New Opportunity: In parallel with our standard studentship applications round, in 2026 we are seeking applications for the first MND Association Doctoral Training Award, to be focused on data science. One award of £700,000 – £800,000 over a 5-year period will support a single cohort of non-clinical 4-year PhD students, providing flexible funding to support retention of high-quality graduates in MND research.
Deadline
Applications may be submitted by a single institute or by collaborating institutes, all based in the UK and Ireland. For this opportunity only, do not use the online summary application form, but contact the Research Grants Team as soon as possible to indicate your interest and arrange a discussion: research.grants@mndassociation.org
The application window for completed Expressions of Interest will close on Thursday 14 May 2026.
Please read our Guidelines for the Doctoral Training Award, and the MND Association Research Strategy. You should also refer to our standard Terms and Conditions for studentship grants and the Research Governance Overview.
Duration
The overall award can be up to five years in length. The individual studentships will be funded for four years (48 months), with an anticipated start date of autumn 2027.
Eligibility
Applications are invited from prospective supervisors, based in institutions in the UK and Ireland. Additional collaborators may be based in other countries. The principal applicants must have demonstrable experience of supervising PhD students, and they must have contracts of employment that extend beyond the lifetime of the award, which is expected to be 2027-2032.
Assessment and Budget
Please see our Guidelines for more information on the applications process and the budget.
Email research.grants@mndassociation.org
Visit funding web page
(https://www.mndassociation.org/research/for-researchers/apply-for-funding)
