We offer a range of PhDs funded by different sources, such as research councils, industries or charities. As a PhD student, you will become a valued member of a research group. Here you will work with internationally respected academics, post-doctoral research associates and technicians. Find out more about our research groups below.
How to Apply
To apply for a funded PhD please read the advertised project information carefully as requirements will vary between funders. The project information will include details of funding eligibility, application deadline dates and links to application forms. Only applicants who have a relevant background and meet the funding criteria can be considered.
Current PhD Opportunities
Current PhD Opportunities List accordion
This project is part of the Prestigious Sainsbury PhD Studentships in plant sciences, by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation (FindAPhD). Deadline for applications: 14 Nov 2025.
Rubisco is the enzyme responsible for the first step in the conversion of carbon from CO2 into plant biomass. The carboxylation of the sugar-phosphate ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) produces the building blocks for glucose synthesis. However, the enzyme is characterized by several inefficiencies, and therefore Rubisco activity frequently limits carbon assimilation in crops. At moderately high temperatures, plants produce greater amounts of sugar-phosphates that resemble the substrate RuBP but inhibit Rubisco. In parallel, Rubisco activase—the chaperone that removes these inhibitors from Rubisco catalytic sites—becomes impaired and unable to maintain Rubisco in its active form. With plants progressively experiencing stochastic and unpredictable environments, the inhibition of Rubisco at warm temperatures has become a key target to mitigate yield losses and develop resilient crops (e.g. Amaral et al. 2024).
This project aims to enhance the thermotolerance of Rubisco activity, thereby contributing to develop more sustainable and temperature resilient plant photosynthetic productivity. Our lab welcomes innovation and creativity, and the nature of the funding enables the student to be involved in co-designing the project. This provides an opportunity for students to take ownership of the project, discuss ideas and shape the project proposal with support and guidance from the supervisory team. We focus on crop plants, in particular wheat, soybean and cowpea, and use a combination of molecular plant physiology and biochemistry to understand and improve Rubisco regulation in these crops. A key area of research is the role of Rubisco activase and its impairment at elevated temperatures. We are interested in understanding and learning from nature’s innovations, e.g. certain plants and extremophile photosynthetic organisms have evolved thermotolerant variants of Rubisco activase enabling them to thrive under elevated and variable temperature ranges – how do they achieve this? Through collaborations, we are exploring machine learning-based strategies to make Rubisco activase more thermotolerant and using biophysical and computational tools to better understand what happens to Rubisco activase at elevated temperatures. We want to learn how to modulate protein stability and flexibility to cope with stochastic temperature ranges and operate optimally to support continued CO2 assimilation under climate change.
This project is ideal for students who are curious about Rubisco and have a background in Plant Biology. Distinct advantages would be a growth mindset, whereby we learn from mistakes to improve our work, and a desire to contribute to pushing forward the boundaries of Rubisco research. We operate as a team and embrace a set of shared values: Ethical, high quality and high impact research; Teamwork; Respect for everyone and the environment; Safe, clean, tidy and functional workspaces. Please consult my webpage for more information and if interested reach out for enquiries.
General eligibility criteria
Enthusiasm, independence, self-motivation, curiosity, and the ability to communicate to a range of audiences are advantageous qualities for a PhD. Applicants would normally be expected to hold a minimum of a UK Honours degree at 2:1 level or international equivalent in a relevant degree course. A Master’s degree is desirable but not essential. Applicants who have gained experience in relevant fields through non-traditional routes are strongly encouraged to apply. We welcome applications from Black, Asian or Ethnic Minorities candidates, candidates who are in the first generation of their family to go to university, candidates who have been in care or who have been a young carer, and candidates from a low-income background. English language requirements for overseas students can be found here.
Application process
Please note that the below is the first stage of the application process. The selected applicant will work with the supervisor to develop the project proposal and prepare for an interview in January with the Gatsby Foundation Advisory Board.
Complete the Application Form, rename the document with your name at the end, e.g.: Your_Name_PhD_Application_Form.
Submit the completed Application Form and a CV to lec.pgr.applications@lancaster.ac.uk.
Please note only Word or pdf files are accepted.
Add your details to the Reference Form, rename the document with your name at the end, e.g.: Your_Name_PhD_Reference_Form. Send the renamed reference form to two referees and request them to complete the form and send it to lec.pgr.applications@lancaster.ac.uk.
Please note only Word or pdf files are accepted. It is important that you ensure references are submitted by the closing date or as soon as possible.
