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University of Edinburgh

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PhD in Engineering Fluorescent Non-Canonical Amino Acids for Quantitative Imaging of Protein Therapeutics Trafficking University of Edinburgh in United Kingdom

Degree Level

PhD

Field of study

Cell Biology

Funding

Funded 4-year PhD studentship through the EASTBIO BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership. Funding covers stipend and UK-level tuition fees; the University of Edinburgh covers the difference between home and international fees, making the studentship fully funded for appointees. Open to UK and international students, subject to eligibility and international student cap.

Deadline

Nov 16, 2026

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Country

United Kingdom

University

University of Edinburgh

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Keywords

Cell Biology
Chemistry
Biomedical Engineering
Biology
Synthetic Biology
Chemical Biology
Pharmacy
Protein Engineering

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About this position

EASTBIO(CASE) PhD project at the University of Edinburgh on engineering fluorescent non-canonical amino acids for quantitative imaging of protein therapeutics trafficking.

This project addresses a key question in cell biology and biochemistry: how proteins are sorted, recycled, and degraded in the endolysosomal system, and how engineered biologics behave inside live cells. The research will develop genetically encoded, environment-responsive fluorescent amino acids and use fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) to quantify receptor-mediated internalisation, endosomal sorting, recycling, and lysosomal degradation.

Research objectives include: designing and characterising pH-responsive fluorescent non-canonical amino acids; incorporating them site-specifically into proteins such as nanobodies, antibodies, and peptide scaffolds via genetic code expansion; and applying live-cell FLIM to study trafficking of protein therapeutics. The project also involves collaboration with Externa Biosciences, a biotechnology company working at the interface of synthetic biology, chemistry, and machine learning.

Training will span chemical biology, synthetic biology, protein engineering, cell biology, and advanced imaging. Methods include organic synthesis, site-specific protein labelling, solid-phase peptide synthesis, mRNA display libraries, recombinant protein expression and purification, mammalian cell culture, binding assays, confocal microscopy, FLIM, and quantitative image analysis.

The project is based in the School of Regeneration and Repair and involves a cross-College supervisory team from the School of Regeneration and Repair and the School of Chemistry, plus an industrial supervisor. It is well suited to candidates with a background in chemistry, biochemistry, or cell biology who want to work on translational biotechnology and protein trafficking.

This is a 4-year funded PhD under the EASTBIO BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership. Funding covers stipend and UK-level tuition fees, and the University of Edinburgh covers the difference between home and international fees, making the studentship fully funded for appointees. UK and international students may apply, subject to UKRI eligibility rules and the international student cap.

Application deadline: 16 November 2026. Apply by submitting the EASTBIO Application Form and academic transcripts by PDF to [email protected], and ensure referees send references using the EASTBIO template by the deadline.

Funding details

Funded 4-year PhD studentship through the EASTBIO BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership. Funding covers stipend and UK-level tuition fees; the University of Edinburgh covers the difference between home and international fees, making the studentship fully funded for appointees. Open to UK and international students, subject to eligibility and international student cap.

What's required

Candidates with a background in chemistry, biochemistry or cell biology are especially suited. The project is interdisciplinary and includes organic synthesis, genetic code expansion, site-specific protein labelling, solid-phase peptide synthesis, mRNA display libraries, recombinant protein expression and purification, mammalian cell culture, biochemical and cell-based binding assays, confocal microscopy, FLIM, quantitative image analysis, statistics, scientific writing, and presentation skills. Applicants should be interested in innovative technologies and translational questions in protein trafficking and engineering. UKRI eligibility criteria apply, and international applicants are subject to the DTP cap on international students.

How to apply

Complete the EASTBIO Application Form and attach academic transcripts as a PDF. Email the application materials to [email protected]. Also ask referees to submit references using the EASTBIO reference form template to the same email address by the deadline.

More information can be found here

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