PhD Studentship: Patent Law in the Age of the 3Rs
Examine how patent law aligns and conflicts with animal testing reduction technologies in this fully funded PhD studentship.
Best for:Best for legal scholars and graduates with an interest in intellectual property law, innovation policy, and animal welfare.
Overview
King's College London is offering a fully funded PhD studentship investigating the intersection of intellectual property law, technological innovation, and animal welfare. Supervised by Dr Johnathon Liddicoat and Professor Tanya Aplin, the project explores how patent law acts as both an incentive and a barrier to the adoption of the 3Rs (replacement, reduction, and refinement of animals in research). The successful candidate will conduct interdisciplinary legal research, analysing patentable subject matter, licensing mechanisms, and regulatory frameworks. The student will contribute to KCL's newly established interdisciplinary centre dedicated to science policy and animal welfare alternatives.
What you'll do
- Conduct independent doctoral research examining the relationship between patent rights and the 3Rs in biological research
- Analyze how patentable subject matter and technology governance shape the development and accessibility of alternatives to animal testing
- Build upon established literature concerning research tools, licensing mechanisms, clearinghouses, and patent pledges
- Produce high-quality interdisciplinary scholarship bridging legal studies, technological innovation, and science policy
- Engage with KCL's interdisciplinary centre dedicated to the 3Rs and participate in relevant steering group or academic activities
- Prepare written work, progress reports, and a doctoral thesis for examination
Requirements
Degree required: Master's degree or equivalent in Law or a related discipline
Degree offered: PhD
Language: English; standard institutional postgraduate English language requirements apply
Instruction: English
- Demonstrated interest in intellectual property law, innovation, technology regulation, or animal welfare
- Strong academic background in legal research or relevant social sciences
- Ability to conduct rigorous interdisciplinary literature reviews and critical analysis
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
- Open to applicants of any nationality
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-12-01
Applicants must submit an application for the Law Research MPhil/PhD programme through the Kings Apply portal. In the funding section of the admissions application, tick the box indicating application to a King's funding scheme and include the award scheme code LAW2027.
- CV
- Cover letter
- Research proposal
- Academic transcripts
- Reference letters
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