. To support the student’s scientific development, they will undergo training in key state-of-the-art immunological techniques such as flow cytometry and live cell imaging and will develop advanced data analysis skills including the use of bioinformatics.
Deadline : 2nd January 2024
(43) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NIHR Exeter BRC PhD Studentship – Using iPSC-derived organoid models to identify novel therapeutic targets Ref: 5028
Microglia are inextricably linked to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis and are now widely regarded as the essential cell type affecting disease progression, but currently no AD treatments specifically target these cells. Furthermore, studying this cell type in situ in human is currently confined to low resolution imaging or post-mortem tissue. Development of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) model brain organoids allow us to study microglial biology in the context of other cell types and in the context of disease through the inclusion of genetic risk variants. This project, aligned with the NIHR Exeter Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), will aim to identify new therapeutic targets aimed at beneficially modulating microglia, and that can be rapidly translated into the clinic. This will be done through a combination of complex cell culture techniques, genetic engineering, genomics, bioinformatics, and imaging enabling the student to develop both analytical and laboratory skills. Drug repurposing strategies or collaborations with external groups including the Drug Discovery Alliance will also support any potential clinical translation. There will also be fantastic opportunities to involve public and patient groups in the evolution of the project and for further specialist development through the attendance on bioinformatics or genetic engineering courses.
Deadline : 12th January 2024
(44) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: CDTS324: Investigating the ecological and systemic effects of next generation biopolymers in marine systems, CDT SuMMeR PhD Studentship. Ref: 5022
This project will explore the effects of novel biopolymers derived from organic waste materials on marine ecology and seawater chemistry. This knowledge is crucial for designing materials with minimal ecological impacts. We will also use systems thinking approaches for looking at the ecological (environmental), social, and economic effects of the introduction of these bioplastics. This PhD will take a holistic approach that includes experimental exposure studies, detailed chemical analysis, field work and systems modelling to explore the following research questions:
1. What is the behaviour and fate of the biopolymers in natural marine waters?
2. What are the effects on seawater carbonate chemistry of endogenous chemicals and the release of carbon from biomass?
3. Do these materials enter the marine food web and what are their direct (uptake, effect on chemical signalling) and indirect (e.g. via influence on water chemistry parameters) effects on individuals and ecosystems?
4. What are the systemic effects of 3G bioplastics?
Deadline : 16th January 2024
(45) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: CDTS323: Socio-economic and ecological impacts of UK marine heatwaves under climate change, CDT SuMMeR PhD Studentship. Ref: 5021
This exciting project aims to evaluate the socio-economic and ecosystem impacts of marine heatwaves in the UK. The work will include analysis of both historical observations and state-of-the-art regional ocean climate projections to quantify the potential changes in frequency, intensity and duration of UK marine heatwaves over the 21st century. The potential scale and impacts of these events will be assessed through a combination of: (i) analysis of past data; (ii) literature reviews; and (iii) targeted modelling studies. A particular focus of the research will be on the increased potential for harmful algal blooms, with implications for aquaculture, water quality, tourism, and human health, alongside legal and policy aspects (e.g. health warnings) and socio-economic impacts (e.g. on the desirability and viability of existing tourist and aquaculture sites).
Deadline : 16th January 2024
(46) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: Nanoscale computer modelling of blush in protective coatings, Natural Sciences Ref: 4986
Aluminium drinks cans are ubiquitous in everyday life to store and transport beverages and other liquids. These cans have an internal protective coating that acts to protect both the internal contents and the can itself. During coating development, simulation tests have been created to increase the speed of iteration and reduce the time required to screen prototypes. One of the failure mechanisms observed during these is an undesirable whitening (or blush) of the polymer film. The work will develop a nanoscale model of a simple coating using state-of-the-art computational approaches including molecular dynamics and free energy calculations to unravel the fundamental science behind the causes of blush. This project crosses multiple traditional disciplines including chemistry, physics, materials science, and computer science and will provide the successful candidate with the opportunity to broaden their scientific knowledge and communication skills across a range of scientific disciplines. This research makes use of the University of Exeter’s high performance computing (HPC) facility, ISCA, and access to regional, national, and international HPC resources as required.
Deadline : 18th December 2023
(47) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: The University of Exeter Business School MRes + PhD Scholarships in Management and Business for Black British researchers Ref: 5019
We have a very generous funding scheme to support the most outstanding students who wish to complete a PhD in Management and Business. Successful applicants first receive funding to complete one of the University of Exeter Business School’s Research Masters (MRes), which provides a rigorous foundation in the skills that are required to conduct high quality research. Students who meet the PhD entry criteria will then receive funding for full-time study in one of the University of Exeter Business School’s PhD programmes.
Deadline : 29th February 2024
(48) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NIHR Exeter BRC PhD Studentship: Developing state of the art, patient led remote capillary blood sampling methodologies Ref: 5020
• Assess and develop state-of-the-art patient led blood taking modalities (including transcutaneous micro-needle patch technology)
• Determine test comparability of novel patient led blood taking devices with traditional phlebotomy
• Develop a novel ultra-sensitive assay for the diabetes hormone Glucagon using Single Molecular Array technology
• Assess factors that determine success of patient led blood collection (who can do it and why)
• Develop a best practice framework for evaluating diagnostic accuracy and utility of capillary based blood testing.