You will receive a generic acknowledgement in receipt of successfully sending the application documents.
Please note that only applications submitted as per these instructions will be considered.
Please note that, overseas students will be required to provide evidence of proficiency in English. This evidence is only required if you are offered a funded PhD and is not required as part of this application process.
Please note, if you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date then you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. If you would like feedback on your application, please contact the supervisor(s) of the project.
Amaral J, Lobo AKM, Carmo-Silva E (2024) Regulation of Rubisco activity in crops. New Phytologist 241:35-51. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.19369
Funding Notes
The studentships provide annual stipends that are above the BBSRC minimum level plus an annual payment of £5,500 for department laboratory fees, and £700 for books, conferences and travel. Tuition fees are also paid by the Foundation. The stipend level for 2026/27 is to be determined, but for reference the stipend for 2025/26 is £24,235.
It would be expected that the studentship holder spend six months during their 3rd or 4th year at another university/institute to gain additional experience. The student can claim up to an additional £3,000 to assist in covering the extra expenses. The final award of the grant is conditional on the student obtaining a first or upper second class degree before the start of the Sainsbury PhD Studentship.
This project is part of the NorthWest Bio Doctoral Landscape Award funded by the BBSRC. Details on the programme can be found here: FindAPhD. Deadline for applications: 21 Nov 2025.
Climate change is threatening the quantity and quality of our crops. A growing body of evidence suggests that critical macro- and micro-nutrients will decline as [CO2] and temperatures rise. Yet these studies have so far only focused on dominant global crops with little photosynthetic variation. This PhD project will investigate photosynthetic diversity of lesser studied subsistence crops and quantify the nutritional profile of each crops’ edible tissues in detail. As part of these studies, the student will develop and apply a high-throughput mass spectrometry plant nutrient workflow. The student will then undertake a series of experiments to grow photosynthetically diverse plants under a range of temperature and CO2 treatment to determine how these factors influence crop nutrients in different photosynthetic backgrounds.
To achieve the goals of the project, the student will train in plant phenotyping of leaf anatomy, biochemistry, and physiology and establish a high-throughput mass spectrometry plant nutrient workflow. The student will gain valuable skills in fundamental research, experimental design, and translational research, as well as transferable skills in written, verbal, and aesthetic science communication.
Enthusiasm, independence, self-motivation, curiosity, and the ability to communicate to a range of audiences are advantageous qualities for a PhD. Applicants would normally be expected to hold a minimum of a UK Honours degree at 2:1 level or international equivalent in a relevant degree course. A Master’s degree is desirable but not essential. Applicants who have gained experience in relevant fields through non-traditional routes are strongly encouraged to apply. We welcome applications from Black, Asian or Ethnic Minorities candidates, candidates who are in the first generation of their family to go to university, candidates who have been in care or who have been a young carer, and candidates from a low-income background. English language requirements for overseas students can be found here.
Application process
Applications for NorthWestBio projects are made via the programme portal, and are not made directly to Lancaster. Please see the full application and eligibility details via the programme website: FindAPhD.
Funding Notes
For full funding details, including stipends, research support, and details around placements, please visit the programme website: FindAPhD.
This project is part of the NorthWest Bio Doctoral Landscape Award funded by the BBSRC. Details on the programme can be found here: FindAPhD. Deadline for applications: 21 Nov 2025.
A fascinating feature of root-associated mycorrhizal fungi is their ability to colonise multiple individual plants simultaneously forming “common mycorrhizal networks”. These networks are crucial for acquisition and distribution of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and water, and in regulating defence against insect herbivores. However, our knowledge of the extent and function of fungal networks in nature, and their role in providing resilience for plant communities against external pressure such as drought and herbivory are poorly resolved. Therefore, the overarching aim of this project is to understand the extent, ubiquity and function of common mycorrhizal networks in grazed grasslands, and how they influence plant-herbivore pest interactions and resilience against drought.
The student will establish a series of field experiments where the formation of common mycorrhizal networks is manipulated, and impose additional treatments comprising insect herbivory and drought. This interdisciplinary project will provide training and experience in several cutting-edge techniques and disciplines including molecular biology, isotope tracers, soil biochemistry, animal, plant and fungal ecology. The project will generate new understanding of how grazed grasslands function, and will open-up opportunities for careers in academia, conservation agencies and agri-food sectors.
