Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership

Funded PhD Opportunities

The application window for MIBTP studentships (October 2025 entry) is now open, good luck to all applicants!  The application window will close on 16 January 2025. 

About MIBTP

The Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership is a BBSRC-funded doctoral training partnership between the universities of Warwick, Birmingham, Leicester, Aston, Harper Adams and Coventry.  Click on the links below for more information.

How do I apply?

The University of Birmingham offers a wide variety of standard MIBTP projects, along with some CASE MIBTP projects.  All of the projects available for entry in October 2025 are listed in the table below. The project list table is organised by PhD programme (e.g. all projects offered within the PhD Biosciences FT (MIBTP) programme are listed under ‘Biosciences’).  You need to choose a project to name on your application.

In order for your MIBTP application to be submitted correctly, it is essential that you use the relevant ‘apply now’ link shown next to the title of your preferred project.  To apply, you must:

  • find the project that you are interested in applying for, listed within the table below
  • follow the ‘apply now’ link that appears next to your chosen project title
  • follow the onscreen instructions within the application portal
  • within the ‘Research Details’ tab, enter the title of the project you are applying for, along with the name of the project’s supervisor
  • within the ‘Funding Information’ tab (standard projects), choose ‘University of Birmingham advertised scholarship’ and ‘BBSRC Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP) DTP'
  • within the ‘Funding Information’ tab (CASE projects), choose ‘University of Birmingham advertised scholarship’ and ‘BBSRC iCASE'
  • submit your CV as part of your application, so please have this file ready to upload
    • you may also submit a personal statement but this is not a mandatory requirement
  • choose only one project per PhD (MIBTP) programme; you cannot apply for multiple projects within a single PhD (MIBTP) programme
  • apply to each PhD (MIBTP) programme only once
    • if you are interested in projects in more than one PhD (MIBTP) programme, then you may apply to a maximum of five different PhD FT (MIBTP) programmes (e.g. you might apply to the PhD Biosciences FT (MIBTP) and the PhD Psychology FT (MIBTP))
  • complete the ED&I form managed by the University of Warwick.  By completing this form, you are expressing an interest in MIBTP and helping to monitor our ED&I commitments at every step of the application process.

When applying, please DO NOT:

  • submit more than one application to any PhD FT (MIBTP) programme
  • submit an application without specifying your preferred project title and associated supervisor
  • use any other programme application links or course codes (your application for a MIBTP studentship will only be considered if you apply using the correct MIBTP project-specific link)
  • apply for a MIBTP project that is offered at another one of the partner universities.

Doing any of the above will result in your application for a MIBTP studentship being automatically rejected.

Studentship projects currently available

Biosciences (standard projects)

The School of Biosciences, within the College of Life and Environmental Sciences, is offering the following MIBTP projects, as part of the PhD Biosciences FT (MIBTP) programme.

To apply

  • Find your preferred project in the list below and click the ‘Apply now’ link next to it.
  • Once in the application portal, you must:
    • within the ‘Research Details’ tab, enter the title of the project you are applying for, and the name of the project’s supervisor
    • within the ‘Funding Information’ tab, choose ‘University of Birmingham advertised scholarship’ and ‘BBSRC Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP) DTP'.
How experience shapes the brain: molecular mechanisms of brain plasticity and degeneration

Prof Alicia Hidalgo

Apply Now

Molecular and cellular mechanisms of central nervous system regeneration

Prof Alicia Hidalgo

Apply Now

A Path from Understanding to Engineering and Deploying Predatory Adhesins Against Superbugs

Prof Andrew Lovering

Apply Now

Identifying the role of epigenetics in the origins of seed plant reproduction

 Dr Andrew Plackett

Apply Now

Developing mass spectrometry tools to combat challenges in structural biology

Dr Aneika Leney

Apply Now

Cell Envelope of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: biogenesis and role in virulence

Prof Apoorva Bhatt

 Apply Now

How Does the Brain Make Decisions During Conflicting Situations?

