Lucia Lombardi
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PhD and Postdoctoral Positions in Gut-Brain Axis, Organic Chemistry, Chemical Biology, and Bioengineering Queen's University Belfast in United Kingdom
I am seeking PhD students and postdoctoral researchers for interdisciplinary projects in the gut-brain axis, chemistry, and bioengineering.
Queen's University Belfast
United Kingdom
Jan 31, 2026
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Description
Exciting PhD and postdoctoral research opportunities are available in the Lombardi Research Lab at Queen's University Belfast, led by Assistant Professor Lucia Lombardi. The group focuses on interdisciplinary research at the interface of organic chemistry, chemical biology, bioengineering, and artificial intelligence, with a particular emphasis on the gut-brain axis and drug delivery systems.
Postdoctoral Opportunity: The lab seeks a motivated postdoctoral researcher interested in the gut-brain axis, particularly those planning to apply for independent fellowships. The host lab provides mentorship and support in developing competitive proposals. Applicants should have relevant experience, a clear trajectory toward research independence, and be comfortable working in organic and biological chemistry environments. The deadline for expressions of interest is 31 January 2026.
Funded PhD Position: A fully funded PhD position is available, supervised by Lucia Lombardi and Paulina Quintanilla (UCL), with collaborations involving Sophie V. Morse and Yuval Elani (Imperial College London). The project aims to develop engineered peptides and biomimetic systems for targeted delivery of therapeutic compounds to the brain, integrating organic chemistry, chemical biology, bioengineering, and AI. The position offers a stipend of £21,383 per annum plus full tuition for home and international students, with a start date in October 2026 and a 3-year duration. The application deadline is 16 January 2026. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in chemistry, practical organic chemistry skills, and preferably knowledge of drug delivery and machine learning.
China Scholarship Council PhD: The lab welcomes applications from citizens of the People’s Republic of China for the Queen’s University/CSC PhD Scholarships 2026. Applicants should submit a cover letter, CV, and 1-page research proposal outline by 27 January 2026.
Other Opportunities: The lab is open to supervising MPhil, MRes, MSci, and MSc students. Prospective fellows and students are encouraged to explore external funding options, including BBSRC, EPSRC, Wellcome Trust, Leverhulme Trust, Royal Society, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and more. The lab fosters a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment with strong connections across life sciences and engineering.
For more information and application instructions, visit the lab website or contact Lucia Lombardi directly at [email protected].
Funding
The funded PhD position offers a stipend of £21,383 per annum plus full tuition for both home and international students, for 3 years. Postdoctoral candidates are expected to apply for independent fellowships, with mentorship and proposal support provided by the host lab. Additional external funding sources are listed for both PhD and postdoctoral applicants. For China Scholarship Council PhD, funding is through the CSC scheme.
How to apply
For the postdoctoral opportunity, email Lucia Lombardi with a cover letter and CV by 31 January 2026. For the funded PhD, follow instructions on the lab website and apply by 16 January 2026. For the China Scholarship Council PhD, email Lucia with a cover letter, CV, and 1-page research proposal by 27 January 2026.
Requirements
For the postdoctoral position, applicants must have relevant experience in the gut-brain axis area and a clear trajectory toward research independence, with comfort working at the interface of organic and biological chemistry. For the funded PhD position, candidates should have a strong background in chemistry, with practical skills in organic chemistry laboratory work highly desirable. Preferred skills include knowledge of drug delivery systems and basic understanding of machine learning concepts and programming. For the China Scholarship Council PhD, applicants must be citizens of the People’s Republic of China, either permanently resident in China or currently studying overseas, and submit a cover letter, CV, and 1-page research proposal outline.
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