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PhD opportunities: Nursing & Health

Compare 18 doctoral research opportunities connected with Nursing & Health, including project summaries, funding and application deadlines.

Nursing & Health

Examining professional practice with intersex service users in health and social care (HHS-2026-20)

University of Huddersfield

About the Project Intersex is an umbrella term for people whose sex characteristics do not fit with those considered typical for males and females, including chromosomes, hormones, and reproductive organs. In recent years, global bodies have highlighted human rights concerns around the status of intersex people across the world.Research also indicates widespread stigma, erasure, and discrimination of those with variations of sex characteristics (VSC).

Location
Huddersfield, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
30 October 2026
Funding
Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

Nursing & Health

Experiences of African migrant nurses with career progression in the UK National Health Service (HHS-2026-28)

University of Huddersfield

About the Project African migrant nurses (AMN) are a vital part of the UK NHS workforce, yet evidence points to uneven career progression, under representation in senior roles, and experiences of deskilling or stalled development. While policy initiatives promote equality, diversity, and inclusion, career opportunities remain underexplored.

Location
Huddersfield, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
30 October 2026
Funding
Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

Nursing & Health

Antimicrobial resistance and gene regulation in Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli.

Aston University

About the Project Details of the Project Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) is a major cause of diarrhoeal disease in industrialized and non-industrialized countries and has been shown to be the cause of travellers’ diarrhoea and persistent diarrhoea in children and HIV patients. EAEC strains cause disease by binding to the human gastric mucosa and establishing a thick mucoid biofilm, damaging tissue by secreting various toxins [1].

Location
Birmingham, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Nursing & Health

Beyond H3K4 Methylation: Mechanistic Insights into How KMT2D Controls Transcription, DNA Repair and Genome Stability

Aston University

About the Project Details of the Project KMT2D is one of the most frequently mutated genes in human cancer, with recurrent loss-of-function alterations in lymphoma, bladder, colorectal and gastric tumours, and is the causative gene in Kabuki syndrome. Despite this broad disease relevance, we still lack a fundamental understanding of how KMT2D protects cells from malignant transformation.

Location
Birmingham, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Nursing & Health

Deciphering stress response in healthy aging

Aston University

About the Project Details of the Project Background: When organisms encounter stressors such as heat, nutrient deprivation, or oxidative damage, cells form stress granules (SGs)—aggregates of proteins and RNA. SGs protect mRNAs and proteins from degradation, allowing cells to resume normal functions once stress is removed. However, stress responsiveness declines with age.

Location
Birmingham, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Nursing & Health

Design, construction and testing of recombinant protein production systems for industrial biotechnology applications.

Aston University

About the Project Details of the Project The production of recombinant biopharmaceuticals, e.g., antibody fragments and growth hormones, is a billion-dollar industry, with many therapeutic proteins being expressed in the bacterium Escherichia coli [1]. Most of the E.

Location
Birmingham, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Nursing & Health

Development of antioxidant-loaded dermal formulations for diabetic wound healing

Aston University

About the Project Details of the Project Diabetic wounds and pressure ulcers affect 26 million patients annually[1]. Limited treatment options make diabetic pressure ulcers difficult to heal leading to sepsis, amputations, and social dysfunction[2,3]. Angiogenesis is critical for wound healing, as cells proliferate and migrate to repair tissue. Oxidative damage hinders this process, delaying tissue repair and regeneration in diabetic patients [4,5].

Location
Birmingham, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Nursing & Health

Dry eye disease and eye drops: retention of dry eye management formulations in eye

Aston University

About the Project Details of the Project If you are interested in pursuing full‑time PhD study in anterior eye research, with a focus on treatment strategies and an in‑depth exploration of the ocular surface and ocular lubricants, this programme may be an opportunity for you. About one in three adults [1-3] and one in five children [4] meet the diagnostic criteria for dry eye disease (DED), hence it is commonly encountered in routine primary eye care.

Location
Birmingham, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Nursing & Health

GTP Depletion and Genome Stability: Mechanistic Insights into Mycophenolic Acid-Induced Transcriptional and DNA Damage Responses

Aston University

About the Project Details of the Project Mycophenolic acid (MPA), the active ingredient of the immunosuppressant mycophenolate mofetil, is prescribed to millions worldwide, yet we lack a fundamental understanding of how it works. Traditionally viewed as acting selectively on lymphocytes by blocking de novo GTP synthesis, emerging evidence, including our own, reveals that GTP depletion disrupts essential cellular processes far beyond immune suppression.

