LSI PhD Programme in Complex Living Systems
Modern scientific innovation involves the integration of diverse disciplines and the bridging of pure and application-oriented research. At the LSI we are training a new generation of scientists who are equipped to think and experiment beyond traditional boundaries using cutting-edge technologies and approaches.
You can apply to our PhD Programme via three routes: (i) direct application for an LSI-funded PhD studentship (covers fees, stipend, and training budget); (ii) application for a studentship funded by another source (e.g., UKRI, China Scholarship Council, national agencies) with an LSI supervisor; (iii) self-funding with an LSI supervisor.
Applications are OPEN now! Deadline is Midday, Monday 1st December 2025
The University of Exeter is proud to offer up to 50 full-time PhD scholarships in collaboration with the China Scholarship Council (CSC), for 2026/27 entry.
How to apply:
There are two opportunities to apply, either with your own research proposal or through one developed by an LSI PI.
- Develop your own research proposal: We strongly encourage and welcome you to submit your own research proposal (see details in the 'How to Apply' section)
- Explore the selection of existing projects for the LSI listed below
If you are interested in one of the projects available, please contact the relevant supervisor to discuss your interest prior to submitting an application.
New Projects for CSC Stipends in the Living Systems Institute for intake 2026/27
Engineering Life
Project Title: Nature’s smallest propeller: Unlocking the structure and function of the archaeal flagellum
Lead Supervisor: Bertram Daum
Second Supervisor: Dr Kirsty Wan
Contact email for project enquiries: b.daum2@exeter.ac.uk
Project Title: Thinking Big: Structural and Transcriptional Insights into Therapeutic Jumbophages
Lead Supervisor: Dr Vicki Gold
Second Supervisor: Ben Temperton
Contact email for project enquiries: v.a.m.gold@exeter.ac.uk
Project Title: Biophysical Insights into Collagen IV Network Architecture and Mechanics in Organ Formation
Lead Supervisor: Dr Stefan Harmansa
Second Supervisor: Dr Junning Chen
Contact email for project enquiries: s.harmansa@exeter.ac.uk
Project Title: Molecular dissection of the acute signalling response in human pluripotent cells
Lead Supervisor: Brian Hendrich
Second Supervisor: TBD
Contact email for project enquiries: b.d.hendrich@exeter.ac.uk
Project Title: Decoding the RNA Virus World through Environmental Transcriptomics
Lead Supervisor: Adam Monier
Second Supervisor: TBD
Contact email for project enquiries: a.monier@exeter.ac.uk
Project Title: Design of a photo-controlled genome editing enzyme
Lead Supervisor: Dr Jonathan Phillips
Second Supervisor: Dr Alexis Perry
Contact email for project enquiries: jj.phillips@exeter.ac.uk
Project Title: Comparative single-sell genomics and the evolution of novel cell types
Lead Supervisor: Dr Jordi Solana
Second Supervisor: TBD
Contact email for project enquiries: j.solana@exeter.ac.uk
Project Title: Filopodia-based cell-cell communication in embryogenesis and diseases (Collaboration project between LSI, Exeter - Tsinghua University, Beijing)
Lead Supervisor: Prof Steffen Scholpp
Second Supervisor: Prof Li Yu, Cell- and Developmental Biology, Tsinghua University
Contact email for project enquiries: s.scholpp@exeter.ac.uk
Project Title: Comparative analysis of cytoneme-mediated signalling in Drosophila and zebrafish (Collaboration project with Zhejiang University, Hangzhou)
Lead Supervisor: Prof Steffen Scholpp
Second Supervisor: Dr Hai Huang (Zhejiang University, Hangzhou)
Contact email for project enquiries: s.scholpp@exeter.ac.uk
Project Title: Comparative analysis of cytonemes transporting components of the Wnt and FGF family (Collaboration project between LSI, Exeter - Kunming University of Science and Technology)
Lead Supervisor: Prof Steffen Scholpp
Second Supervisor: Dr Chengting Zhang
Contact email for project enquiries: s.scholpp@exeter.ac.uk
Project Title: Naive pluripotent stem cells and germ cells from livestock animals
Lead Supervisor: Professor Austin Smith
Second Supervisor: Ge Guo
Contact email for project enquiries: austin.smith@exeter.ac.uk
Project Title: Communication breakdown: Using human iPSC-based 3D neural models to understand disruption of neuron-glia interactions in ALS.
Lead Supervisor: Akshay Bhinge
Second Supervisor: Jonathan Mill
Contact email for project enquiries: a.bhinge@exeter.ac.uk
Project Title: Investigation of the primary blood lineage formation and function ex vivo using primate stem cell-based models.