Dr Carolina Rezaval

 Apply Now

Genomic-based approach to investigating gene regulatory circuits in bacteria

Prof Damon Huber

 Apply Now

Build or destroy? Investigating how plants connect protein synthesis and degradation during mRNA translation to regulate protein quality

Prof Daniel Gibbs

 Apply Now

Iron-ing out a role for the Endoplasmic Reticulum in plant metal homeostasis

Prof Daniel Gibbs

 Apply Now

Understanding antibiotic resistance mechanisms in the world's pathogen of most concern: Acinetobacter baumannii

Prof David Grainger

 Apply Now

Understanding how pandemic microbes evolve: Vibrio cholerae and the human disease cholera

Prof David Grainger

 Apply Now

Ready, set, stop! Is bacterial transcription initiation coupled to termination?

Prof David Grainger 

 Apply Now

Understanding the rules of life: how bacteria can "supercharge" their evolution

Prof David Grainger

 Apply Now

The role of somatic (epi)genetic variation in tree genome adaptation for climate change resilience

Dr Estrella Luna-Diez

 Apply Now

Manipulating meiotic recombination in crop species

Dr Eugenio Sanchez-Moran

 Apply Now

Quantifying the impact of photorespiration on the photosynthetic carbon uptake of plants

Dr Florian Busch

 Apply Now

Fungal immunity: how do NLR genes allow fungi to navigate the microbial world?

Dr Graeme Kettles

 Apply Now

Probing how and why mitochondrial DNA is inherited from only one parent

Prof Hansong Ma

 Apply Now

New tools for structural biology: Native ambient mass spectrometry

Prof Helen Cooper

 Apply Now

Explore the mutational trajectories shaping fungal adaptation

Dr Hung-Ji Tsai

 Apply Now

Discovery of antimicrobial compounds associated with disease suppression in plants

Prof James McDonald

 Apply Now

Digital Daphnia: Unravelling Multi-Omics Mechanisms of Environmental Chemical Stress Using Graph Representation Learning

Dr Jiarui Zhou

 Apply Now

Understanding plant development and evolution in the context of environmental responses.

Dr Juliet Coates

 Apply Now

Understanding genetic mechanisms of complex traits to improve potato breeding

Dr Lindsey Compton

 Apply Now

Nature-based solutions: harnessing Daphnia for pathogen and chemical pollutant removal from surface and wastewater

Prof Luisa Orsini

 Apply Now

Exploiting silenced genes to improve wheat breeding

Dr Marco Catoni

 Apply Now

Investigating the structure and function of tetraspanin membrane proteins

Dr Mike Tomlinson

 Apply Now

Development of novel nanomaterials for encapsulation and delivery of small molecules into cells.

Dr Nikolas J Hodges

Apply Now

Optimising nitrogen-fixing potential of British-grown lentil. 

Dr Oluwaseyi Shorinola

Apply Now

RNA biology: investigating the role of UPF1 in mRNA Processing and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Dr Saverio Brogna

 Apply Now

Impact of RNA chemical modifications on RNA structure and function

Prof Teresa Carlomagno

 Apply Now

Unlock the Future: Engineering Biology to Sense the Impossible

Prof Tim Dafforn

 Apply Now

Elucidating the mechanisms of outer membrane biogenesis in Gram-negative bacteria

Dr Tim Knowles

 Apply Now

Elucidating the mechanisms of outer membrane biogenesis in Gram-negative bacteria - The AsmA family of proteins

Dr Tim Knowles

Apply Now

Developing an in vitro mimetic of the gram-negative bacterial membrane

Dr Tim Knowles

Apply Now

Targeting the Mla Pathway: A Strategy to Combat Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria

 Dr Tim Knowles Apply Now
Uncovering the role of lipid renovation in bacteria-host interactions Prof Yin Chen Apply Now
How Cell Death Fuels Growth Dr Yun Fan Apply Now

Biosciences (CASE projects)

The School of Biosciences, within the College of Life and Environmental Sciences, is offering the following MIBTP CASE projects, as part of the PhD Biosciences FT (MIBTP) programme.

To apply

Find your preferred project in the list below and click the ‘Apply now’ link next to it.

