A-Z

About the project

Postgraduate research

Systems Biology PhD/MSc (Research)

Systems biology emphasises a multi-level, integrative approach to understanding how living organisms work. With our close links to the polyomics facility, we apply a full range of post-genomic technologies to aid our understanding.

Our Online Application Form and Applicant Self Service will be unavailable from 08:00-14:00 (GMT) on Thursday 29 October for essential maintenance. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

• PhD: 3-4 years full-time; 5 years part-time; MSc (Research): 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time;
• MSc (Research): 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time;

Research projects

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Decoding Temporal Windows for Mitochondrial Intervention Across Species Using Data-Driven Approaches (available as IPhD)

Supervisor: Alberto Sanz

MSc choices : Biomedical Sciences, Bioinformatics, Biotechnology, Immunology & Inflammatory Disease, Medical Genetics & Genomics, Precision Medicine.

Project description :

Mutations in genes encoding mitochondrial OXPHOS components often cause devastating diseases. Paradoxically, lifespan can be extended in worms, flies, and mice by partially impairing mitochondrial function. Why this occurs remains poorly understood. The Sanz laboratory has revealed that the timing of mitochondrial dysfunction is critical—similar interventions produce opposing outcomes depending on when they are applied. This project aims to systematically identify conserved patterns that explain this temporal dependency.

We will analyse RNAseq and proteomics datasets from Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, Mus musculus, and Homo sapiens, comparing short- and long-lived species. We will assess mRNA and protein expression across tissues and developmental stages, quantifying correlations between transcript and protein levels. Using machine learning, we will identify conserved expression profiles that predict lifespan outcomes.

Guided by these insights, we will use state-of-the-art genome editing in Drosophila to modulate mitochondrial function with spatiotemporal precision, targeting specific tissues and developmental windows to generate new long-lived flies.

By uncovering the timing and location rules that govern mitochondrial influence on longevity, this work will establish a foundation for future interventions to extend human healthspan.

Techniques :

References :

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• Data mining
• Transcriptomics
• Proteomics
• Statistical Analysis
• Machine Learning
• Genetics
• Molecular Biology
• Developmental mitochondrial complex I activity determines lifespan. Stefanatos R, Robertson F, Castejon-Vega B, Yu Y, Uribe AH, Myers K, Kataura T, Korolchuk VI, Maddocks ODK, Martins LM, Sanz A. EMBO Rep. 2025 Apr;26(8):1957-1983
• NLRP1 inflammasome promotes senescence and senescence-associated secretory phenotype. Muela-Zarzuela I, Suarez-Rivero JM, Gallardo-Orihuela A, Wang C, Izawa K, de Gregorio-Procopio M, Couillin I, Ryffel B, Kitaura J, Sanz A, von Zglinicki T, Mbalaviele G, Cordero MD. Inflamm Res. 2024 Aug;73(8):1253-1266.
• Autophagy promotes cell survival by maintaining NAD levels. Kataura T, Sedlackova L, Otten EG, Kumari R, Shapira D, Scialo F, Stefanatos R, Ishikawa KI, Kelly G, Seranova E, Sun C, Maetzel D, Kenneth N, Trushin S, Zhang T, Trushina E, Bascom CC, Tasseff R, Isfort RJ, Oblong JE, Miwa S, Lazarou M, Jaenisch R, Imoto M, Saiki S, Papamichos-Chronakis M, Manjithaya R, Maddocks ODK, Sanz A, Sarkar S, Korolchuk VI. Dev Cell. 2022 Nov 21;57(22):2584-2598.e11.
• Mitochondrial ROS signalling requires uninterrupted electron flow and is lost during ageing in flies. Graham C, Stefanatos R, Yek AEH, Spriggs RV, Loh SHY, Uribe AH, Zhang T, Martins LM, Maddocks ODK, Scialo F, Sanz A. Geroscience. 2022 Aug;44(4):1961-1974.
• Mitochondrial complex I derived ROS regulate stress adaptation in Drosophila melanogaster. Scialò F, Sriram A, Stefanatos R, Spriggs RV, Loh SHY, Martins LM, Sanz A.Redox Biol. 2020 May;32:101450.