Enthusiasm, independence, self-motivation, curiosity, and the ability to communicate to a range of audiences are advantageous qualities for a PhD. Applicants would normally be expected to hold a minimum of a UK Honours degree at 2:1 level or international equivalent in a relevant degree course. A Master’s degree is desirable but not essential. Applicants who have gained experience in relevant fields through non-traditional routes are strongly encouraged to apply. We welcome applications from Black, Asian or Ethnic Minorities candidates, candidates who are in the first generation of their family to go to university, candidates who have been in care or who have been a young carer, and candidates from a low-income background. English language requirements for overseas students can be found here.
Application process
Applications for NorthWestBio projects are made via the programme portal, and are not made directly to Lancaster. Please see the full application and eligibility details via the programme website: FindAPhD.
Funding Notes
For full funding details, including stipends, research support, and details around placements, please visit the programme website: FindAPhD.
This project is part of the NorthWest Bio Doctoral Landscape Award funded by the BBSRC. Details on the programme can be found here: FindAPhD. Deadline for applications: 21 Nov 2025.
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by eukaryotic Leishmania spp. parasites that are transmitted by sand flies. Like all vector-borne-diseases, transmission is extremely temperature-sensitive and therefore is expected to be impacted by ongoing and future climate change. We are looking for a PhD student who will help advance our understanding of how temperature drives population dynamics of Lutzomyia sand flies and their transmission of Leishmania parasites using a combination of lab experiments and mathematical modelling.
The student will collect experimental data on life history traits of Lutzomyia longipalpis sand flies at different temperatures and use these data to build models for sand fly population dynamics and transmission of Leishmania parasites. Ideal candidates will have a background in experimental biology, a strong interest in public health or infectious disease biology/ecology, and an interest in learning mathematical modelling. The student will be primarily based at Lancaster University, with a co-supervisor located at Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland (James Hutton Institute).
Enthusiasm, independence, self-motivation, curiosity, and the ability to communicate to a range of audiences are advantageous qualities for a PhD. Applicants would normally be expected to hold a minimum of a UK Honours degree at 2:1 level or international equivalent in a relevant degree course. A Master’s degree is desirable but not essential. Applicants who have gained experience in relevant fields through non-traditional routes are strongly encouraged to apply. We welcome applications from Black, Asian or Ethnic Minorities candidates, candidates who are in the first generation of their family to go to university, candidates who have been in care or who have been a young carer, and candidates from a low-income background. English language requirements for overseas students can be found here.
Application process
Applications for NorthWestBio projects are made via the programme portal, and are not made directly to Lancaster. Please see the full application and eligibility details via the programme website: FindAPhD.
Funding Notes
For full funding details, including stipends, research support, and details around placements, please visit the programme website: FindAPhD.
About the Project
Supervisors: Professor Crispin Halsall (LEC), Dr Caroline Weight (Biomedical and Life Sciences) and Dr Naval Singh (Engineering)
The respiratory epithelium maintains a healthy breathing environment but exposure to air pollution increases susceptibility to respiratory infection. Disease caused from absorption of microplastics, nanoplastics and air particulate matter kill over 4.2 million people every year and respiratory tract infections account for nearly 2.5 million deaths globally, of which the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause. Here, you will characterise the chemical composition of air pollutants and assess their damage to human cells derived from the nose. You will identify novel molecular and cellular mechanisms which generate protective immunity against respiratory infections through characterising effects of exposure to air pollutants. These data will identify novel molecular signalling pathways that influence generation of protective immunity, critical in therapeutic targets and vaccine design.
This project involves innovative chemical analytical and host-pathogen models, and you will learn a variety of different techniques spanning across Biomedical, Chemical and Engineering disciplines including chromatography, spectroscopy, confocal microscopy and microbiology. You will also receive diverse training in both scientific and career developmental opportunities.
General eligibility criteria: Applicants would normally be expected to hold a minimum of a UK Honours degree at 2:1 level or equivalent in a Chemical/Biology/Biotechnology/Microfluidics or other relevant degree course.
Project specific criteria: The ideal candidate will have an interest in Environmental Science, Chemistry, Bacteriology, Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biophysics, Biotechnology, Cell Biology, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Tissue Engineering.
Funding
A tax-free stipend will be paid at the standard UKRI rate; £19,237 in 2024/25. This is a fully funded studentship of 3.5 years for UK/Home students.
How to Apply
Interested applicants are welcome to get in touch to learn more about the PhD project. Please contact Dr Caroline Weight for more information.