  • Once in the application portal, you must:
    • within the ‘Research Details’ tab, enter the title of the project you are applying for, and the name of the project’s supervisor
    • within the ‘Funding Information’ tab, choose ‘University of Birmingham advertised scholarship’ and ‘BBSRC iCASE'.
In situ interrogation of small and novel large molecule drugs by native ambient mass spectrometry imaging

AstraZeneca

Prof Helen Cooper

Apply Now

Portable DNA sequencing for real-time biodiversity monitoring has the potential to transform conservation efforts

The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)

 Prof Luisa Orsini

Apply Now

Not so sweet; Investigating the adaptive potential of the generalist pathogen, Honey fungus, under future climates

(There is guaranteed funding for this project)

Royal Horticultural Society 

Dr Megan McDonald

Apply Now

Comparative antibody discovery strategies for transmembrane proteins utilising styrene maleic acid lipoproteins (SMALPs) and soluble extracellular domains powered by next generation sequencing analysis.

 Coding.bio Prof Tim Dafforn

Apply Now

Chemistry

The School of Chemistry, within the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, is offering the following MIBTP projects, as part of the PhD School of Chemistry FT (MIBTP) programme .

To apply

  • Find your preferred project in the list below and click the ‘Apply now’ link next to it.
  • Once in the application portal, you must:
    • within the ‘Research Details’ tab, enter the title of the project you are applying for, and the name of the project’s supervisor
    • within the ‘Funding Information’ tab, choose ‘University of Birmingham advertised scholarship’ and ‘BBSRC Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP) DTP'.
Development of Peptidomimetic Tools to Understand and Modulate the Function of Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins Prof Andy Wilson

Apply Now
Development of Organelle Targeted Ligands to Delineate GPCR signalling Prof Andy Wilson Apply Now

Design and construction of biological MOFs

Dr Anna Peacock

Apply Now

Development of Rapid Assays for Nucleic Acid-based Disease Targets

Prof James Tucker

 Apply Now
Molecular Machines from Adapted Transcription Factor-DNA Complexes Prof James Tucker Apply Now

Design, synthesis and controlled assembly of lipidated peptides for applications in systems biology

Prof Liam Cox

Apply Now

Design of metallo coiled coil MRI contrast agents

Prof Melanie Britton

Apply Now

Changing the Dynamics and Structures of key viral RNA structures using nano-size supramolecular drugs

Prof Mike Hannon

Apply Now

Biophysical studies of lipid-protein interactions

Dr Sarah L Horswell

Apply Now

Hybrid Foldamer-Polymer Scaffolds as Novel Biomaterials for Wound Healing Applications

Dr Sarah Pike

Apply Now

Metallo Foldamer-Proteins Hybrids: Novel Biomimetic Scaffolds for Sensing and Imaging Applications

Dr Sarah Pike

Apply Now
Nanoprecision in antibiotic delivery using targeted nanoparticles Prof Zoe Pikramenou

Apply Now

Metal nanoparticles for photobiomodulation localised therapy of brain injury

Prof Zoe Pikramenou

 Apply Now

Chemical Engineering (standard projects)

The School of Chemical Engineering, within the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, is offering the following MIBTP projects, as part of the PhD Dept of Chemical Engineering FT (MIBTP) programme.

To apply

  • Find your preferred project in the list below and click the ‘Apply now’ link next to it.
  • Once in the application portal, you must:
    • within the ‘Research Details’ tab, enter the title of the project you are applying for, and the name of the project’s supervisor
    • within the ‘Funding Information’ tab, choose ‘University of Birmingham advertised scholarship’ and ‘BBSRC Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP) DTP'.

An integrated biomanufactory and testing platform for studying advanced biosystems in non-ideal environments

Dr Alexandra Iordachescu

Apply Now

Using microencapsulation to study biofilm formation

Dr Dave Bassett

Apply Now

Smart Materials: Harnessing Sound to Combat Bacterial Growth

Prof Paula Mendes

 Apply Now

Novel Stabilisation and Delivery Materials for RNA-based Therapies

Dr Richard Moakes

Apply Now

Microbial fuel cell-based biosensors for water quality monitoring

Prof Shangfeng Du

 Apply Now

Efflux pumps for optimising bioproduction from renewable feedstocks

Dr Tim Overton

 Apply Now

Chemical Engineering (CASE projects)

The School of Chemical Engineering, within the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, is offering the following MIBTP CASE projects, as part of the PhD Dept of Chemical Engineering FT (MIBTP) programme.

