Browse by subject

PhD opportunities: Molecular Biology

Compare 9 doctoral research opportunities connected with Molecular Biology, including project summaries, funding and application deadlines.

Molecular Biology

AMPA receptor structure and function

Medical Research Council (Cambridge)

About the Project Excitatory synapses are the principal sites at which information is integrated and stored in the brain, yet we still lack a molecularly resolved understanding of how their strength and plasticity are determined. AMPA glutamate receptors (AMPA-Rs) sit at the centre of this process, converting glutamate release into excitatory signals. AMPA-Rs are highly diverse signaling complexes.

Location
Cambridge, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
8 December 2026
Funding
Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Molecular Biology

Connectomics of neural network plasticity

Medical Research Council (Cambridge)

About the Project Connectomics is the study of biological neural networks at synaptic resolution. The resulting wiring diagrams teach us how information is processed in animal brains, including perception and behaviour [1]. However, connectomes have always been static snapshots where dynamics remain hidden.

Location
Cambridge, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
8 December 2026
Funding
Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Molecular Biology

Reconstitution of cell division

Medical Research Council (Cambridge)

About the Project Background: During cellular division, most bacteria and archaea assemble a ring structure that coordinates the separation of mother and daughter cells. The primary component of this cytokinetic ring is FtsZ, a bacterial tubulin homologue. FtsZ polymers act as a scaffold, guiding the downstream assembly of a multi-protein machinery known as the divisome. In E.

Location
Cambridge, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
8 December 2026
Funding
Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Molecular Biology

Development of a Human Cholinergic Co-culture Model to Investigate α-Synuclein-Induced Neurodegeneration in Parkinson's Disease Dementia and Dementia with Lewy Bodies

University of Birmingham

About the Project Neurodegenerative diseases represent one of the greatest biomedical challenges of the 21st century. Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) and Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) affect millions worldwide and remain without disease-modifying therapies.

Location
Birmingham, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Molecular Biology

Examining the role of IL18R1 and IL18RAP in asthma

University of Leicester

About the Project Background IL-18 is a proinflammatory cytokine though to be involved in the induction and regulation of Type 1 immune responses (1). It functions by binding to the IL18 receptor which is composed of two proteins, IL-18 receptor 1 (IL18R1) and IL-18 receptor accessory protein (IL18RAP) (2). Both genes are found in a gene cluster on human chromosome 2q that has been associated with asthma in genome wide association studies (3).

Location
Leicester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Molecular Biology

Exercise and activity phenotypes in respiratory disease

University of Leicester

About the Project Aim: To explore the phenotypes in relation to exercise and physical activity for individuals with respiratory disease. Background: Those living with respiratory disease have increased sedentary time, reduced physical activity and reduced exercise capacity1. Individuals with respiratory disease report that they have reduced engagement in activities of daily living and loss of independence.

Location
Leicester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Molecular Biology

Exploring Innovative Approaches in Chronic Pain: Focus on Neuropathic pain and Spinal Cord Stimulation

Newcastle University

About the Project Pain can be a debilitating long-term and persistent symptom in many medical conditions, adversely affecting quality of life. Neuropathic pain originates from nervous system damage, resulting in deficits in neural transmission leading to sensory, autonomic, and motor impairment. It affects 8% of the UK population, a figure likely to increase as many pathological conditions contribute to neuropathic pain (e.g., diabetes, stroke, and cancer).

Location
Newcastle, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Molecular Biology

Lifestyle medicine for chronic diseases: An interdisciplinary study across physiology and clinical science.

University of Salford

About the Project Our research focuses on improving health outcomes through interdisciplinary approaches across physiology, clinical science, and lifestyle-related disease. We explore how biological mechanisms interact with patient care and intervention strategies to advance evidence-based approaches in healthcare research, with an emphasis on translational impact and patient-centred solutions.

Location
Manchester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Molecular Biology

Unmasking molecular pathways of sarcopenia and muscle dysfunction and their biomarkers

University of Leicester

About the Project Sarcopenia is a disease that affects individuals both as part of the normal ageing process and as a consequence of systemic disease. In both cases, sarcopenia is known to be associated with significant impairments in quality of life and physical function as well as mortality.

Location
Leicester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Self-Funded PhD Students Only