Investigating the role of DNA methylation in C9ORF72 Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Ref: 5822

Supervisors

Associate Professor Emma Dempster, Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Exeter

Dr Akshay Bhinge, Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Exeter

Dr Sam Washer (Oxford), Centre for Medicines Discovery, University of Oxford

The University of Exeter’s Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences invites applications for a fully funded PhD studentship supported by the Motor Neurone Disease Association, to commence on 1 October 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

For eligible students, the studentship will cover Home tuition fees and provide a tax-free stipend of at least £22,000 per annum for 3.5 years full-time (or pro rata for part-time study). The student will be based in the RILD Building at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital campus.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurological disease that causes progressive muscle weakness and paralysis. A major cause of ALS is a genetic change in the C9ORF72 gene, but it is still unclear why nerve cells die more slowly in some patients than others. Understanding this could help identify new ways to slow disease progression.

This fully funded PhD studentship aims to determine how chemical changes to DNA (called methylation) influence nerve cell survival in genetic ALS. The ultimate goal of the research is to identify protective mechanisms that could inform future treatments for ALS and related neurodegenerative diseases.

The PhD student will work with donated human brain tissue and patient-derived stem cells that can be converted into nerve cells. Day-to-day work will include laboratory-based cell culture, molecular biology techniques, and data analysis to study how changes in DNA affect nerve cell health. This is a lab-based project with no fieldwork requirements; occasional travel to conferences or collaborator sites may be supported.

This PhD scholarship would suit candidates with an interest in neuroscience, genetics, molecular biology, stem cell research, or neurodegenerative disease. Applicants from biomedical sciences or related disciplines are encouraged to apply.

The studentship will be awarded on the basis of academic merit. Students who pay international tuition fees are eligible to apply. However, please note the following:

• The award covers only part of the international tuition fee, approximately £27,000.
• It does not include a stipend for living expenses.
• International applicants will need to cover additional costs, including:
• Student visa fees
• Immigration Health Surcharge
• Relocation expenses associated with moving to the UK to undertake a PhD.

Applicants should ensure they have sufficient funds to meet these costs before applying.

The conditions for eligibility of home fees status are complex and you will need to seek advice if you have moved to or from the UK (or Republic of Ireland) within the past 3 years or have applied for settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

Entry requirements

Applicants for this studentship must have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in an appropriate area of neuroscience, or cell and molecular biology.

If English is not your first language you will need to meet the English language requirements and provide proof of proficiency. Click here for more information.

How to apply

Apply now

To apply, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button above. In the application process you will be asked to upload several documents

•           CV

•           A one page letter of application (outlining your academic interests, prior research experience and reasons for wishing to undertake the project).

•           Names of two referees familiar with your academic work. You are not required to obtain references yourself. We will request references directly from your referees if you are shortlisted.

•           If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country you will need to submit evidence of your proficiency in English.

The closing date for applications is midnight on March 31st, 2026.  Interviews will be held virtually / on the University of Exeter RILD Campus in the week commencing 27^th April 2026.

All application documents must be submitted in English. Certified translated copies of academic qualifications must also be provided.

Please quote reference 5822 on your application and in any correspondence about this studentship.

Summary