Overview

Systems Biology draws on the strengths of molecular and cell biology to try to build an integrative picture of how organisms work. Implicit in the approach is big data (coming from imaging, microarray, RNAseq, proteomics or metabolomics, for which we are very well equipped), together with mathematical and computational biology to draw higher-level insights. Systems biology also works very well with genetic model organisms, such as yeast, Drosophila or Arabidopsis; or in human biomedicine.

Through their research interests in drug development, biotechnology and clinical applications, many of our project supervisors have strong links with pharmaceutical and agrochemical industry. The interdisciplinary nature of systems biology means that these highly active supervisors have international collaborations both with other Universities and industry. Funds are available through the College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences to allow visits to international laboratories where part of your project can be carried out. This provides an excellent opportunity for networking and increasing your scientific knowledge and skill set.

Research topics are allied to ongoing research within the School, the majority of which are basic science projects. A variety of multi-disciplinary research approaches are applied, including biochemistry, molecular biology, molecular genetics, materials science, polyomics (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics etc), bioinformatics, structural biology, microscopy and imaging techniques. Specific areas of interest include:

• modelling organ specificity in the plant circadian clock
• post-genomic insights into tissue function and control in Drosophila
• optimising recombinant protein expression and secretion in mammalian cells
• systems biology approaches of stress-induced plasticity of the mitochondrial intermembrane space
• light control of local and long distance phytohormone signalling in Arabidopsis
• quantitative systems biology of membrane transport and cellular homeostasis
• systems biology of gas exchange and photosynthesis, from molecule to the field
• materials and metabolomics for identification of stem cell fate modifying metabolites
• analysis and integration of large omics datasets

PhD

Individual research projects are tailored around the expertise of principal investigators.

• Duration: 3/4 years full-time; 5 years part-time

MSc (Research)

• Duration : 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time

Entry requirements

Our regular standard of admission is usually a 2.1 honours degree, with a significant component in Life Science, Biomedical Science, or Physical Science.

Required documents Applicants should submit: Academic Transcripts and Degree Certificates CV MVLS Cover Letter Two References

Required documents

• Academic Transcripts and Degree Certificates
• CV
• MVLS Cover Letter
• Two References

English language requirements

For applicants from non-English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Government , the University sets a minimum English language proficiency level.

Accepted English language tests

We accept a wide range of English language tests for entry to this programme. Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date, and requirements must be met using a single test.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic and Academic Online (not General Training)

• 6.5 with no subtests under 6.0
• IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
• We do not accept General Training

TOEFL iBT (including MyBest and Home Edition)

Tests taken up to 20 January 2026

Tests taken from 21 January 2026

• 90 Overall , no subtest lower than Reading 20; Listening 19; Speaking 19; Writing 21
• 92 Overall , no subtest lower than 4.5

Pearsons PTE Academic (test centre only)

• 65 overall with no subtest less than Reading 60; Listening 60; Speaking 65; Writing 60

Cambridge C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency

• 176 overall, no subtest less than 169

Oxford ELLT

• 7 overall with no subtest less than 6

LanguageCert Academic SELT/Academic/Academic Online

• 70 overall with no subtest less than 60

Password Skills Plus

• 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0

Trinity College Integrated Skills in English II

• 96 overall with no subtest less than 90

Kaplan Test of English

• Any two subtests at 480 or higher, and any two subtests at 450 or higher

PSI Skills for English

• B2 Pass with Merit

Duolingo English Test

• 120 overall with Writing at 120 and no subtest less than 110

Oxford Test of English Advanced

• 140 Overall with any two subtests at 126 or higher, and any two subtests at 136 or higher

Alternatives to English Language qualification

Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)

TNE degree for UK University taught at a campus outside of the UK.

• Students must have studied for a minimum of their final year at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have completed their degree in that majority-English speaking country within 6 years of programme start.
• Students must be awarded the degree by the UK university and must have completed the degree within 6 years of programme start.

