Funding

Competition funded (UK/EU and international students)

Project code

PSH50990127

Department

School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences

Start dates

October 2027

Application deadline

15 January 2027

Applications are invited for a fully-funded three year PhD to commence in October 2027.

The PhD will be based in the Faculty of Science and Health, SMPBS, and will be supervised by Dr Despoina Aslanoglou and Professor Darek Gorecki.

Candidates applying for this project may be eligible to compete for one of a small number of bursaries available. Successful applicants will receive a bursary to cover tuition fees for three years and a stipend in line with the UKRI rate (£21,805 for 2026/27). Bursary recipients will also receive £1,500 for consumables, conference, project or training costs.

Costs for student visa and immigration health surcharge are not covered by this bursary. For further guidance and advice visit our international and EU students ‘Visa FAQs’ page.

This funded PhD is only open to new students who do not hold a previous doctoral level qualification.

 

The work on this project could involve:

  • Interdisciplinary research: This project bridges endocrinology, pharmacology, and molecular signalling of GPCRs to uncover new mechanisms of hormone regulation in diabetes. 
  • Investigating how multiple signalling systems interact to regulate pancreatic endocrine function and hormone secretion.
  • Human-Relevant Research: Work with rare human islet samples from donors, ensuring translational impact.

Metabolic complications associated with some commonly prescribed medications, such as antipsychotic drugs, represent an important and growing clinical challenge. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying the metabolic side effects of these medications, and why some individuals or metabolic pathways may respond differently to therapeutic intervention, remain incompletely understood.

This PhD will investigate how key signalling pathways within pancreatic endocrine cells interact to regulate hormone secretion and metabolic function. The project will combine molecular and cellular pharmacology with studies in human pancreatic islets to investigate receptor signalling, pathway interactions and their consequences for endocrine function.

The successful candidate will use a multidisciplinary range of approaches, including live-cell biosensors, receptor signalling assays (BRET, nanoBRET, luciferase complementation), pharmacological tools, molecular approaches and hormone secretion assays. Studies using human pancreatic islets will provide an important translational component, allowing mechanisms identified in cellular models to be investigated in a physiologically relevant system.

The project will provide training in GPCR pharmacology, cell signalling, live-cell imaging, experimental pharmacology and analysis of human islet function, alongside broader research and transferable skills.

The overall aim is to uncover previously unrecognised mechanisms regulating pancreatic endocrine function, providing new insight into metabolic drug effects and potentially identifying pathways that could be exploited for improved therapeutic strategies.


 

Entry requirements

You'll need a good first degree from an internationally recognised university (minimum upper second class or equivalent, depending on your chosen course) or a Master’s degree in an appropriate subject. In exceptional cases, we may consider equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications. English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.

This project is ideal for candidates with a background in pharmacology, physiology, or biomedical sciences, with an interest in diabetes, neuroendocrinology, and drug discovery. Ideally experience in mammalian tissue culture and GPCRs molecular pharmacology is preferred but not essential, as full training will be provided.

How to apply

If you have any project-specific questions please contact Dr Despoina Aslanoglou ([email protected])to discuss your interest before you apply, quoting the project code.

When you are ready to apply, you can use our online application form. Make sure you submit a personal statement, proof of your degrees and grades, details of two referees, proof of your English language proficiency and an up-to-date CV. Our ‘How to Apply’ page offers further guidance on the PhD application process.

If you want to be considered for this funded PhD opportunity you must quote project code PSH50990127 when applying. Please note that email applications are not accepted.