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Postgraduate Study - PhD and Research Degrees

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

Health and Life Sciences

The Faculty of Health and Life Sciences brings together academics and students across the spectrum of health, wellbeing and life sciences, including the social and environmental context, to create a holistic community with exciting synergies, dedicated to creating positive impact.

Covering Biosciences, Psychology, Health and Care Professions (Nursing, Medical Imaging and Pharmacy), Public Health and Sports Sciences, Health and Community Sciences, and Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, the Faculty is based over multiple campuses in Exeter and Cornwall, and on partner NHS sites.

Our interdisciplinary approach includes partnerships with healthcare providers, industry and above all, the public. This approach is at the forefront of the innovative and cutting-edge translational research undertaken across the faculty’s departments and research groups, and within the Living Systems Institute.  In the Research Excellence Framework 2021, 100% of our research impact in the areas of Life Sciences and Health was rated world-leading or internationally excellent.

Some projects are associated with our world leading Living Systems Institute (LSI).

Application deadline midnight 2 December 2024

Research Projects

There are two opportunities to apply, either with your own research proposal or through one developed by our own faculty.

  1. 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)
  2. Explore the selection of existing projects listed under the section links 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.

Project Title:  Seed-Weed: Optimisation of seaweed seeding processes for integration into automated robotic pipelines.

Lead Supervisor:  Professor Mike Allen
Second Supervisor:  Rob Ellis

Informal enquiries contact email:  m.allen5@exeter.ac.uk  
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Project Title:  Analysing actin dynamics in cytoneme emergence in vivo

Lead Supervisor:  Prof Steffen Scholpp
Second Supervisor:  Prof Anne Ridley, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine

Informal enquiries contact email:  s.scholpp@exeter.ac.uk
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Project Title:  Understanding how interaction between organelles at membrane contact sites controls lipid flux in both animals and plants.

Lead Supervisor:  Joe Costello
Second Supervisor:  Mike Deeks

Informal enquiries contact email:  j.costello@exeter.ac.uk 
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Project Title:  Exploring neuroendocrine regulation of larval settlement and metamorphosis in the European abalone, Haliotis tuberculata - potential applications for aquaculture.

Lead Supervisor:  Elizabeth Williams
Second Supervisor:  Tetsu Kudoh

Informal enquiries contact email:  e.williams2@exeter.ac.uk             
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Project Title:  Understanding how marine copepods respond to multi-stressor environments

Lead Supervisor:  Professor Daniel Mayor
Second Supervisor:  Dr Kathryn Cook

Informal enquiries contact email:  d.j.mayor@exeter.ac.uk 
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Project Title:  Revealing the molecular mechanisms and functions of the "peroxisome-mitochondria connection" in human health and disease

Lead Supervisor:  Prof. Michael Schrader
Second Supervisor:  Dr Ruth Carmichael

Informal enquiries contact email:  m.schrader@exeter.ac.uk            
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Project Title:  Biophysics of the basement membrane in a mechanical-feedback model of organ growth control

Lead Supervisor:  Dr. Stefan Harmansa
Second Supervisor:  Prof. James Wakefield

Informal enquiries contact email:  s.harmansa@exeter.ac.uk            
   
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Project Title:  Mechanisms of adaptive evolution in Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) following mitigation to the Atlantic oceans

Lead Supervisor:  Dr Robert Ellis
Second Supervisor:  TBC

Informal enquiries contact email:  r.p.ellis@exeter.ac.uk

         
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Project Title:  Pangenome analysis of oysters (Bivalvia: Ostreidae)

Lead Supervisor:  Dr Robert Ellis
Second Supervisor:  TBC

Informal enquiries contact email:  r.p.ellis@exeter.ac.uk

Project Title:  Investigating the risk factors of developing neuropathic pain using AI, data mining and mixed methods

Lead Supervisor:  Dr Jan Vollert
Second Supervisor:  Dr Sam Hughes

Informal enquiries contact email:  j.vollert@exeter.ac.uk   
  
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Project Title:  Alternative splicing in the human cortex: relevance to neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disease