Pre-sessional courses

The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We would strongly encourage you to consider the pre-sessional courses at the University of Glasgow's English for Academic Study (EAS) Unit. Our Pre-sessional courses are the best way to bring your English up to entry level for University study. Our courses give you:

For more detail on our pre-sessional courses please see:

We can also consider the pre-sessional courses accredited by the below BALEAP approved institutions to meet the language requirements for admission to our postgraduate taught degrees:

• direct entry to your University programme for successful students (no need to take IELTS)
• essential academic skills to help you study effectively at University
• flexible entry dates so you can join the right course for your level.
• Pre-sessional courses
• Heriot Watt
• Kingston Upon Thames
• Middlesex University
• Manchester University
• Reading University
• Edinburgh University
• ST Andrews University
• UCL
• Durham

2027/28

Prices are based on the annual fee for full-time study. Fees for part-time study are half the full-time fee.

Irish nationals who are living in the Common Travel Area of the UK, EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status, and Internationals with Indefinite Leave to remain status can also qualify for home fee status.

• UK: To be confirmed [26/27 fee was £5,238]
• International & EU: £33,708
• Fee status and policies

Alumni discount

We offer a 15% tuition fee discount to eligible self-funded alumni starting a Postgraduate Taught (PGT) Masters or Postgraduate Research (PGR) programme in the 2027/28 academic year.

This includes University of Glasgow graduates and those who have completed a Study Abroad programme, Exchange programme, International Summer School or Erasmus programme with us. This discount can be awarded alongside most University scholarships. No additional application is required.

• Full details of our Alumni Discount

Possible additional fees

Depending on the nature of the research project, some students will be expected to pay a bench fee (also known as research support costs) to cover additional costs. The exact amount will be provided in the offer letter.

• Re-submission by a research student £540
• Submission for a higher degree by published work £1,355
• Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed £350
• Submission by staff in receipt of staff scholarship £790
• BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnerships
• External funding information

Support

The College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences Graduate School provides a vibrant, supportive and stimulating environment for all our postgraduate students. We aim to provide excellent support for our postgraduates through dedicated postgraduate convenors, highly trained supervisors and pastoral support for each student. Our overarching aim is to provide a research training environment that includes:

• provision of excellent facilities and cutting edge techniques
• training in essential research and generic skills
• excellence in supervision and mentoring
• interactive discussion groups and seminars
• an atmosphere that fosters critical cultural policy and research analysis
• synergy between research groups and areas
• extensive multidisciplinary and collaborative research
• extensive external collaborations both within and beyond the UK
• a robust generic skills programme including opportunities in social and commercial training

Resources

We offer a wide range of cutting-edge research facilities that span 3 buildings, including:

• core facilities in fluorescence activated cell sorting analysis
• cell imaging and biophysical techniques, with NMR.
• cutting edge microarray
• next-generation sequencing
• proteomics and metabolomics facilities
• in-house informatics support

Identify potential supervisors

All postgraduate research students are allocated a supervisor who will act as the main source of academic support and research mentoring. You must identify a potential supervisor supervisor from the College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences and contact them to discuss your research proposal before you apply. Please note, even if you have spoken to an academic staff member about your proposal you still need to submit an online application form.

Supervisor search

Research projects

If you are interested in a research project listed above, please include the title on your application.

Required documents

Our Online Application Form and Applicant Self Service will be unavailable from 08:00-14:00 (GMT) on Thursday 29 October for essential maintenance. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

• Academic Transcripts and Degree Certificates
• CV
• MVLS Cover Letter
• Two References

Contact us

If you require assistance before you apply: mvls-gradschool@glasgow.ac.uk

After you have submitted your application: Admissions Enquiries form

Our research environment

• Discover how we support and develop postgraduate researchers

Induction

• Getting started with PGR development: how postgraduate researchers are welcomed into our community

Postgraduate researcher blogs

• A community blog, written by and for postgraduate researchers at the University of Glasgow

Research areas