Applications are invited for funded studentships to support full-time PhD research study within departments of the College of Medicine, Biological Sciences & Psychology.

Listed below are all studentships that are currently available, commencing October 2012 or before.

Further studentships will be added as they become available.

Application process

Applications for all studentships can be submitted online or by post, following the instructions HERE
Separate applications must be submitted for different studentships, and each must clearly indicate which studentship is the subject of the application and specify the Studentship Number, Project Title, Supervisor and host Department.
In addition to copies of academic certificates and course transcripts, each application must be accompanied by

(i) a covering letter explaining the reasons for applying for the particular project/studentship

(ii) a detailed Curriculum Vitae of the applicant

(iii) two confidential references from people who can comment on the applicant’s academic ability; for postal applications, each reference must be in a sealed and signed envelope.

Academic requirements:  all applicants must hold, or expect to obtain, a 1st or 2.i Honours degree in a relevant subject from a UK University, or the equivalent.  Applicants whose first language is not English must have achieved an IELTS score of 6.5 minimum, or equivalent, or hold a degree wholly taught in English.

Eligibility: Applications for some awards are restricted to UK/EU nationals or permanent UK residents only; see details below.

Closing Date:  Unless a closing date is indicated, all studentships are available “until filled”.

College /University PhD Studentships

Full-time PhD  studentships funded by the College and University support research projects in any of the College Research Themes; Cardiovascular Research, Cancer Research, Genomic Sciences Research,  Microbial Sciences Research, Molecular & Cellular Bioscience Research, Neuroscience & Behaviour Research, Population Sciences Research, Respiratory Research, and Education Research. The studentships are tenable for three years six months in the first instance, with possibility for an additional six months in some cases, depending upon performance. The awards will pay University UK/EU Tuition fees and a tax-free stipend to the student starting at £13,590pa.

Eligibility: These awards are open to all applicants, but International applicants (i.e. non UK/EU nationals/permanent residents) will be required to pay the difference between the International Registration fee (£13,750, £17,820 or £22,200 depending upon the type of project) and the  Home/EU fee (£3,732pa) from October 2012.

College/University PhD Studentship in Population Science.
Studentship Number: MBSP-12/01
Project: Social Implications of relatedness methodologies in genomics research.
Supervisor: Dr M Murtagh & Dr S Wallace
Department: Health Sciences
Duration:  3.5 years
Contact for information: Dr Madeleine Murtagh. E: mm399@le.ac.uk . T: +44(0)116 252 2926
Closing Date: Open until filled
For further information click HERE
Want to apply for this studentship?  CLICK HERE