To apply

  • Find your preferred project in the list below and click the ‘Apply now’ link next to it.
  • Once in the application portal, you must:
    • within the ‘Research Details’ tab, enter the title of the project you are applying for, and the name of the project’s supervisor
    • within the ‘Funding Information’ tab, choose ‘University of Birmingham advertised scholarship’ and ‘BBSRC iCASE'.

New biomanufacturing technology for mRNA

(There is guaranteed funding for this project)

AstraZeneca

Prof OwenThomas

Apply Now

Computer Science

The School of Computer Science, within the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, is offering the following MIBTP project, as part of the PhD Computer Science FT (MIBTP) programme.

To apply

  • Find your preferred project in the list below and click the ‘Apply now’ link next to it.
  • Once in the application portal, you must:
    • within the ‘Research Details’ tab, enter the title of the project you are applying for, and the name of the project’s supervisor
    • within the ‘Funding Information’ tab, choose ‘University of Birmingham advertised scholarship’ and ‘BBSRC Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP) DTP'.

 Towards a functional model for motor planning

Dr Jian Liu

  Apply Now

Engineering

The School of Engineering, within the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, is offering the following MIBTP project, as part of the PhD Engineering FT (MIBTP) programme.

To apply

  • Find your preferred project in the list below and click the ‘Apply now’ link next to it.
  • Once in the application portal, you must:
    • within the ‘Research Details’ tab, enter the title of the project you are applying for, and the name of the project’s supervisor
    • within the ‘Funding Information’ tab, choose ‘University of Birmingham advertised scholarship’ and ‘BBSRC Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP) DTP'.

Articular Cartilage: ageing, hydration and energetics. 

Dr Daniel Espino

 Apply Now

Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

The School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, within the College of Life and Environmental Sciences, is offering the following MIBTP projects, as part of the PhD Geography and Environmental Science FT  (MIBTP) programme.

To apply

  • Find your preferred project in the list below and click the ‘Apply now’ link next to it.
  • Once in the application portal, you must:
    • within the ‘Research Details’ tab, enter the title of the project you are applying for, and the name of the project’s supervisor
    • within the ‘Funding Information’ tab, choose ‘University of Birmingham advertised scholarship’ and ‘BBSRC Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP) DTP'.

Nanoscale Innovation for Enhancing Crop Plant Immunity to Climate Stress (NanoCrop)

Dr Peng Zhang

Apply Now

Unveiling the Role of Air Pollution in Accelerating Brain Aging

Dr Zhiling Guo

 Apply Now

Mathematics

The School of Mathematics, within the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, is offering the following MIBTP project, as part of the PhD Mathematics FT (MIBTP) programme.

To apply

  • Find your preferred project in the list below and click the ‘Apply now’ link next to it.
  • Once in the application portal, you must:
    • within the ‘Research Details’ tab, enter the title of the project you are applying for, and the name of the project’s supervisor
    • within the ‘Funding Information’ tab, choose ‘University of Birmingham advertised scholarship’ and ‘BBSRC Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP) DTP'.
Uncovering the brain fingerprints of thalamic interactions during attention and sleep Dr Enrico Amico Apply Now

Psychology

The School of Psychology, within the College of Life and Environmental Sciences, is offering the following MIBTP projects, as part of the PhD Psychology FT (MIBTP) progamme.

To apply

  • Find your preferred project in the list below and click the ‘Apply now’ link next to it.
  • Once in the application portal, you must:
    • within the ‘Research Details’ tab, enter the title of the project you are applying for, and the name of the project’s supervisor
    • within the ‘Funding Information’ tab, choose ‘University of Birmingham advertised scholarship’ and ‘BBSRC Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP) DTP'.

Robust and reproducible oscillatory phenotypes of brain function from Optically Pumped Magnetometers.