Lead Supervisor:  Professor Jonathan Mill
Second Supervisor:  Rosie Bamford

Informal enquiries contact email:  j.mill@exeter.ac.uk

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Project Title:  Improving Deep Networks with Neuroscience

Lead Supervisor:  Joel Tabak
Second Supervisor:  Marc Goodfellow

Informal enquiries contact email:  j.tabak@exeter.ac.uk

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Project Title:  Identification of genetic variants causal of rare disorders using long read sequencing

Lead Supervisor:  Mattia Frontini
Second Supervisor:  TBC

Informal enquiries contact email:  m.frontini@exeter.ac.uk

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Project Title:  Healthcare implications following a diagnosis of inherited cancer predisposition

Lead Supervisor:  Dr. Harry Green
Second Supervisor:  Dr. Leigh Jackson

Informal enquiries contact email:  h.d.green@exeter.ac.uk

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Project Title:  Using analysis of DNA sequencing to understand the genetic causes of monogenic diabetes and hyperinsulinism

Lead Supervisor:  Tom Laver
Second Supervisor:  TBC

Informal enquiries contact email:  twl207@exeter.ac.uk

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Project Title:  Investigation of RAS-independent functions of the tumours suppressor NF1

Lead Supervisor:  Professor Benjamin Housden
Second Supervisor:  Professor Steven West

Informal enquiries contact email:  b.housden@exeter.ac.uk

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Project Title:  Identifying Drug Targets for Neurodegenerative Diseases using 3D Human Stem Cell Models of the Brain and CRISPR Genetic Screens

Lead Supervisor:  Dr. Akshay Bhinge
Second Supervisor:  TBC

Informal enquiries contact email:  a.bhinge@exeter.ac.uk

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Project Title:  Whole genome sequencing in >1,000,000 individuals to identify the genes that cause Type 2 diabetes

Lead Supervisor:  Professor Michael Weedon
Second Supervisor:  Gareth Hawkes

Informal enquiries contact email:  M.N.Weedon@exeter.ac.uk
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Project Title:  Aging and Environmental Exposures: A Cross-Ethnic Study of Genomic Biomarkers and Health Outcomes

Lead Supervisor:  Dr Eilis Hannon
Second Supervisor:  Professor Jonathan Mill

Informal enquiries contact email:  e.j.hannon@exeter.ac.uk

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Project Title:  Metabolic Psychiatry: Big data and genetic approaches to understand the complex relationship between metabolic health and severe mental illness

Lead Supervisor:  Dr Jess Tyrrell
Second Supervisor:  TBC

Informal enquiries contact email:  j.tyrrell@exeter.ac.uk

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Project Title:  Genetic Understanding and Clinical Recognition of Lipodystrophy

Lead Supervisor:  Prof Kash Patel
Second Supervisor:  Dr Gareth Hawkes and Prof Mike Weedon and Prof Bev Shields

Informal enquiries contact email:  k.a.patel@exeter.ac.uk

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Project Title:  Investigating the contribution of epigenomic regulation to the aetiology of monogenic disorders of insulin secretion

Lead Supervisor:  Prof Sarah Flanagan
Second Supervisor:  Dr Emma Dempster

Informal enquiries contact email:  S.Flanagan@exeter.ac.uk

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Project Title:  Using genetics, transcriptomics, and 1.5 million individuals from population-based biobanks to better understand the biology of sleep and links to mental health

Lead Supervisor:  Professor Andrew Wood
Second Supervisor:  NA

Informal enquiries contact email:  a.r.wood@exeter.ac.uk

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Project Title:  Whole Genomes Analysis of Musculoskeletal Conditions using Big Data

Lead Supervisor:  Dr. Harry Green
Second Supervisor:  Mike Weedon

Informal enquiries contact email:  h.d.green@exeter.ac.uk

Project Title:  Health and wellbeing of the nursing workforce in the UK: administrative data linkage using Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register data

