Sheffield Hallam University, in partnership with the BBSRC Yorkshire Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership (YBDTP), is offering a fully funded PhD studentship focused on cancer biology, systems biology, and advanced bioinformatics. The project, supervised by Dr Lewis Quayle (Senior Lecturer in Data Science and Analytics), Dr Nik Georgopoulos (Sheffield Hallam University), and Professor Penelope Ottewell (University of Sheffield), aims to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying tumour cell dormancy in breast cancer and the drivers of metastatic relapse.

This unique, multidisciplinary project will leverage advanced transcriptomic analytics, systems biology, and spatial omics to decode the regulatory networks that underpin mitotic quiescence in disseminated tumour cells. The successful applicant will interrogate unique RNA-seq datasets from novel dormancy models and validate key mechanisms using 10x Genomics Xenium spatial transcriptomics. The research will provide hands-on experience in high-performance computing, bioinformatics, network biology, and translational research at the interface of computational and experimental biology.

The programme is open to applicants worldwide and is based in Sheffield, UK. The position is fully funded through the BBSRC Yorkshire Bioscience DTP, covering tuition fees and providing a stipend. The project is ideal for candidates with a passion for cancer biology, computational biology, or bioinformatics, and offers the opportunity to build cutting-edge skills in a collaborative, cross-disciplinary environment. The ultimate goal is to develop a mechanistic framework for tumour cell persistence and reactivation, providing insights that could help prevent metastatic relapse in breast cancer.

For more information and to apply, visit the application link provided. Informal enquiries can be directed to Dr Lewis Quayle at [email protected].