Dr Andrew Quinn

Apply Now

Neurocomputational Mechanisms of Cooperative Behaviour

Dr Arkady Konovalov

 Apply Now

Understanding the emergence of uniquely human numerical skills in the developing brain - an investigation using multimodal neuroimaging

Dr Barbara Pomiechowska

 Apply Now

 Brain mechanisms of atypical attention in autism and the broader autistic phenotype

Dr Carmel Mevorach

 Apply Now

Theoretical and Applied Studies of Conscious Perception: Neuroimaging Investigations using the Fringe-P3 Brain-Computer Interface

Prof Howard Bowman

 Apply Now

Scent of Emotion: Investigating cross-modal associations between smell, sound, and vision and their impact on emotional processing across the lifespan

Dr Hyojin Park

 Apply Now

Examining the neural substrates of motor control and learning with transcranial ultrasound stimulation

Prof  Joseph Galea

Apply Now

Computational and brain-spinal mechanisms underlying the role of expectation in pain

Dr Lei Zhang

 Apply Now

Cognitive deficits and accelerated brain ageing in older adults with undiagnosed sleep apnoea and pulmonary dysfunctions

 Dr Magdalena Chechlacz

Apply Now

The computational and neural dynamics of human motivation and cognitive control 

 Prof Matthew Apps

Apply Now

Cognitive maps for causal learning

 Dr Paul Muhle-Karbe Apply Now

Dynamic, cognitive, computational and neural underpinnings of flexible decision-making

Dr Romy Froemer

Apply Now
Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics through Meta-analysis (ENIGMA): Antisocial Behaviour working group Prof Stephane De Brito

Apply Now
Neuroimaging genetics and epigenetics of threat and reward circuitry in humans and Drosophila to understand risk for psychopathology Prof Stephane De Brito

Apply Now
Using an experimental platform to identify biological mechanisms linking nutrition to brain health and well-being Prof Suzanne Higgs  Apply Now

Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences
(standard projects)

The School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, within the College of Life and Environmental Sciences, is offering the following MIBTP projects, as part of the PhD SportExR FT (MIBTP) programme.

To apply

  • Find your preferred project in the list below and click the ‘Apply now’ link next to it.
  • Once in the application portal, you must:
    • within the ‘Research Details’ tab, enter the title of the project you are applying for, and the name of the project’s supervisor
    • within the ‘Funding Information’ tab, choose ‘University of Birmingham advertised scholarship’ and ‘BBSRC Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP) DTP'.

'De-Stressing the brain’: Understanding the impact of nutrition on cognitive and cerebral function during  mental stress

Dr Catarina Rendeiro

Apply Now

Does immune system deterioration and adipose tissue dysfunction influence skeletal muscle mass in older adults and is there a restorative role for exercise?

Dr James Turner

 Apply Now

Exploring the biological relevance of extracellular vesicle trafficking in health and disease

Dr Martin Whitham

Apply Now

In vitro and in vivo vascular response to exercise-induced changes in blood flow

Prof Sam Lucas

Apply Now

Understanding the Sensorimotor Neuroscience of Cycling

Dr Sang-Hoon Yeo

Apply Now

Investigating the role of astrocytes in regulating brain metabolism

Prof Sarah Aldred

Apply Now

Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences
(CASE projects)

The School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, within the College of Life and Environmental Sciences, is offering the following MIBTP CASE projects, as part of the PhD SportExR FT (MIBTP) programme.

To apply

  • Find your preferred project in the list below and click the ‘Apply now’ link next to it.
  • Once in the application portal, you must:
    • within the ‘Research Details’ tab, enter the title of the project you are applying for, and the name of the project’s supervisor
    • within the ‘Funding Information’ tab, choose ‘University of Birmingham advertised scholarship’ and ‘BBSRC iCASE'.
Understanding the physiological and metabolic health effects of Vortex Wave Circulation therapy.

NEWAVX Ltd

Prof Leigh Breen

Apply Now

Biomedical Sciences

The Department of Biomedical Sciences (School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology), within the College of Medicine and Health, is offering the following MIBTP project, as part of PhD Biomedical Sciences FT ATAS (MIBTP) programme.

To apply

  • Find your preferred project in the list below and click the ‘Apply now’ link next to it.
  • Once in the application portal, you must:
    • within the ‘Research Details’ tab, enter the title of the project you are applying for, and the name of the project’s supervisor
    • within the ‘Funding Information’ tab, choose ‘University of Birmingham advertised scholarship’ and ‘BBSRC Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP) DTP'.

