LSI PhD Programme in Complex Living Systems
LSI PhD Programme
LSI PhD Programme
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.
What we offer
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.
Who we’re looking for
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.
Your PhD project
Below are examples of potential PhD projects to start in October 2023. The links will take you to the group pages with further information including application details. This list is not exhaustive, and you are welcome to discuss any of your own ideas directly with prospective supervisors.
- The Roadmap of Human Pluripotency; Supervisors: Austin Smith and Ge Guo
- Development of a preventative therapy for Neurofibromatosis type 1 tumours; Supervisors: Benjamin Housden, Kirsty Wan, and Steve West
- Investigating eukaryotic intracellular parasites using electron cryo-tomography; Supervisors: Bertram Daum and Bryony Williams
- Understanding the mechanisms of pathogen invasion of host cells using a cross-disciplinary approach; Supervisors: Bryony Williams and Bertram Daum
- Protein magnetoreceptors: From quantum fluctuations to protein signalling; Supervisors: Daniel Kattnig and Jonathan Phillip
- Modelling of early human embryo development; Supervisors: David Richards, Ge Guo, and Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova
- Unravelling genotype-phenotype relationships for bacterial biofilm formation at ultra-high-throughput using microfluidic droplets; Supervisors: Fabrice Gielen and Remy Chait
- The avian compass probed on the single-molecule level - understanding the molecular basis of magnetoreception in the bird brain; Supervisors: Frank Vollmer and Daniel Kattnig
- Studying early human embryo development using stem cell models; Supervisors: Ge Guo and Fabrice Gielen
- The Structural Kinetic Mechanism of Catalysis in Gene Editing Enzymes; Supervisors: Jonathan Phillips and Kyle Wedgwood
- Mapping pathogen transport and retention near ciliated surfaces; Supervisors: Kirsty Wan and Rachel Bennett (Bristol)
- Identifying the neurobiological signatures of multisensory processing of emotional information to establish biomarkers for anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder; Supervisors: Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova and Anke Karl
- Deciphering how microbial species in a community interact with each other and their environment using mathematical modelling and analysis; Supervisors: Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova and Stefano Pagliara
- Fusing experiments and mathematical models to understand human embryo development; Supervisors: Marc Goodfellow and Austin Smith
- Time-resolved enzyme structural studies; Supervisors: Nicholas Harmer and Bertram Daum
- Molecular Mechanism Underlying Stress Induced Brain Changes; Supervisors: Soojin Ryu and Steve West
- Developing novel antimicrobials by using single-cell microfluidics and sequencing; Stefano Pagliara, Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova, and Benjamin Housden
- Mechanistic analysis of direct cell-cell communication in organ development; Supervisors: Steffen Scholpp and Ge Guo
- Quantitative analysis of Wnt signalling in the Gastric Tumour Microenvironment; Supervisors: Steffen Scholpp, Tobe Phesse, and Fabrice Gielen
- Bacteriophage lifecycles at high-resolution: using cryo-electron microscopy and single-cell techniques to study mechanisms of infection; Supervisors: Vicki Gold, Remy Chait, and Tobi Bergmiller
How to apply
Applications are now closed for LSI-funded PhD studentships
For other funded studentships deadlines vary. Please see details and links on the group pages.
For self-funded applicants, please contact directly your preferred supervisor and also the LSI Director of Postgraduate Research, Professor Steve West (s.west@exeter.ac.uk.)In your message, please state your motivation for carrying out Ph.D. 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:
Director of Postgraduate Research (LSI), Steven West: s.west@exeter.ac.uk
Additional scholarship opportunity for students from China
We welcome all application from China via the China Scholarship Council (CSC).
You can apply either for one of the co-supervised projects above or to a project with an individual supervisor.
If you wish to apply for this scheme, please contact your preferred supervisor directly.