South West Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership 2026

An opportunity to apply for fully-funded four year PhD studentships under the South West Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (SWBio DTP). The SWBio studentships are funded by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Biotechonology and Biosciences Research Council (BBSRC).

There are 11 projects available in association with UWE Bristol. The expected start date of this studentship is September 2027. 

The closing date for applications is midday (12:00 GMT), Wednesday 2 December 2026.

For an informal discussion about the studentships, please see the contact listed below each project. Please also see the SWBio DTP for further information. 

There are 11 studentship opportunities available in association with UWE Bristol and more information can be found via the links below:

1. Microbial metabolites as signals for gut cell communication: mapping epithelial signalling and developing rapid readouts in model systems (PDF) (CASE studentship)
   For further information, please contact Dr Alexander Greenhough (email: alexander.greenhough@uwe.ac.uk).
2. Understanding how cellular stress tunes junctional plasticity to drive barrier homeostasis (PDF)
   For further information, please contact Dr Alexander Greenhough (email: alexander.greenhough@uwe.ac.uk).
3. Investigating the role of the oncofetal splice factor MBNL3 in metastasis (PDF)
   For further information, please contact Professor Michael Ladomery (michael.ladomery@uwe.ac.uk).
4. Fungal potentiators of neuronal differentiation (PDF) (CASE studentship)
   For further information, please contact Dr Tim Craig (tim.craig@uwe.ac.uk).
5. The role of iron metabolism in gut microbiota homeostasis and its impact on probiotic viability (PDF) (CASE studentship)
   For further information, please contact Dr James Robson (james5.robson@uwe.ac.uk).
6. Deciphering the genetic control of clonal reproduction in raspberry (PDF) (CASE studentship)
   For further information, please contact Dr Tamara Lechon Gomez (tamara.lechongomez@uwe.ac.uk).
7. Development of an attract-and-suppress control system for sustainable wireworm management
   For further information, please contact Dr Carrie Brady (carrie.brady@uwe.ac.uk).
8. Discovery and engineering of fungal maleidrides for metabolite innovation (PDF)
   For further information, please contact Dr Katherine Williams (katherine12.williams@uwe.ac.uk).
9. Genotype to phenotype mapping in Fusobacterium nucleatum (PDF)
   For further information, please contact Dr James Robson (james5.robson@uwe.ac.uk).
10. Development of a quantum-dot-based closed-loop biosensing and selective photochemical platform for immune modulation in multiple sclerosis (PDF)
    For further information, please contact Dr Ibidapo Williams (ibidapo.williams@uwe.ac.uk).
11. Decoding neuron-astocyte lipid trafficking (PDF)
    For further information, please contact Dr Tim Craig (tim.craig@uwe.ac.uk).

For information on all the projects that are available, visit SWBio DTP projects. 

Explore essential information about the SWBIO Doctoral Training Partnership, including the programme, placements, cohort activities, EDI, and event below:

• Programme overview
• Placements
• Cohort activities
• Equality, diversity and inclusion
• DTP events

Funding

Please see the SWBio funding page for details of UKRI-BBSRC-funded studentship.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a fully-funded studentship, you must meet the academic and residence criteria as outlined on the SWBiosciences Doctoral Training Partnership webpage.

The closing date for applications is midday (12:00 GMT), Wednesday 2 December 2026.

You are required to apply via the SWBio application process. Please read the SWBio How to apply webpage for further information. 

PhD study adjustments and support

This includes part-time study, deferral option; please visit the SWBio PhD study adjustments and support page.