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College/University PhD Studentship in Microbial Science.
Studentship Number: MBSP-12/02
Project: Investigation of the Changes in Behaviour of Microbial Commensals and Pathogens in Response to Air Pollution.
Supervisor: Dr J. Morrissey, Prof J. Ketley & Prof P.W. Andrew
Department: Genetics
Duration:  3.5 years
Contact for information: Dr Julie Morrissey. E: jam26@le.ac.uk. T: +44(0)116 252 2272
Closing Date: Open until filled
For further information CLICK HERE
Want to apply for this studentship? CLICK HERE
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College/University PhD Studentship in Respiratory Science.
Studentship Number: MBSP-12/03
Project: Novel Therapeutic Alternatives for the Treatment of Corticosteroid Resistance in Asthma
Supervisors: Dr Y. Amrani, Prof C. Brightling & Prof P Bradding
Department: Infection, Immunity & Inflammation
Duration:  3.5 years
Contact for information: Dr Yassine Amrani.
E: ya26@le.ac.uk. T: +44(0)116 223 1415
Closing Date: Open until filled
For further information CLICK HERE
Want to apply for this studentship? CLICK HERE
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College/University PhD Studentship in Microbial Science.
Studentship Number: MBSP-12/04
Project: Investigation of the Influence of Phase Variable Restriction-Modification Systems on Resistance of Haemophilus influenzae to Infection by Bacteriophage.
Supervisors: Dr C. Bayliss & Dr M. Clokie
Department: Genetics
Duration:  3.5 years
Contact for information: Dr Chris Bayliss.
E: cdb12@le.ac.uk. T:+44(0)116 252 3465
Closing Date: 30 April, 2012
For further information CLICK HERE
Want to apply for this studentship? CLICK HERE
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College/University PhD Studentship in Genome Science.
Studentship Number: MBSP-12/05
Project: Genome-Wide Screen for Genes Involved in Insect Seasonal Timing.
Supervisor: Dr E Tauber
Department: Genetics
Duration:  3.5 years
Contact for information: Dr Eran Tauber.
E: et22@le.ac.uk. T: +44(0)116 252 3455
Closing Date: Open until filled
NOTE: This Studentship may operate as part of the Midlands Integrative Training Partnership (see below)
For further information CLICK HERE
Want to apply for this studentship? CLICK HERE
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College/University PhD Studentship in Neuroscience & Behaviour
Studentship Number: MBSP-12/06
Project: Visualisation of synaptic transmission.
Supervisor: Prof N. Hartell
Department: Cell Physiology & Pharmacology
Duration:  3.5 years
Contact for information: Prof Nick Hartell.
E: nh88@le.ac.uk. T: +44(0)116 252 3301
Closing Date: Open until filled
For further information CLICK HERE
Want to apply for this studentship? CLICK HERE
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College/University PhD Studentship in Neuroscience & Behaviour
Studentship Number: MBSP-12/07
Project: Neurochemical and Evolutionary Bases of Infection-induced Host Behaviour Change.
Supervisor: Dr I. Barber & Dr A. Young
Department: Biology
Duration: 3.5 years
Contact for information: Dr Iain Barber.
E: ib50@le.ac.uk. T: +44(0)116 252 3462
Closing Date: Open until filled
NOTE: This Studentship may operate as part of the Midlands Integrative Training Partnership (see below)
For further information CLICK HERE
Want to apply for this studentship? CLICK HERE
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College/University PhD Studentship in Molecular & Cellular Bioscience
Studentship Number: MBSP-12/08
Project: The molecular mechanisms through which inositol-1,4,5,6-tetraphosphate and co-repressor proteins activate histone deacetylase enzymes
Supervisor: Dr M. El-Mezgueldi & Prof J Schwabe
Department: Biochemistry
Duration: 3.5 years
Contact for information: Dr Mohammed El-Mezgueldi.
E: mem16@le.ac.uk. T: +44(0) 229 7102
Closing Date: Open until filled
For further information CLICK HERE
Want to apply for this studentship? CLICK HERE
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College/University PhD Studentship in Neuroscience & Behaviour
Studentship Number: MBSP-12/09
Project: Investigating neuronal circuits underlying reward-related behaviour.
Supervisor: Dr T. Gerdjikov & Dr J. Mena-Segovia (Oxford)
Department: Psychology
Duration: 3.5 years
Contact for information: Dr Todor Gerdjikov.
E: tvg3@le.ac.uk. T: +44(0) 229 7190
Closing Date: Open until filled
For further information CLICK HERE
Want to apply for this studentship? CLICK HERE

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 MRC PhD Studentships in Respiratory Science,  Cancer Science and Cardiovascular Science

PhD studentships, provided by a Doctoral Training Grant from the Medical Research Council, are available to support the projects listed below. Projects will address the molecular causes of disease with the aim of identifying new therapeutic targets for subsequent pre-clinical and clinical development. Students will receive training in translational research and the application of fundamental research to clinical problems.
The studentships are tenable for three years six months, in the first instance, and will pay full-time University UK/EU Tuition fees and a tax-free stipend to the student starting at £13,590pa; there is also a £300pa Conference/Travel Allowance for the student.

Eligibility: These awards are ONLY available to applicants eligible to pay the UK/EU Tuition fee and who satisfy UK residency requirements; i.e. UK nationals, EU nationals who have been resident in the UK for three years immediately before the award, or other nationals who have been granted permanent residency status in the UK.  EU nationals who are not resident in the UK are eligible for a Fees-only award (i.e. no stipend). 