Enhancing CD8+ T Cell Recruitment and Tumour Clearance via 11β-HSD1 Inhibition

Dr Rowan Hardy

Apply Now

Cancer and Genomic Sciences

The Department of Cancer and Genomic Sciences (School of Medical Sciences), within the College of Medicine and Health, is offering the following MIBTP projects, as part of the PhD Cancer & Genomics FT (MIBTP) programme.

To apply

  • Find your preferred project in the list below and click the ‘Apply now’ link next to it.
  • Once in the application portal, you must:
    • within the ‘Research Details’ tab, enter the title of the project you are applying for, and the name of the project’s supervisor
    • within the ‘Funding Information’ tab, choose ‘University of Birmingham advertised scholarship’ and ‘BBSRC Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP) DTP'.

Visualisation of the steps in the replisome assembly process.

Prof Agnieszka Gambus

Apply Now 

Investigating the significance of PRMT1 methylation for chromatin biology

Prof Clare Davies

Apply Now 
Integrative bioinformatics approaches for the identification of novel targets and therapeutics for cell cycle changes and cell death Dr Deena Gendoo Apply Now 
Regulation of RNA:DNA hybrid metabolism for genome stability Prof Eva Petermann Apply Now 
Studying how epigenetics controls DNA repair in neuronal cells Dr Martin Higgs Apply Now 

Decoding nucleosomal asymmetry – characterisation of asymmetric histone post-translational modifications and structural implications for nucleosomal engagement of reader complexes

Dr Paul Badenhorst

Apply Now 
Epigenetic regulation of cell fate by non-canonical histone deacetylases Dr Rui Monteiro Apply Now 
Investigating the homeostatic landscape of autophagy in cell survival using human pluripotent stem cell-derived neuronal and cerebral organoid platforms Dr Sovan Sarkar Apply Now 
Reading, writing and molecular switching in the DNA-damage response Prof Steve Smerdon Apply Now 

Cardiovascular Sciences (standard projects)

The Department of Cardiovascular Sciences (School of Medical Sciences), within the College of Medicine and Health, is offering the following MIBTP projects, as part of the PhD Cardiovascular Sciences (A300) FT (MIBTP) programme.

To apply

  • Find your preferred project in the list below and click the ‘Apply now’ link next to it.
  • Once in the application portal, you must:
    • within the ‘Research Details’ tab, enter the title of the project you are applying for, and the name of the project’s supervisor
    • within the ‘Funding Information’ tab, choose ‘University of Birmingham advertised scholarship’ and ‘BBSRC Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP) DTP'.

The effects of different polymer nanodiscs on extracting the full-length complexes of platelet receptor GPVI. 

 Dr Alexandre Slater

Apply Now

Cardiovascular Sciences (CASE projects)

The Department of Cardiovascular Sciences (School of Medical Sciences), within the College of Medicine and Health, is offering the following MIBTP CASE projects, as part of the PhD Cardiovascular Sciences (A300) FT (MIBTP) programme.

To apply

  • Find your preferred project in the list below and click the ‘Apply now’ link next to it.
  • Once in the application portal, you must:
    • within the ‘Research Details’ tab, enter the title of the project you are applying for, and the name of the project’s supervisor
    • within the ‘Funding Information’ tab, choose ‘University of Birmingham advertised scholarship’ and ‘BBSRC iCASE'.

How does diet affect cardiac contractility?

 InoCardia Ltd Prof Katja Gehmlich

Apply Now

Dentistry

The Department of Dentistry (School of Health Sciences), within the College of Medicine and Health, is offering the following MIBTP projects, as part of the PhD Dentistry FT (MIBTP) programme.

To apply

  • Find your preferred project in the list below and click the ‘Apply now’ link next to it.
  • Once in the application portal, you must:
    • within the ‘Research Details’ tab, enter the title of the project you are applying for, and the name of the project’s supervisor
    • within the ‘Funding Information’ tab, choose ‘University of Birmingham advertised scholarship’ and ‘BBSRC Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP) DTP'.