Lead Supervisor: Ge Guo
Second Supervisor: TBD
Contact email for project enquiries: g.guo@exeter.ac.uk
Project Title: Deciphering fundamental physical rules underlying stress-induced changes in animal behaviour
Lead Supervisor: Soojin Ryu
Second Supervisor: Kirsty Wan
Contact email for project enquiries: s.ryu@exeter.ac.uk
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Mathematics of Life
Project Title: Quantification of microswimmer motility in controlled microfluidic environments with AI-based motion analysis
Lead Supervisor: Professor Kirsty Wan
Second Supervisor: Dr Fabrice Gielen
Contact email for project enquiries: k.y.wan2@exeter.ac.uk
Project Title: How sensory ecology and flow physics guide marine larval behaviour and settlement
Lead Supervisor: Prof Kirsty Wan
Second Supervisor: Dr Elizabeth Williams
Contact email for project enquiries: k.y.wan2@exeter.ac.uk
Project Title: Physical biology of human health: exploring stress disorders through larval zebrafish behaviour
Lead Supervisor: Professor Kirsty Wan
Second Supervisor: Professor Soojin Ryu
Contact email for project enquiries: k.y.wan2@exeter.ac.uk
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Physics of Life
Project Title: Unravelling antibiotics/bacteriophage synergies at ultra-high-throughput using microfluidic droplets
Lead Supervisor: Fabrice Gielen
Second Supervisor: N/A
Contact email for project enquiries: f.gielen@exeter.ac.uk
Project Title: Universal Discriminators and Disruptors for Testing Quantum Biological Hypotheses (keywords: spin dynamics, optimal control, GPU computing, machine learning)
Lead Supervisor: Prof. Daniel Kattnig
Second Supervisor: Dr David Richards
Contact email for project enquiries: d.r.kattnig@exeter.ac.uk
Project Title: Modelling shape generation by the basement membrane
Lead Supervisor: Dr David Richards
Second Supervisor: Dr Stefan Harmansa
Contact email for project enquiries: david.richards@exeter.ac.uk
Project Title: Using machine learning to develop a diagnostic tool for microglia states
Lead Supervisor: Dr David Richards
Second Supervisor: Prof Krasi Tsaneva-Atanasova
Contact email for project enquiries: david.richards@exeter.ac.uk
Project Title: Spindle orientation in the developing fly embryo: a joint mathematical-experimental approach
Lead Supervisor: Dr David Richards
Second Supervisor: Prof James Wakefield
Contact email for project enquiries: david.richards@exeter.ac.uk
Project Title: Mathematical modelling of embryogenesis
Lead Supervisor: Dr David Richards
Second Supervisor: Prof Krasi Tsaneva-Atanasova
Contact email for project enquiries: david.richards@exeter.ac.uk
Project Title: Decoding Neurotransmission and Anaesthetic Action with Single-Molecule Membrane Sensors
Lead Supervisor: Prof Frank Vollmer
Second Supervisor: Dr Kyle Wedgwood
Contact email for project enquiries: f.vollmer@exeter.ac.uk
Project Title: Decoding Early Protein Aggregation Pathways in Alzheimer’s Disease using AI Driven Single Molecule Protein Sensors
Lead Supervisor: Prof Frank Vollmer
Second Supervisor: Dr Zeyu Fu
Contact email for project enquiries: f.vollmer@exeter.ac.uk
Project Title: Predictive Resolution and Engineering Of Dynamic Nanoscale Activity Mechanisms In Protein Catalysts
Lead Supervisor: Prof Frank Vollmer
Second Supervisor: Prof Ke Li
Contact email for project enquiries: f.vollmer@exeter.ac.uk
Find more information here:
China Scholarship Council and University of Exeter PhD Scholarships
Applications are CLOSED now!
New Projects for LSI PhD Stipends for intake 2026/27
Title: Investigating ribosome hibernation in archaea from cells to atoms
Main Supervisor: Bertram Daum, Co-supervisor: Stefano Pagliara
Title: The Influence of Stress on Visual Processing
Main Supervisor: Alessandro Filosa, Co-supervisor: Margaritis Voliotis
Title: Thinking Big: Structural & Transcriptional Insights into Therapeutic jumbophages
Main Supervisor: Vicki Gold, Co-supervisors: Steve West, Ben Temperton
Title: Spatiotemporal dynamics of epileptic seizures in larval zebrafish
Main Supervisor: Marc Goodfellow, Co-supervisors: Nikolas Nikolaou, Matt Winter, Fabrizio Costa
Title: Forces in the Matrix: Developmental Biophysics Across Species
Main Supervisor: Stefan Harmansa, Co-supervisor: Steffen Scholpp
Title: Designing growth factors for stem cell biology - Harmer
Main Supervisor: Nicholas Harmer, Co-supervisors: Austin Smith, Jonathan Phillips
Title: Turbulent Partners: Unravelling Host-Virus Coevolution in Dynamic Environments
Main Supervisor: Wolfram Moebius, Co-supervisors: Daniel Kattnig, Adam Monier
Title: Protein Choreography of CRISPR/Cas9: Dynamics, Mechanism, and Next-Generation Genome Editing Project Description - Phillips
Main Supervisor: Jonathan Phillips Co-supervisors: Marc Goodfellow, Fabrice Gielen, Remy Chait, Jonathan West, Eamonn Reading
Title: Decoding animal regeneration at the single cell level: from genes to structures
Main Supervisor: Jordi Solana, Co-supervisors: Kirsty Wan, Steffen Scholpp
Title: Decoding Pathological Immune Memory to Mend the Metabolically Stressed Heart
Main Supervisor: Suphansa Sawamiphak, Co-supervisor: Jordi Solana
Title: Modelling the early embryo
Main Supervisor: Krasimira Tsaneva Atanasova, Co-supervisors: James Wakefield, David Richards
Title: Decoding Protein Dynamics of Magneto and Photon Perception with Single-Molecule Optical Techniques Project Description - Vollmer
Main Supervisor: Frank Vollmer, Co-supervisor: Daniel Kattnig
Title: Mathematical modelling of cytoneme-based biochemical signalling
Main Supervisor: Kyle Wedgwood, Co-supervisors: Steffen Scholpp, Pete Ashwin
Title: Investigating the dynamics of pancreatic nerves in health and disease
Main Supervisor: Yu Hsuan Carol Yang, Co-supervisors: Jordi Solana, Alex Corbett
Please be aware that all PhD Projects will be located in the Living Systems Institute at the University of Exeter.
