PhD in Mechanosensation and Membrane Tension in Red Blood Cell Development University of the West of England in United Kingdom

A fully-funded 4-year PhD studentship is available to investigate the mechanisms of mechanosensation and membrane tension modulation in red blood cell development. This project is part of the BBSRC SWBio Doctoral Training Partnership and will be jointly supervised by Tim Satchwell (University of the West of England) and Ash Toye (University of Bristol). The research will focus on understanding how mechanosensory proteins and their downstream signalling pathways influence the formation and function of red blood cells, using advanced cell and molecular biology techniques.

The successful candidate will be registered at both the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England, receiving a joint degree upon completion. The studentship covers tuition fees and provides a stipend for living expenses. Applicants should have a strong background in biological or biomedical sciences and an interest in cell biology and mechanotransduction.

The application deadline is 3 December 2025, with the programme starting in September 2026. For more information and to apply, visit the SWBio DTP website.