You will receive a generic acknowledgement in receipt of successfully sending the application documents.
Please note that only applications submitted as per these instructions will be considered.
Please note that, if English is not your first language, you will be required to provide evidence of your proficiency in English. This evidence is only required if you are offered a funded PhD and is not required as part of this application process.
Please note that, if you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date then you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. If you would like feedback on your application, please contact the supervisors of the project.
Dates
Deadline for candidate applications: 28th April 2025
Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021 May 25:11:651474. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.651474.
About the Project
Supervisors: Marta Shocket (LEC), Barbara Shih, (Biomedical and Life Sciences) and Alexandre Benedetto (Biomedical and Life Sciences)
The ability of mosquitoes to adapt to climate change is poorly understood, and current models for transmission of mosquito-borne diseases under future climates do not incorporate evolution. This project will use molecular genetics and trait-based modelling approaches to study climate adaptation in Anopheles gambiae, the principal African vector of malaria. This project will provide insight into how mosquitoes might adapt to climate change and help to inform long-term strategies for malaria control.
Aim 1: Generating parameters for evolutionary rescue models
The student will re-analyse existing temperature-dependent life history trait data to generate estimates of selection intensity and phenotypic variance, two factors used by evolutionary rescue models to predict adaptation rates.
Aim 2: Linking climate variables to genetic features from sequencing data
The student will derive genetic variations from whole genome sequencing data and determine if metrics related to climate are associated with greater population-level genetic diversity or specific genetic variants.
General eligibility criteria: Applicants would normally be expected to hold a minimum of a UK Honours degree at 2:1 level or equivalent in a relevant degree course.
Project specific criteria: The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in infectious diseases or thermal adaptation and a background in one of several relevant areas: infectious disease biology, thermal biology, bioinformatics, ecological/evolutionary modelling, or entomology.
Funding
A tax-free stipend will be paid at the standard UKRI rate; £19,237 in 2024/25. This is a fully funded studentship of 3.5 years for UK/Home students.
How to Apply
Interested applicants are welcome to get in touch to learn more about the PhD project. Please contact Marta Shocket for more information.
You will receive a generic acknowledgement in receipt of successfully sending the application documents.
Please note that only applications submitted as per these instructions will be considered.
Please note that, if English is not your first language, you will be required to provide evidence of your proficiency in English. This evidence is only required if you are offered a funded PhD and is not required as part of this application process.
Please note that, if you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date then you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. If you would like feedback on your application, please contact the supervisors of the project.
Dates
Deadline for candidate applications: 28th April 2025
Provisional Interview Date: May 2025
Start Date: October 2025
Further Reading
Couper, L.I., Farner, J.E., Caldwell, J.M., Childs, M.L., Harris, M.J., Kirk, D.G., et al. (2021) How will mosquitoes adapt to climate warming? eLife, 10.
Mordecai, E. A., Caldwell, J. M., Grossman, M. K., Lippi, C. A., Johnson, L. R., Neira, M., et al. (2019). Thermal biology of mosquito‐borne disease. Ecology letters, 22(10), 1690-1708.
Li, C., Gao, Y., Zhao, Z., Ma, D., Zhou, R., Wang, J., ... & Liu, Q. (2021). Potential geographical distribution of Anopheles gambiae worldwide under climate change. Journal of Biosafety and Biosecurity, 3(2), 125-130.
Pastusiak, A., Reddy, M.R., Chen, X. et al. A metagenomic analysis of the phase 2 Anopheles gambiae 1000 genomes dataset reveals a wide diversity of cobionts associated with field collected mosquitoes. Commun Biol 7, 667 (2024).
About the Project
Supervisors: Dr Thomas Jones (Earth Science and Physical Geography, Lancaster Environment Centre) and Dr Maria-Theresia Walach (Space and Planetary Physics Group, Astrophysics, Department of Physics)
Icy bodies within our solar system represent prime candidates for extraterrestrial life. These bodies (e.g., Europa, Enceladus, Triton) have a solid ice shell/surface crust with an underlying liquid ocean that may support life. On all icy worlds, cryo-volcanic eruptions occur when the surface crust is breached, and a jet of water vapour and ice is expelled into the atmosphere. However, we currently lack good physical models of these jets and associated plumes.
In this PhD project you will perform laboratory investigations in the multi-million-pound Geophysical Fluid Dynamics labs at Lancaster. You will use a novel set of analogue experiments scaled for different gravity conditions and different atmospheres to unravel the jet/plume dynamics on different icy bodies and uncover information about the dispersed plumes, which is critical information for space missions. Lastly, you will test these new insights with remotely sensed observations on selected bodies by mapping the plume deposits.