All students are enrolled in the integrated LSI programme regardless of primary discipline or funding source. You will benefit from the broad range of opportunities and activities offered by the programme, including:
- Leading-edge research technologies and approaches, from quantum biology to brain function
- State-of-the-art laboratories and facilities in the recently built LSI
- Opportunity to formulate and modify your own project
- Cohort learning in interdisciplinary training modules and workshops
- Supervisors from different disciplines
- Advisory thesis committee to support you throughout the PhD
- Diverse and inclusive community of over 60 PhD students
- Peer-to-peer PhD student presentation and discussion sessions
- Future career preparation
Exeter is one of the fastest growing cities in the UK. It is situated in the South West of England which offers unmatched sports and leisure opportunities through several national parks and some of the best beaches in Europe.
We aim to recruit the best and most imaginative students from across the range of disciplines represented in LSI – Physics, Mathematics, Computational Science, Engineering, Biology and Medicine.
You will be motivated by scientific curiosity and be able and willing to “think outside of the box”. You should have a first or upper-second-class degree (or equivalent). Masters training can be an advantage but is not essential. However, you should have sufficient experience to demonstrate your capability for research work and aptitude for critical thinking.
Hear from our students
Emily Davis, 2nd Year PhD Student
I’ve really enjoyed my experience as a PhD student at the LSI so far. The building is modern and welcoming, and the facilities are fantastic. I’ve had the chance to try techniques that cross disciplines, which has really enhanced my project. We also have weekly seminars from both internal and external speakers, offering great insight into the diversity of research happening here and often sparking new ideas. There are plenty of places to meet other students or researchers for lunch, or to venture out into the campus to get coffee. I feel very lucky to be conducting my research in this institute.
Antonio Fusciardi
As a Second year PhD student working in the Living Systems Institute has been an amazing experience both academically but also socially. As a hub of scientific achievements making advancements in biological, mathematical, and chemical frontiers, I am incredibly grateful to be a part of this community. One of the greatest strengths the LSI has displayed is its incredible social atmosphere, which encourages collaborations with researchers across the fields, in turn generating possibilities for new research projects at an incredible rate. Additionally, the opportunities afforded to be to present my work to my peers and generate useful feedback which in turn guides the direction of my project has been invaluable to me.
Alessia Caccamo, Third Year PhD Student
Studying at the LSI has been a truly unique experience, shaped by the breadth of research disciplines and the countless opportunities to expand the horizons of curiosity and knowledge. At the LSI there is always someone to share a laugh with, someone who understands you, and someone genuinely interested in your work. Chances to engage are everywhere: whether it is presenting your own work, attending events that showcase inspiring research, or helping to bring those events to life. Organising PhD Day, a student-led conference, has been one of the most rewarding experiences for me: reconnecting with a scientist I deeply admire and inviting them to deliver the keynote transformed the event into something very meaningful. After all, it's the sense of connection that truly matters. Connection to others, and most importantly, connection to your passion.
Keith Harrison
The LSI's monthly PhD seminars provide an excellent platform for sharing research and receiving feedback from peers across different life sciences disciplines. Being part of the institute offers a strong community identity while maintaining close collaborative relationships with other departments, creating an ideal balance between focused support and broader academic connections.
One significant advantage is the access to additional funding opportunities specifically available to LSI students, which can support conference attendance. The institute's structure also means that expertise in virtually any technique is available within the building - if you need advice on a specific method or approach, there's almost always someone nearby who specialises in it. This concentrated expertise, combined with the interdisciplinary environment, removes many of the usual barriers to trying new techniques or exploring different research directions. The setup genuinely facilitates collaboration and skill development without the isolation that is common in PhD research.
Self-funded applications
For self-funded applicants, please contact your preferred supervisor and additionally the LSI Director of Postgraduate Research, Professor Steve West (s.west@exeter.ac.uk.)In your message, please state your motivation for carrying out PhD research, why you are applying to our interdisciplinary programme, why you have chosen your selected supervisor/project, and your source of funding for fees, living costs and research training. Self-funded applicants will be subject to an equivalent selection process as applicants for funded positions.
If you have any inquiries, please contact the Director of Postgraduate Research (LSI), Steven West: s.west@exeter.ac.uk
