PhD Studentship in Alzheimer's Disease Risk-Resilience Pathways
Investigate genetic pathways of Alzheimer's disease using human iPSC-derived microglia and computational methods.
Best for:Best for biology or computer science graduates interested in neurodegeneration, functional genomics, and computational pathway analysis.
Overview
The University of Exeter invites applications for a fully funded four-year PhD studentship starting in October 2027 as part of the GW4 BioMed3 Doctoral Landscape Programme. The successful candidate will leverage computational methods to uncover molecular pathways associated with risk and protective variants in human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived microglia linked to late-onset Alzheimer's disease. The project involves prioritizing pathways, conducting gene perturbation experiments, and evaluating their downstream effects on neuronal function. The researcher will be embedded in a collaborative environment receiving comprehensive research training and financial support.
What you'll do
- Apply computational methods to identify molecular pathways exhibiting opposite patterns across risk- and protective-variant human iPSC-derived microglia
- Prioritize candidate molecular pathways implicated in late-onset Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis
- Perform genetic perturbations on candidate genes within human iPSC microglia models
- Test the functional impact of gene perturbations on neuronal functions relevant to disease mechanisms
- Engage fully with the GW4 BioMed3 training curriculum and participate in cohort-wide research activities
Requirements
Degree required: BSc or MSc in a relevant biomedical, biological, or computational discipline
Degree offered: PhD
Language: English
Instruction: English
- Background in biomedical, biological, or computational sciences
- Interest in neurodegenerative disease mechanisms and genetics
- Familiarity with data analysis or computational methods for biological data
- Open to UK and International students
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-10-21
Candidates must review the available projects within the GW4 BioMed3 Doctoral Landscape Programme and submit their applications through the official university application portal or funding link provided. Ensure all required academic transcripts and supporting documentation are prepared according to the scheme guidelines before the deadline.
- CV
- Cover letter
- Academic transcripts
- Reference letters
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