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Website University of Exeter
Closing date: 21st October
A fully funded four-year GW4 BioMed3 PhD at the University of Exeter, using stem cells, 3D bioprinting and single-cell genomics to find out how the link between nerve and muscle breaks down in ALS, and to screen for new drug candidates. Open to UK and international applicants. See more funded PhDs.
ALS (motor neurone disease) is a devastating neurological disease with no cure, and new ways to understand and treat it are urgently needed. Supervised by Dr Akshay Bhinge in Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, this project brings together stem cell technology, 3D bioprinting, brain cell models and advanced genomic analysis to explore how nerve cells and their support cells interact in health and disease.
What you’ll do
- Build human 3D bioprinted models of the connection between neurons and muscle
- Model a key feature of ALS that is seen in most patients
- Use high-resolution single-cell techniques to uncover new disease mechanisms
- Run drug screens to identify novel drug candidates
The project is highly interdisciplinary and collaborative, with training across neuroscience, genomics, bioinformatics, bioengineering and translational research.
About the programme
The studentship is part of the MRC GW4 BioMed3 Doctoral Landscape Programme, a partnership of the Universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter. It is competition funded: 134 projects across four themes are competing for 18 studentships, so you apply for the project and the strongest applicants across the partnership are funded. Studentships start in October 2027 and run for four years full time, and part-time study may also be possible.
Funding
The studentship covers full UK tuition fees and a stipend at the UKRI minimum rate, £21,805 a year for 2026/27, updated annually. Up to £5,000 a year is also available for research training and support. Funding is adjusted pro rata for part-time study. The programme is open to UK and international students.
How to apply
Applications close at 5pm on Wednesday 21 October 2026, although GW4 may close early if it receives an unprecedented number, so do not leave it to the last day. Find out more and apply on the University of Exeter website.
To apply for this job please visit www.exeter.ac.uk.