General eligibility criteria: Applicants would normally be expected to hold a minimum of a UK Honours degree at 2:1 level or equivalent in a relevant degree course.
Project specific criteria: The ideal candidate will have an interest in planetary science and conducting laboratory experiments. Applicants may have a range of backgrounds from physics, environmental sciences, maths and engineering. No specific subject knowledge is needed to apply for this PhD, subject training and support will be provided as part of this interdisciplinary project.
Funding
A tax-free stipend will be paid at the standard UKRI rate; £19,237 in 2024/25. This is a fully funded studentship of 3.5 years for UK/Home students.
How to Apply
Interested applicants are welcome to get in touch to learn more about the PhD project. Please contact Dr Thomas Jones for more information.
You will receive a generic acknowledgement in receipt of successfully sending the application documents.
Please note that only applications submitted as per these instructions will be considered.
Please note that, if English is not your first language, you will be required to provide evidence of your proficiency in English. This evidence is only required if you are offered a funded PhD and is not required as part of this application process.
Please note that, if you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date then you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. If you would like feedback on your application, please contact the supervisors of the project.
Dates
Deadline for candidate applications: 28th April 2025
Provisional Interview Date: May 2025
Start Date: October 2025
Further Reading
Hajimirza, S., Jones, T.J., Moreland, W.M., Gonnermann, H.M. and Thordarson, T., 2022. Quantifying the water‐to‐melt mass ratio and its impact on eruption plumes during explosive hydromagmatic eruptions. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 23(5), p.e2021GC010160.
Manga, M. and Wang, C.Y., 2007. Pressurized oceans and the eruption of liquid water on Europa and Enceladus. Geophysical Research Letters, 34(7).
Manga, M. and Rudolph, M., 2023. Enceladus erupts. Physics Today, 76(1), pp.62-63.
Current PhD Opportunities - Envision Doctoral Training Partnership accordion
There are no funded opportunities at this time, please check back later.
How the application process works
Select the project you wish to apply for. You can make informal enquiries to the project supervisors if you wish. Please ensure that you check the application deadline dates and eligibility criteria.
Complete your application by following the links to the application form. At this stage, you are able to apply for more than one advertised project if you wish.
After the closing date, the Department will consider all applications. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview. Interviews can be arranged by Skype or telephone. The timescale for this will vary but is in the region of 4 weeks.
If you are successful at interview for the studentship, you will be invited to formally apply via the admissions portal online. This ensures that you receive a formal offer of admission. Please submit one application only, and state the studentship that you have applied for in the source of funding section.
Once a formal offer has been made, you will need to check the conditions in your offer letter and supply any outstanding documents by the required deadlines. If your offer is unconditional then this will not apply to you.
You will find yourself taking advantage of several laboratory facilities at Lancaster Environment Centre. There are our £4.4 million Teaching Labs, for example, as well as specialist facilities for Environmental Chemistry, Noble Gas, and Plant and Soil Ecology.
Research Facilities
There are no fewer than 15 purpose-built glasshouse modules, 16 controlled environment plant growth rooms, 4 solar domes based at the Hazelrigg Weather Station and a suite of ultraviolet radiation research facilities that can truly claim to be world-class.
Field Sites
You could find yourself working at a range of catchment science sites across England and Wales, including the local River Eden Valley, or they can travel much further afield to the tropical forests of the Amazon and Borneo.
Cutting-Edge Technologies
You can be trained to use a range of equipment, such as our Stable Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer Facility, X-ray CT Scanner, Magnetometer or the LI-COR Portable Photosynthesis System, which has the capacity to measure plant gas exchange with exceptional speed and precision.
Rich Data Resources
Dedicated support staff with expertise in GIS, statistics, modelling, information technology and programming are available to provide specialist training in all aspects of data acquisition, processing and analysis.
Other methods of applying for a PhD
Studying for a research degree is a highly rewarding and challenging process. You'll work to become a leading expert in your topic area with regular contact and close individual supervision with your supervisor.
If you have your own research idea, we can help you to develop it. To begin this process you will need to find a PhD Supervisor from one of our research groups, whose research interests align with your own.
You can also apply for a PhD from one of the Doctoral Training Centres and Partnerships that work with the Graduate School for the Environment. Details of each of the Training Centres are provided here.