Location
Birmingham, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Nursing & Health

Identification or risk factors and preventative strategies for musculoskeletal injuries in females

University of Worcester

About the Project Female sport has grown rapidly in professionalism and visibility, with increasing access to high‑quality coaching, sport science, and sports medicine support. Despite these advances, musculoskeletal injuries in females continue to occur at disproportionately high rates across a range of sports and physical activities. Previous research has highlighted significant sex‑based differences in injury prevalence and risk factors.

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

Nursing & Health

Integrated formulation–process strategies for optimised extrusion and printability outcomes in additive manufacture of oral solid dosage forms

Aston University

About the Project Details of the Project Extrusion-based three-dimensional (3D) printing has emerged as a promising platform for delivering personalised solid oral dosage forms however, its broader adoption remains constrained by limited throughput, variable dose uniformity, and inconsistent print reliability. This project seeks to optimise extrusion performance through coordinated advances in feedstock formulation and extrusion control.

Location
Birmingham, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Nursing & Health

Musculoskeletal Health in the Workplace: Prevention and Intervention

University of Worcester

About the Project Musculoskeletal (MSK) issues persist as the leading cause of work-related absenteeism. These multifaceted problems encompass a wide spectrum, ranging from lifestyle-related behaviours to injuries and pre-existing diseases that individuals bring with them into the workplace. Additionally, MSK conditions can be exacerbated by poor workplace ergonomics or physical exposures inherent to specific job roles. (Crawford et al. , 2020).

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

Nursing & Health

Nanoscale Additive Manufacturing of Buccal Microneedle Patches for Enhanced Trans-Mucosal Drug Transport

Aston University

About the Project Project Details Buccal drug delivery offers a promising, non-invasive route for the systemic administration of both small-molecule and biologic therapeutics. To date however, its broader clinical utility is limited by poor permeability of the oral mucosa and enzymatic degradation within the oral cavity.

Location
Birmingham, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Nursing & Health

Realist evaluation of what works, for whom and in what circumstances to non-pharmacologically manage antipsychotic weight gain in people with Severe Mental Illness and Learning Disability (SMI-LD) dual diagnosis (RESOLVE-LD)

Aston University

About the Project Details of the Project Antipsychotics are the main treatment for severe mental illnesses (SMI) such as schizophrenia. Whilst they may treat the symptoms of psychosis, they are associated with significant weight gain. This weight is associated with diabetes and cardiovascular disease and contributes to a reduced life-expectancy of up to 20 years in people with SMI (1).

Location
Birmingham, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Nursing & Health

Regulation of brain fluid homeostasis by dynamic aquaporin-4 subcellular relocalisation

Aston University

About the Project Details of the Project Background: Aquaporins facilitate passive, bidirectional water transport in all cells and tissues. In the brain and spinal cord, aquaporin-4 facilitates the exchange of water across the blood-spinal cord and blood-brain barriers, controlling cell volume, extracellular space volume and astrocyte migration.

Location
Birmingham, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Nursing & Health

Routine Monitoring of Depression and Anxiety in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

University of Worcester

About the Project Approximately 15 million people in England, representing 1 in 4 adults, have one or more long-term conditions (LTCs). 1 2 A LTC is an illness that cannot be cured, but may be controlled with medicines or other treatments. 3 People living with LTCs face considerable challenges around the management of their long-term physical and mental health.

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

Nursing & Health

Shared Decision-Making in ADHD Medication Management: Evaluating Alignment Between Patient Values and Prescribing Practice

Aston University

About the Project Project Details Background Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition that affects individuals across the lifespan and is increasingly recognised as a significant public health priority. Medication is a key component of evidence-based ADHD treatment, yet decisions around starting, adjusting, or continuing medication remain challenging for many patients, families, and clinicians.

Location
Birmingham, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Deadline
Year-round applications
Funding
Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Nursing & Health

Transforming Practice: Co-Creating Practitioner Training to Challenge Stigma and Support Activity with Type 1 Diabetes

University of Worcester

About the Project People with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) consistently report a strong desire to participate in physical activity (PA), yet face persistent structural, educational, and interpersonal barriers throughout their lives.

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