The outcome of this PhD studentship will be a greater understanding of what pathology tests can be performed on blood specimens collected at home by patients without support from a healthcare worker. We will learn what are the success factors and barriers to this type of testing- ‘who can do it and why’. The impact could be transformational in the way healthcare workers and researchers order pathology tests in the future making the process more convenient, accessible, cheaper and more environmentally sustainable.
Deadline : 2nd January 2024
(49) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NIHR Exeter BRC PhD Studentship: Exploring the non-coding genome to identify novel genetic causes of rare disease Ref: 5013
Understanding the genetic causes of rare disease leads to major advances in our understanding of the mechanisms of disease and can lead to improved treatment. Whilst rare diseases are individually rare, cumulatively they affect 1 in 17 people, including 3.5 million in the UK.
This project aims to identify new genes and genetic mechanisms causing hyperinsulinism. Hyperinsulinism is a severe rare disease affecting young children where poorly controlled insulin secretion causes dangerously low blood sugar levels. If left untreated this can result in brain damage. A genetic diagnosis can help patients to get the best treatment, however we are unable to find the genetic cause of the hyperinsulinism for half the patients with the disease.
Deadline : 2nd January 2024
(50) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: NIHR Exeter BRC PhD Studentship: Uncovering new genetic mechanisms of beta-cell autoimmunity to better understand type 1 diabetes Ref: 5011
More than a century since the ground-breaking discovery of insulin, and over four decades since the recognition of type 1 diabetes (T1D) as an autoimmune disease, the mechanisms leading to autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing beta-cells in T1D remain unsolved.
This project focuses on a unique collection of human samples to address a fundamental question: What are the genetic mechanisms that underpin beta-cell autoimmunity?
Deadline : 2nd January 2024
(51) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: CDTS325: Will food quality limit marine biomass production in a warming world?, CDT SuMMeR PhD Studentship. Ref: 5023
This project aims to:
Generate mechanistic understanding of how future temperature-driven effects on the physiology of marine zooplankton and changes in the quantity and nutritional ‘quality’ (C:N ratio) of their phytoplankton food collectively influence the efficiency with which they convert ingested food into new biomass;
Translate this knowledge to other disciplines, including fisheries stock assessment and aquaculture nutrition, to pioneer new approaches for maximising the efficiency of harvestable biomass production.
This will be achieved by addressing the following objectives:
Quantify how rates of ingestion, respiration and biomass turnover in marine zooplankton respond to environmental warming.
Conduct controlled factorial experiments across a thermal gradient to quantify how changing the quantity and quality of phytoplankton affect zooplankton growth and metabolism.
Analyse plankton samples collected in situ from national and international research expeditions to determine how zooplankton growth responds to environmental temperatures and the quantity and quality of phytoplankton.
Work in collaboration with experts from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences (Cefas) and experts in aquaculture nutrition to translate the knowledge gained into additional disciplines, including the sustainable development of aquaculture practices.
Deadline : 16th January 2024
(52) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: CDTS326: Mussel restoration, bioremediation and robots, CDT SuMMeR PhD Studentship. Ref: 5024
This project will explore whether mussel restoration offers a viable mechanism to remediate poor water quality and enhance ecosystem recovery in coastal waters of the UK. To achieve this the project will address the following objectives:
- generate the first quantitative data on the bioremediation capacity of mussels
- develop an affordable/accessible tool for genetic assessment of mussel populations in the SW UK
- establish a 3D hydrodynamic dispersal model for mussel larvae, and elucidate population connectivity patterns and spat for locations
- validate identification of novel spat settlement sites with mix of fieldwork and use of submersible robots for intertidal/subtidal surveying (AlgaRover), in collaboration with The Exmouth Mussel Company and Seaweed Generation
- develop a natural capital account for mussel beds, determining both current and projected future socio-economic value of this key marine resource.
Deadline : 16th January 2024
(53) PhD Degree – Fully Funded
PhD position summary/title: University of Exeter PhD Scholarships for Black British Researchers in the Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy. Ref: 5029
The aim of these scholarships is to help improve access and participation in PhD study for talented Black British students. Each studentship offers a comprehensive funding and support package designed to enable students to succeed in their PhD programme and beyond, including:
• 4 years of stipend funding at the UKRI rate (currently £18,622 for 2023/24)
• Funding for tuition fees the Home fee rate
• A research training support grant (to cover project costs; ranging from £2,000 minimum up to maximum of £10,000 for higher cost projects)
• The opportunity to undertake a placement of up to 6 months (in total) during the 4-year PhD programme (with access to additional funding of up to £2,500 to support placement costs).
• Access to mentoring support (specific to this studentship scheme)
Deadline : 16th February 2024
About The University of Exeter, England –Official Website
The University of Exeter is a public research university in Exeter, Devon, England, United Kingdom. Its predecessor institutions, St Luke’s College, Exeter School of Science, Exeter School of Art, and the Camborne School of Mines were established in 1838, 1855, 1863, and 1888 respectively. These institutions later formed the University of Exeter after receiving its royal charter in 1955. In post-nominals, the University of Exeter is abbreviated as Exon. (from the Latin Exoniensis), and is the suffix given to honorary and academic degrees from the university.
The university has four campuses: Streatham and St Luke’s (both of which are in Exeter); and Truro and Penryn (both of which are in Cornwall). The university is primarily located in the city of Exeter, Devon, where it is the principal higher education institution. Streatham is the largest campus containing many of the university’s administrative buildings. The Penryn campus is maintained in conjunction with Falmouth University under the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) initiative. The Exeter Streatham Campus Library holds more than 1.2 million physical library resources, including historical journals and special collections.
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