Real-time-monitoring enabled manufacturing of a biophysiochemical 3D in vitro tissue model of the periodontium 

 Dr Josefine Hirschfeld Apply Now

The association of periodontal health with mental health, stress, and resilience 

 Dr Melissa Grant

Apply Now

Immunology and Immunotherapy

The Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy (School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology), within the College of Medicine and Health, is offering the following MIBTP projects, as part of the PhD Immunology and Immunotherapy FT (MIBTP) programme.

To apply

  • Find your preferred project in the list below and click the ‘Apply now’ link next to it.
  • Once in the application portal, you must:
    • within the ‘Research Details’ tab, enter the title of the project you are applying for, and the name of the project’s supervisor
    • within the ‘Funding Information’ tab, choose ‘University of Birmingham advertised scholarship’ and ‘BBSRC Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP) DTP'.

How do anti-lipopolysaccharide antibodies inhibit or enhance protection against infection? 

 Prof Adam Cunningham Apply Now

Building and using a human cell atlas: defining the nanoscale architecture of T cells

 Prof Dylan Owen

Apply Now

Inflammation and Ageing

The Department of Inflammation and Ageing (School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology), within the College of Medicine and Health, is offering the following MIBTP projects, as part of the PhD Inflammation & Ageing (MIBTP) programme.

To apply

  • Find your preferred project in the list below and click the ‘Apply now’ link next to it.
  • Once in the application portal, you must:
    • within the ‘Research Details’ tab, enter the title of the project you are applying for, and the name of the project’s supervisor
    • within the ‘Funding Information’ tab, choose ‘University of Birmingham advertised scholarship’ and ‘BBSRC Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP) DTP'.

Investigating the dual impact of lactate on the pathogen and the host during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection 

 Dr Alba Llibre Serradell

Apply Now 

Developing and applying computational methods to study ageing and cellular rejuvenation 

 Prof Joao Pedro Magalhaes

Apply Now 

Investigating the mechanisms that contribute to the state of systemic innate immune suppression in thermally-injured patients

 Dr Jon Hazeldine

Apply Now 

Deciphering the role of the alveolar lipidome in modulating alveolar macrophage metabolic programming in health and disease. 

 Dr Rahul Mahida Apply Now 
The gut-brain-axis: how does the gut microbiota affect the function of the brain?  Prof Zubair Ahmed Apply Now 
The role of AMIGO3 in the formation and repair of myelination the central nervous system Prof Zubair Ahmed Apply Now 

Metabolism and Systems Research

The Department of Metabolism Systems Research (School of Medical Sciences), within the College of Medicine and Health, is offering the following MIBTP projects, as part of the PhD Metabolism + Systems Research ATAS FT (MIBTP) programme.

To apply

  • Find your preferred project in the list below and click the ‘Apply now’ link next to it.
  • Once in the application portal, you must:
    • within the ‘Research Details’ tab, enter the title of the project you are applying for, and the name of the project’s supervisor
    • within the ‘Funding Information’ tab, choose ‘University of Birmingham advertised scholarship’ and ‘BBSRC Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP) DTP'.

Investigating how accessory proteins modify the function of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) involved in appetite regulation 

 Dr Caroline Gorvin

Apply Now

Novel fungal lipid metabolism: Does the plasticity of lipid metabolism evolve to allow survival mechanisms? 

 Dr Maria Makarova

Apply Now

Investigating novel PBF interactions in signal transduction

 Dr Vicki Smith

Apply Now

Microbes, Infections and Microbiomes
(standard projects)

The Department of Microbes, Infections and Microbiomes (School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology), within the College of Medicine and Health, is offering the following MIBTP projects, as part of the PhD Microbiology and Infection FT (MIBTP) programme.

To apply

  • Find your preferred project in the list below and click the ‘Apply now’ link next to it.
  • Once in the application portal, you must:
    • within the ‘Research Details’ tab, enter the title of the project you are applying for, and the name of the project’s supervisor
    • within the ‘Funding Information’ tab, choose ‘University of Birmingham advertised scholarship’ and ‘BBSRC Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP) DTP'.

Determining the role of the gastric microbiota and mucus in the development of gastric cancer, using human organoid infection models.

