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University of Edinburgh

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PhD in Decoding Metastatic Niche Selection in Canine Oral Melanoma Using Patient-Derived Organoid-on-Chip Models University of Edinburgh in United Kingdom

Degree Level

PhD

Field of study

Microbiology

Funding

Funded PhD project through the EASTBIO BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership. Funding covers a stipend and UK-level tuition fees; the University of Edinburgh covers the difference between home and international fees, making the studentship fully funded for all appointees. There is a cap on the number of international students recruited.

Deadline

Nov 16, 2026

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Country

United Kingdom

University

University of Edinburgh

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Keywords

Microbiology
Biomedical Engineering
Cancer Biology
Materials Science
Biology
Veterinary Science
Medical Science
Metastasis
Microfluidic
Organ-on-chip Technology
Transcriptomic
bio engineering

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About this position

EASTBIO-funded PhD opportunity at the University of Edinburgh in canine oral melanoma, metastasis biology, patient-derived organoids, and organ-on-chip / microfluidic models.

This 4-year PhD project is based in the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh and is part of the EASTBIO BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership. The project investigates how tumour cells escape the primary tumour, migrate, and preferentially colonise specific metastatic niches. Using naturally occurring canine oral mucosal melanoma as a model, the student will work with established patient-derived melanoma organoids, lymphoid niche models, archived tissues, and molecular datasets.

The research will first build a quantitative lymph-node-on-a-chip platform by combining tumour organoids with lymphoid niche models in a perfused microfluidic system. The student will use live-cell imaging and computational tracking to measure tumour-cell escape, migration dynamics, barrier crossing, dissemination frequency, and colonisation efficiency. The second phase will profile disseminated and non-disseminated tumour cells and matched niche compartments using histopathology, immunophenotyping, and transcriptomics to identify tumour-intrinsic and microenvironmental features linked to metastatic competence. The final phase extends the platform to additional metastatic niches to test tissue preference and organotropism.

This project is highly interdisciplinary and includes training in veterinary oncology, tumour biology, bioengineering, organoid culture, microfluidic device design and fabrication, perfusion culture, advanced live-cell imaging, quantitative image analysis, histopathology, transcriptomics, and integrative data analysis.

Funding: fully funded studentship covering stipend and UK-level tuition fees. The University of Edinburgh covers the difference between home and international fees, though there is a cap on the number of international students recruited.

Eligibility: open to UK and international students, subject to UKRI/EASTBIO criteria.

How to apply: submit the completed EASTBIO Application Form and a PDF copy of your academic transcripts to [email protected]. Ask referees to send references using the EASTBIO reference form template to the same email address by the deadline.

Deadline: 16 November 2026.

Funding details

Funded PhD project through the EASTBIO BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership. Funding covers a stipend and UK-level tuition fees; the University of Edinburgh covers the difference between home and international fees, making the studentship fully funded for all appointees. There is a cap on the number of international students recruited.

What's required

Applicants should be UK or international students and meet EASTBIO/UKRI eligibility criteria. The project is a 4-year PhD and is suited to candidates interested in veterinary oncology, tumour biology, bioengineering, organoid culture, microfluidics, live-cell imaging, histopathology, transcriptomics, and quantitative data analysis. Applicants must submit academic transcripts and completed EASTBIO forms; references are required by the deadline.

How to apply

Complete the EASTBIO Application Form and send it with your academic transcripts as a PDF to [email protected]. Ask your referees to submit references using the EASTBIO reference form template to the same email address by the deadline. Review the EASTBIO application guidance and reference forms linked in the post before applying.

More information can be found here

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