Website Yorkshire Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership
Closing date: 6th January
The BBSRC Yorkshire Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership is recruiting to four funded four-year PhD projects at York, Leeds, Leeds Beckett and Bradford, probing TDP-43, protein aggregation and clearance, and early dementia biomarkers. Projects start in autumn 2027.
The projects
- Decoding TDP-43 self-assembly in RNA regulation and neurodegeneration – University of York, Department of Biology – Dr Han-Jou Chen, Dr Steven Quinn, Dr Joel Crossley (UK Students Only)
- Decoding protein aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases using advanced mass spectrometry methods – University of Leeds – Dr Antonio Calabrese, Prof F. Sobott, Prof Sheena Radford (Students Worldwide)
- Single-Molecule Fluorescence Detection of Early-Stage Dementia Biomarkers – Leeds Beckett University – Dr Tara Sabir, Dr Steven Quinn (UK Students Only)
- Understanding ESCRT-Mediated Proteostasis pathways for Neurodegenerative Disease Intervention – University of Bradford – Dr Sriharsha Kantamneni, Dr Kirsten Riches-Suman, Dr Kurt de Vos (Students Worldwide)
For informal enquiries about a project, please contact its lead supervisor: Dr Han-Jou Chen (Han-jou.chen@york.ac.uk), Dr Antonio Calabrese (a.calabrese@leeds.ac.uk), Dr Tara Sabir (t.sabir@leedsbeckett.ac.uk) or Dr Sriharsha Kantamneni (s.kantamneni@bradford.ac.uk).
About the BBSRC Yorkshire Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership (YBDTP)
The YBDTP brings together world-class bioscience research and innovation, as well as excellence in doctoral supervision, across the Yorkshire and Teesside region. The YBDTP will fund postgraduate researchers at the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield, York, Bradford, Huddersfield, Hull, Leeds Beckett, Sheffield Hallam and Teesside forming a strong regional training partnership. In YBDTP you’ll benefit from a regional doctoral training programme that has interdisciplinary collaboration at its core. The aim is to enable you to develop a range of research skills in biological, biotechnology and biochemical areas as well as equip you with core data analysis and professional skills that are necessary for bioscience research and related non-academic careers.
https://www.yorkshirebiosciencedtp.ac.uk
Eligibility
The York and Leeds Beckett projects are open to UK (home) students only. The Leeds and Bradford projects are open to International (including EU) and UK (home) students.
The YBDTP is committed to recruiting extraordinary future scientists regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or career pathway to date. We understand that commitment and excellence can be shown in many ways and have built our recruitment process to reflect this. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, particularly those underrepresented in science, who have curiosity, creativity and a drive to learn new skills.
You can apply if you have, or are expecting to gain, at least an upper second-class honours degree or equivalent. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of this programme, we welcome applications if your background is in any biological, chemical or physical science or mathematics and are interested in using your skills in addressing biological questions.
We aim to support the most outstanding applicants from outside the UK and are able to over a very limited number of bursaries that will enable full studentships to be awarded to international (EU and non-EU) applicants. These full studentships will only be awarded to exceptional quality candidates, due to the highly competitive nature of this scheme. International students should check if they meet the entry requirements for the host university.
English language: If English isn’t your first language, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. Please see the English language requirements for the host university.
Not all projects will be funded; a limited number of candidates will be appointed via a competitive process.
How to apply
Application deadline: 5pm (UK time), Wednesday 6th January 2027
To submit your application, complete an Expression of Interest form in the Funding Notes section of any of your chosen projects. You can apply for up to two YBDTP projects (which can be at different universities).
If you have any questions about the application process, email YBDTP@leeds.ac.uk.
If you have any questions about the project you are interested in, email the project supervisor.
How we allocate
Shortlisting will take place as soon as possible after the closing date and successful applicants will be notified promptly. If you’re shortlisted, you’ll be invited for an interview on a date to be confirmed in February 2027. You’ll be notified as soon as possible after the interview dates whether your application has been successful, placed on a reserve list or unsuccessful. If you are successful, you’ll be required to confirm your intention to accept the studentship within 10 days.
Terms and conditions
The studentships are fully funded for four years, and you must complete your PhD in four years.
You’ll receive the UKRI minimum doctoral stipend per year for your living costs, which is paid to you in regular instalments. The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) stipend is tax free and does not need to be paid back.
International students will need to have sufficient funds to cover the costs of their student visa, NHS health surcharge, travel insurance and travel to the UK as these are excluded from UKRI funding.
Funding Notes
A tax-free annual stipend at the standard UKRI rate (£21,805 for 2026/27 entry), research costs and tuition fees at UK rate
Academic year: 2027/28
To apply for a studentship from the Yorkshire Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership to undertake this project, please complete an expression of interest form for October 2027.
To apply for this job please visit www.yorkshirebiosciencedtp.ac.uk.