Lead Supervisor:  Professor Richard Kyle
Second Supervisor:  TBC

Informal enquiries contact email:  r.kyle@exeter.ac.uk          

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Project Title:  Prevalence and patterns of unpaid caring

Lead Supervisor:  Professor Richard Kyle
Second Supervisor:  TBC

Informal enquiries contact email:  r.kyle@exeter.ac.uk          

Project Title:  Identifying drug-vaccine interactions in electronic health record data using machine learning

Lead Supervisor:  Professor William Henley
Second Supervisor:  TBC

Informal enquiries contact email:  w.e.henley@exeter.ac.uk              
Department:  Health and Community Sciences (UEMS)

Project Title:  Communication and social behaviour in the fiddler crab Afruca tangeri

Lead Supervisor:  Dr Tim Fawcett
Second Supervisor:  Dr Safi Darden

Informal enquiries contact email:  t.w.fawcett@exeter.ac.uk             

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Project Title:  The role of social identity is the development of mental health among school children who are bullied

Lead Supervisor:  Professor Adam Rutland
Second Supervisor:  TBC

Informal enquiries contact email:  a.rutland@exeter.ac.uk  

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Project Title:  Social and moral development of children and adolescents: What promotes the emergence of pro-sociality?

Lead Supervisor:  Professor Adam Rutland
Second Supervisor:  TBC

Informal enquiries contact email:  a.rutland@exeter.ac.uk  

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Project Title:  Parent-child social interaction: It's role in the development of inclusivity in childhood

Lead Supervisor:  Professor Adam Rutland
Second Supervisor:  TBC

Informal enquiries contact email:  a.rutland@exeter.ac.uk  

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Project Title:  Menstruation as a vital sign: how do heavy and painful menstrual periods affect mental health across the life course?

Lead Supervisor:  Gemma Sharp
Second Supervisor:  Jess Tyrrell

Informal enquiries contact email:  G.c.sharp@exeter.ac.uk 

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Project Title:  Boost learning and improve face recognition through brain stimulation techniques

Lead Supervisor:  Ciro Civile
Second Supervisor:  Fraser Milton

Informal enquiries contact email:  c.civile@exeter.ac.uk      

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Project Title:  Delineating the active psychological mechanisms that causally reduce repetitive negative thinking (worry, rumination) -an experimental and clinical approach

Lead Supervisor:  Professor Edward Watkins
Second Supervisor:  TBC

Informal enquiries contact email:  e.r.watkins@exeter.ac.uk              

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Project Title:  Social determinants of mental health and wellbeing: The role of social identities and the feeling of being understood by others

Lead Supervisor:  Dr. Andrew Livingstone
Second Supervisor:  TBC

Informal enquiries contact email:  A.Livingstone@exeter.ac.uk        

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Project Title:  Investigating neurodevelopmental complexity using epigenetics

Lead Supervisor:  Doretta Caramaschi
Second Supervisor:  Anna Adlam

Informal enquiries contact email:  d.caramaschi@exeter.ac.uk        

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Project Title:  Social network dynamics and their adaptive function in animals

Lead Supervisor:  Lauren Brent
Second Supervisor:  TBC

Informal enquiries contact email:  l.j.n.brent@exeter.ac.uk

 Project Title:  Fall prediction in older people based on wearable technologies including IMUs and ego cameras

Lead Supervisor:  Associate Professor Genevieve Williams
Second Supervisor:  Professor Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova

Informal enquiries contact email:  g.k.r.williams@exeter.ac.uk         

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Project Title:  Health and wellbeing of athletes within England Athletics' Youth Talent Programme

Lead Supervisor:  Professor Alan Barker
Second Supervisor:  TBC

Informal enquiries contact email:  a.r.barker@exeter.ac.uk 

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Project Title:  The Differential Impact of Low-Volume High-Intensity Interval Training (LV-HIIT) on Mental Health and the Prevention of Psychological Disorders in Adolescents: A Long-term Comparative Experimental Study

