Funded PhD Opportunities in Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Computational Biology at Ulster University

Ulster University School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences is offering funded PhD opportunities for the upcoming academic year. The school is renowned for nurturing academic and research excellence in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences, with a focus on advancing knowledge and engaging minds in innovative research. Two highlighted PhD projects are currently available: 1. Alleviating Hypoxia for Enhanced Cancer Therapy (Prof Tony McHale): This project investigates molecular and cellular mechanisms by which a novel, oxygen-generating nanoparticle formulation can improve the treatment of solid tumours. By addressing tumour hypoxia, the research aims to overcome a major barrier in cancer therapy, enhancing the effectiveness of conventional and emerging treatments such as radiotherapy, photodynamic therapy, and sonodynamic therapy. The project is collaborative with StimOxyGen Ltd., a spin-out company from Ulster University, providing the successful candidate with valuable translational research experience. 2. AI-Augmented Rapid Determination of G-Quadruplex Structures from Sparse NMR Data (Dr Mateus Webba da Silva): This project focuses on developing AI tools to rapidly predict 3D G4DNA/RNA structures using minimal NMR spectroscopy data, representing a significant advancement over traditional biomolecular structure determination methods. This opportunity is open only to UK and Ireland applicants. Key research areas include pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, cancer therapy, nanoparticles, hypoxia, artificial intelligence, NMR spectroscopy, nucleic acids, biophysics, computational biology, and generative AI. The school provides a collaborative and innovative environment for research training. Funding: These are funded PhD positions, though specific details regarding stipend and tuition coverage are not provided in the announcement. Eligibility: Applicants should have a strong academic background in pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, biochemistry, computational biology, or related fields. Experience with molecular biology, NMR spectroscopy, or AI tools is desirable. The AI-augmented NMR project is restricted to UK and Ireland applicants. Application Deadline: 27 February 2026, 4:00 PM. Preferred student start date is 14 September 2026. For more information and to apply, visit the provided project links.