The Francis Crick Institute
1 week ago
PhD in Advanced Engineering of Human Neuromuscular and Myotendinous Junctions for 3D Modelling of Severe Muscle Disorders The Francis Crick Institute in United Kingdom
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Biomedical Engineering
Funding
Funded PhD project. Successful applicants receive a non-taxable annual stipend of £27,715 plus payment of university tuition fees. Students of all nationalities are eligible to apply.
Deadline
Nov 2, 2026
Country
United Kingdom
University
The Francis Crick Institute
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About this position
PhD opportunity at the Francis Crick Institute and King’s College London on advanced engineering of human neuromuscular and myotendinous junctions for next-generation in vitro 3D modelling of severe muscle disorders.
This 2027 joint PhD project brings together Dr Francesco Saverio Tedesco (Crick) and Dr A Serio (King’s College London) to develop physiologically relevant human muscle models that integrate both the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and the myotendinous junction (MTJ). The project sits at the intersection of bioengineering, stem cell biology, cell biology, tissue engineering, computational analysis, and disease modelling.
The research aims to overcome current limitations of human skeletal muscle models by building bioengineered 3D systems that better capture interactions between muscle, motor neurons, and tendons. The work will use iPSC-based differentiation, organoid assembly, advanced imaging, functional interrogation, and scaffold-based bioengineering approaches. Disease-relevant models will focus on collagen VI- and Laminin ?2-related muscular dystrophies affecting the MTJ, and congenital myasthenic syndromes affecting the NMJ.
Planned work includes generating isogenic iPSC-derived cell types such as myogenic cells, motor neurons, fibro-adipogenic progenitors, and tenocytes; building a 3D scaffold for assembly and maturation; characterising structural, molecular, and functional phenotypes; and testing candidate gene therapies and repurposed small molecules from the MAGIC and DREAMS consortia.
Eligibility: the project is suited to candidates with a background in bioengineering, stem cell biology, or computational biology, and an interest in OMICS- and organoid-based approaches. The post states that students of all nationalities are eligible.
Funding: funded PhD with a non-taxable annual stipend of £27,715 plus university tuition fees.
Location: London, United Kingdom.
Application: review the project page and submit via the advertised FindAPhD route. The post includes a lab-specific question asking how you would develop a differentiation strategy from first principles for a specialised human iPSC-derived cell type with no published protocol.
Funding details
Funded PhD project. Successful applicants receive a non-taxable annual stipend of £27,715 plus payment of university tuition fees. Students of all nationalities are eligible to apply.
What's required
Candidates should have a background in bioengineering, stem cell biology, or computational biology, with an interest in disease modelling and OMICS- and organoid-based approaches. The lab-specific question asks applicants to explain how they would develop a differentiation strategy for a human iPSC-derived specialised cell type from first principles when no published protocol exists.
How to apply
Review the project details on FindAPhD and prepare an application for the 2027 Crick-King's College London Joint PhD project. Answer the lab-specific question in your application materials and submit through the advertised PhD application route.
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