 Dr Amanda Rossiter

Apply Now

To protect or not to protect; that is the mucus. Determining the co-operation between commensals and pathogens in cross-feeding of intestinal mucus.

 Dr Amanda Rossiter

Apply Now

Pneumococcal colonisation and microbiota interactions in the ageing airway

 Dr David Cleary

Apply Now

Modelling Staphylococcus aureus – HPV coinfection in the tonsil

 Dr Jack Ferguson Apply Now
The interplay between antibiotic efflux and plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance. Prof Jessica Blair Apply Now
How do bacteria prevent intracellular accumulation of antibiotics? Prof Jessica Blair Apply Now
Understanding how host interaction shapes antibiotic resistance and evasion of immune defences in Staphylococcus aureus Prof Joan Geoghegan Apply Now
Understanding interactions between Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia and Corynebacterium within the human nasal microbiota. Prof Joan Geoghegan Apply Now

Uncovering bacterial drivers of Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection

 Prof Joan Geoghegan

Apply Now

Human milk oligosaccharides and the infant gut microbiota

 Dr Lucy Crouch

Apply Now

Nutrition of the Respiratory Microbiome

 Dr Michael Cox

Apply Now

Understanding the impact of the innate respiratory resistome on AMR

 Dr Michael Cox

Apply Now

Defining interactions between vaccine targetable airway pathobionts

 Dr Michael Cox

Apply Now
Exploring antimicrobial resistance in the human gut microbiome  Dr Michelle Buckner Apply Now

Microbes, Infections and Microbiomes
(CASE projects)

The Department of Microbes, Infections and Microbiomes (School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology), within the College of Medicine and Health, is offering the following MIBTP projects, as part of the PhD Microbiology and Infection FT (MIBTP) programme.

To apply

  • Find your preferred project in the list below and click the ‘Apply now’ link next to it.
  • Once in the application portal, you must:
    • within the ‘Research Details’ tab, enter the title of the project you are applying for, and the name of the project’s supervisor
    • within the ‘Funding Information’ tab, choose ‘University of Birmingham advertised scholarship’ and ‘BBSRC iCASE'.

What do prevalent human Bacteroides use as a nutrient source in the colon?

 Ludger Dr Lucy Crouch

Apply Now

Pharmacy

The Department of Pharmacy (School of Health Sciences), within the College of Medicine and Health, is offering the following MIBTP projects, as part of the PhD Pharmacy FT (MIBTP) programme.

To apply

  • Find your preferred project in the list below and click the ‘Apply now’ link next to it.
  • Once in the application portal, you must:
    • within the ‘Research Details’ tab, enter the title of the project you are applying for, and the name of the project’s supervisor
    • within the ‘Funding Information’ tab, choose ‘University of Birmingham advertised scholarship’ and ‘BBSRC Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP) DTP'.

An integrated machine-learning approach to the early detection of adverse drug reactions to improve depression, anxiety, and psychosis outcomes.

 Dr Alan Jones

Apply Now

Modulation of endogenous metal ion homeostasis by redox-targeting pharmaceuticals: a bioanalytical and multi-omic study.

 Dr James Coverdale

Apply Now

What happens after I submit my application?

All the applications that we receive will be reviewed, after the application window closes. Please don’t be concerned if you don’t hear back from us straight away. Due to the high volume of applicants, this review process can be a lengthy one.  We will let you know what has happened to your application as soon as we are able to.

Please don’t contact us for progress/status updates as unfortunately, we are not able to respond to those individual requests. We are also unable to provide additional feedback to individual applicants relating to any unsuccessful applications.

We aim to contact applicants who have been successfully shortlisted for interview, by mid-February 2025.

We will hold interviews for successfully shortlisted applicants during the first two weeks in March 2025. 

About MIBTP at the University of Birmingham

For entry in October 2025 the University of Birmingham is offering two studentship routes. 

Standard studentship: students undertake an initial 10 weeks of training in the methods of modern integrative bioscience, followed by two 12-week mini-research projects, and one 12-week professional placement.

CASE studentship: students undertake an initial 10 weeks of training in the methods of modern integrative bioscience, followed by one 12-week mini-research project before starting their PhD. During their PhD, students will undertake an industrial placement with an industry partner for between 3-18 months.