MRC PhD Studentship in Cancer Science
Studentship Number: MRC-12/02
Project: Molecular Analysis of Plasma Nucleic Acids for the Early Detection of Lung Cancer
Supervisors: Dr J. Shaw & Prof C. Pritchard
Department: Cancer Studies & Molecular Medicine, and Biochemistry
Duration:  3.5 years initially
Contact for information: Dr Jacqui Shaw.
E: js39@le.ac.uk. T: +44(0)116 252 3148
Closing Date: Open until filled
For further information CLICK HERE 
Want to apply for this studentship? CLICK HERE
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MRC PhD Studentship in Cardiovascular Science
Studentship Number: MRC-12/03
Project: Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species Signalling and Cardiovascular Disease Mechanisms.
Supervisors: Dr K. Herbert & Prof A. Goodall
Department: Cardiovascular Sciences
Duration:  3.5 years initially
Contact for information: Dr Karl Herbert.
E: keh3@le.ac.uk. T: +44(0)116 258 3028
Closing Date: Open until filled
For further information CLICK HERE
Want to apply for this studentship? CLICK HERE
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Midlands Integrative Bioscience Training Partnership PhD Studentships

The Universities of Leicester (College of Medicine, Biological Sciences & Psychology), Birmingham (School of Biosciences) and Warwick (School of Life Sciences), have established a Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP).  The MIBTP has an ambitious vision to deliver innovative 4 year PhD training in world class research across the Life Sciences, using interdisciplinary systems approaches and/or new technology platforms, within the Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council's priority areas;-

• Food Science

1. Crop Science: from Systems Biology to Agronomy
2. Farm Animal Health; Epidemiology, and Microbiological Systems

• Industrial Biotechnology

1. Bioprocessing
2. Metabolic Engineering

• Other World-class underpinning  Bioscience

1. Gene expression
2. Clock systems
3. Molecular mechanisms (of cellular processes)
4. Neuroscience

The MIBTP is supported by the BBSRC and will have at least 15 4-year PhD studentships available each year which will be allocated to the best students, judged on academic merit, who will then be able to choose their supervisor and project from within the relevant research activities of the three host institutions.

During Year One MIBTP students will receive a period of expert hands-on training in both dry and wet experimentation, participate in a Professional Internship and attend a series of bespoke Master-Classes contributed by each of the partners. The initial phases of this training, particularly those involving “mathematical-modelling” and “systems” approaches, will take place at the University of Warwick. Relevant mini-projects at different Universities will be followed by a choice of PhD research project.

The studentships will be tenable for four years, and will pay full-time University UK/EU Tuition fees and a tax-free stipend to the student starting at £13,590pa; there is also a £300pa Conference/Travel Allowance for the student.

Eligibility: These awards are ONLY available to applicants eligible to pay the UK/EU Tuition fee and who satisfy UK residency requirements; i.e. UK nationals, EU nationals who have been resident in the UK for three years immediately before the award, or other nationals who have been granted permanent residency status in the UK.  EU nationals who are not resident in the UK are eligible for a Fees-only award (i.e. no stipend). Nationals of other countries are NOT eligible unless they have permanent UK residency status.

Applications: are now invited from candidates with a strong academic background for fully funded 4 year Scholarships likely to become available under this programme. These awards, which are only available to UK and EU nationals, will cover student stipend and full-time tuition fees at UK/EU rates.

Applications for MIBTP Studentships MUST be submitted on the attached Application form available HERE , and sent by email to :-  rt24@le.ac.uk

Deadline for Applications: 5pm, 6th February 2012 

About the College of Medicine, Biological Sciences & Psychology

The College, headed by Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor David Wynford-Thomas, is a highly successful community of academics based in laboratory, clinical, health and social science settings. This collaboration between laboratory scientists, health professionals and non-clinical academics ensures the very best environment for internationally excellent research, attracting new research grants and awards, new colleagues, partnerships with the NHS, industry and the public sector. We are delighted to support a growing population of Postgraduate Students and Research Associates and Fellows.

About the University

Leicester University is one of the UK's leading universities, committed to international excellence through the creation of world changing research and high quality, inspirational teaching. It is consistently in the top 20 of all national tables and in 2010 was ranked in the top 2% of world universities by the QS World University Rankings.

In 2008/2009 we were named the Times Higher Education's University of the Year, with the judges describing us as "elite without being elitist".

The publication of the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) in December 2008 confirmed the University of Leicester’s position as a leading research university well placed to offer degree opportunities in a wide variety of disciplines and allow our students to benefit from working with staff at the cutting edge of their disciplines. The knowledge, expertise and sense of innovation and discovery evident in our departments create an excellent environment in which to undertake study at doctoral level.