Lead Supervisor:  Helen Dodd
Second Supervisor:  Lisa Price

Informal enquiries contact email:  h.dodd@exeter.ac.uk      

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Project Title:  Biomechanics and Motor Control Related to Sports Injury - with focus on Chronic Ankle Instability

Lead Supervisor:  Associate Professor Genevieve Williams
Second Supervisor:  Professor Joanna Bowtel

Informal enquiries contact email:  g.k.r.williams@exeter.ac.uk         

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Project Title:  Investigating the efficacy of dietary nitrate supplementation in enhancing musculoskeletal health and mitigating falls risk in older adults

Lead Supervisor:  Dr Matthew Black
Second Supervisor:  a.m.jones@exeter.ac.uk

Informal enquiries contact email:  m.i.black@exeter.ac.uk 

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Project Title:  Predicting falls in the elderly from body-worn sensor data

Lead Supervisor:  Associate Professor Genevieve Williams
Second Supervisor:  Professor Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova

Informal enquiries contact email:  g.k.r.williams@exeter.ac.uk         

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Project Title:  Hip-Op and you don't stop - Patient-informed activity monitoring outcome measures for total hip replacement.

Lead Supervisor:  Associate Professor Genevieve Williams
Second Supervisor:  Associate Professor Timothy Holsgrove

Informal enquiries contact email:  g.k.r.williams@exeter.ac.uk         

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Project Title:  Neuromuscular biomechanics of human foot and ankle function in exercise and sports

Lead Supervisor:  Prof Dominic Farris
Second Supervisor:  TBC

Informal enquiries contact email:  d.farris@exeter.ac.uk      

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Project Title:  Applying model-driven data fusion methods to medical sciences: applications in neurological disorders

Lead Supervisor:  Prof William Young
Second Supervisor:  Dr Piotr Slowinski

Informal enquiries contact email:  w.young@exeter.ac.uk    

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Project Title:  Movement behaviours and dietary behavioural intervetion on body composition in overweight and obese children and adolescents. A mixed quantitative and qualitative pilot intervetion study.

Lead Supervisor:  Dr Dimitris Vlachopoulos
Second Supervisor:  Dr Raquel Revuelta Iniesta

Informal enquiries contact email:  D.Vlachopoulos@exeter.ac.uk   

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Project Title:  Exercise to improve health outcomes in childhood cancer survivors: a randomised controlled trial

Lead Supervisor:  Professor Alan Barker
Second Supervisor:  Dr Raquel Revuelta Iniesta

Informal enquiries contact email:  a.r.barker@exeter.ac.uk 

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Project Title:  Assessing the physical, psychological and environmental impacts of a plant-based diet intervention in university settings

Lead Supervisor:  Dr Luciana Torquati
Second Supervisor:  Prof. Natalia Lawrence

Informal enquiries contact email:  l.torquati@exeter.ac.uk 

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Project Title:  RADIANCE: Unravelling the interplay between dietary patterns and ageing in adult survivors of childhood cancer: UK Biobank data

Lead Supervisor:  Dr Raquel Revuelta Iniesta
Second Supervisor:  Dr Dimitris Vlachopoulos

Informal enquiries contact email:  r.revuelta-iniesta@exeter.ac.uk 

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Project Title:  Using mathematical models to explain the relationship between cognition, autonomic dysfunction and motor symptoms in Parkinson's

Lead Supervisor:  William Young
Second Supervisor:  Dr Piotr Slowinski

Informal enquiries contact email:  w.young@exeter.ac.uk    

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Project Title:  Movement behaviours to build resilience and improve mental health outcomes in children and adolescents. A mixed quantitative and qualitative pilot intervetion study.

Lead Supervisor:  Dr Dimitris Vlachopoulos
Second Supervisor:  Prof. Alan Barker

Informal enquiries contact email:  D.Vlachopoulos@exeter.ac.uk