PhD in Cardiovascular and Regenerative Medicine: Epicardial Fat–Driven Cardiac Dysfunction at King's College London King's College London in United Kingdom

King's College London is offering a fully funded Darwin Trust PhD studentship in the School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine. The project, supervised by Joaquim Miguel Vieira and co-supervised by Anna Zoccarato, focuses on 'Decoding epicardial fat–driven cardiac dysfunction using hiPSC-derived 3D tissues: a translational approach to heart failure.' This research will utilize engineered heart tissues derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) to model epicardial lineage transitions and investigate the interactions between epicardial fat and myocardium. The training will span stem cell biology, tissue engineering, omics, bioinformatics, and translational cardiovascular research, providing a comprehensive experience in cutting-edge biomedical science.

The Darwin Trust PhD studentship is open to candidates who are not UK nationals, specifically those who self-identify as being from a Black heritage background (including mixed backgrounds with Black African, Black Caribbean, or other Black backgrounds) and are resident on the continent of Africa at the time of application. Applicants must have received their first university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent, or Master's degree) less than five years before the application closing date. The studentship covers a four-year period, providing a full stipend, tuition fees, and consumable support.

To apply, candidates should review the project catalogue, select their preferred project, and submit an application for a full-time MPhil/PhD in Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences (as a placeholder) via King's Apply. Applicants must enter the funding code 2026Darwin and select Project R, ensuring that a full CV and personal statement are uploaded. The application deadline is 30 January 2026, or when 50 applications have been received. This opportunity is ideal for ambitious students interested in cardiovascular medicine, regenerative medicine, stem cell biology, tissue engineering, omics, and bioinformatics, who are eager to contribute to translational research in heart failure.

For more information, visit the official King's College London Darwin Trust PhD studentship scheme page or contact the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine.