PhD studentships

Nurturing exceptionally talented early career researchers with an outstanding mentored and supported research training experience

Training and inspiring the next generation of translational researchers is one of our key aims. We hope to reach students at all stages of their research careers, from PhD students to Senior NHS Clinical Academics, helping them to realise their potential and bringing benefits to the people and communities of our region by delivering cutting-edge translational research.

Our PhD Studentship Programme is dedicated to identifying and nurturing exceptionally talented early career researchers by delivering outstanding mentored and supported research training. Students are embedded across our five core research themes, where they work in diverse research environments alongside world-leading academics and have access to state of the art facilities. All of our PhD students have access to a tailored training programme with wrap-around support and mentorship to help them reach their career potential.

Students are based in the University of Exeter’s Health and Life Sciences Faculty, which brings together academics and students across the spectrum of health, wellbeing and life sciences to create a holistic community with exciting synergies, dedicated to creating positive impact. Students also have the opportunity to work with local NHS Trusts and commercial partners.

Our students are immersed in a positive and inclusive research culture where they have access to our leading research development support, leadership training and development through the NIHR Academy and our University infrastructure.

After a competitive process we were delighted to appoint our first ever cohort of PhD students in September 2023. Six students are now carrying out Translational Research projects across our core research themes under the expert supervision of leading academics.

PhD studentships opportunities – apply now!

We’re delighted to announce that applications are now open for several funded PhD studentships in ground-breaking research areas. These prestigious positions offer an incredible opportunity to contribute to innovative projects that tackle critical challenges in healthcare and medical sciences.

Available projects

  1. Patient and public involvement in medical mycology: investigating opportunities and designing solutions
  2. Hot spots and pressure points: Developing AI to identify normal and pathological periprosthetic osteoblastic activity for total knee arthroplasty on SPECT/CT
  3. Extending the estimands framework to randomised trials of complex interventions
  4. Applying machine learning and natural language processing for high-fidelity clinical research using UK hospital data
  5. Developing continuity of care prediction models using Explainable AI for outcomes of care in multimorbid patients: the example of heart failure (HF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

How to apply

Please submit your application by clicking on the relevant project you are interested in above.

The deadline to apply is midnight, 6 January, 2025.

Don’t miss this chance to join a thriving research community and shape the future of science and healthcare.

Any questions? Please contact Sophie Gould at S.L.Gould@exeter.ac.uk

“We were delighted to welcome our first cohort of PhD students into the BRC family. The quality of applications was exceptional, and the future of translational research looks bright as our students set out on the next steps of their research journeys.”

Prof Adilia Warris
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From l to r: William Newton, Emily Plumpton, Martyn Frith, Ben Bowhay, Tania Atienzar, Suhel Ahmed

Our PhD students

Ben Bowhay

PhD Student

Suhel Ahmed

PhD Student

Explore our PhD studentship projects

Emily Plumpton

Commensal Fungi in the Lung: Innocent Bystanders of Pathogenic Orchestrators of Severe Asthma?

Commensal Fungi in the Lung: Innocent Bystanders of Pathogenic Orchestrators of Severe Asthma?

Tania Atienzar

Identification of novel therapeutic targets for TDP-43 proteinopathies

Identification of novel therapeutic targets for TDP-43 proteinopathies

William Newton

‘A new link between microbial pathogenesis and dementia: establishing the role of fungal infection in potentiating Alzheimer’s Disease risk’

Establishing the role of fungal infection in potentiating Alzheimer’s Disease risk

Martyn Frith

Developing a Novel Genomic Biomarker for the Early Detection of Neurodegeneration

Developing a Novel Genomic Biomarker for the Early Detection of Neurodegeneration

Suhel Ahmed

Studying rare genetic types of diabetes to identify genes essential for survival of insulin-producing cells

Studying rare genetic types of diabetes to identify genes essential for survival of insulin-producing cells

Ben Bowhay

Personalised Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Harnessing the power of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET)

Personalised Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Harnessing the power of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET)

In the news

Read the news story announcing our first PhDs to get to know our students

Investing in the researchers of the future – first PhD projects announced.

PhD Opportunities

Our latest call for PhD studentship applications is now closed. Please keep an eye on this page for further calls.

Please contact Dr Sophie Gould (NIHR Exeter BRC Training and Events Manager) at S.L.Gould@exeter.ac.uk.  

S.L.Gould@exeter.ac.uk