University of Oxford
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6 days ago
PhD in Cellular Basis of Osteoarthritis Progression and Synovial Tissue Biology University of Oxford in United Kingdom
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Computer Science
Funding
Competition-funded 3-year full-time DPhil project. Financial support is available for attendance at national and international meetings. The post includes hands-on laboratory and computational training; no stipend amount is stated in the post.
Deadline
Dec 1, 2026
Country
United Kingdom
University
University of Oxford

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About this position
PhD opportunity at the University of Oxford / Botnar Research Centre in the Snelling Soft Tissue Repair Group, focused on the cellular basis of osteoarthritis progression. The project combines synovial tissue biology, musculoskeletal biology, next generation sequencing, bulk RNA-seq, single nucleus RNA-seq, imaging, and in vitro/ex vivo models to identify and modify pathways involved in pain, vessel ingrowth, fibrosis, and hyperplasia.
The student will analyse in-house and public transcriptomics datasets, stratify signatures by patient factors such as sex and BMI, and test potential interventions in primary cells and synovial explants. The work aims to improve outcomes for patients undergoing knee replacement for osteoarthritis and contribute reference datasets to the Human Cell Atlas.
Supervision is by Associate Professor Sarah Snelling and Dr Jolet Mimpen. The project is embedded in an interdisciplinary team within NDORMS and the Botnar Institute for Musculoskeletal Science, with access to lectures, statistical and experimental design training, seminars, workshops, and computational/laboratory support.
Eligibility highlights: a degree in a biomedical, medical, or related subject; first or upper second-class BSc (or equivalent) expected or obtained; strong communication and scientific writing skills; research experience; and willingness to learn lab and computational methods. Desirable experience includes human tissue processing, sequencing analysis, and imaging.
Funding is competition-funded and full-time for 3 years. The post mentions financial support for conference attendance, but no stipend amount is stated. Applications open mid-September and the deadline is 1 December at 12:00. Apply to the D.Phil in Molecular and Cellular Medicine (course code RD_MP1) and contact [email protected] or Professor Sarah Snelling for further guidance.
Funding details
Competition-funded 3-year full-time DPhil project. Financial support is available for attendance at national and international meetings. The post includes hands-on laboratory and computational training; no stipend amount is stated in the post.
What's required
A degree in a biomedical, medical or related subject; applicants should have or expect to obtain a first or upper second-class BSc degree or equivalent in a relevant subject. Excellent communication skills, experience writing scientific essays/documents/dissertations, experience working or studying in a research environment, and willingness to learn laboratory and computational methods are required. Desirable experience includes processing human tissue samples, sequencing-method laboratory or computational analysis experience, and imaging experience. English language competence is required where applicable.
How to apply
Contact Professor Sarah Snelling or NDORMS Graduate Studies at [email protected]. Apply online for the D.Phil in Molecular and Cellular Medicine using course code RD_MP1. Applications open mid-September and the deadline is 1 December at 12:00.
More information can be found here
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