Shilpa Chokshi
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PhD in Medical Studies: SHIELD – Systematic Assessment of Hepatic Micro- and Nanoplastic Accumulation and Clearance in Liver Disease University of Plymouth in United Kingdom
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Chemistry
Funding
Available
Deadline
Oct 16, 2026
Country
United Kingdom
University
University of Plymouth
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About this position
University of Plymouth is offering a fully funded 3-year PhD studentship in Medical Studies for the project SHIELD: Systematic Assessment of Hepatic Micro- and Nanoplastic Accumulation and Clearance in Liver Disease.
This project tackles an important and emerging problem in environmental hepatology: how micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) accumulate, persist, and are cleared from the liver, and whether they contribute to disease progression. The research sits within the Centre of Environmental Hepatology and the PLEXI Laboratory, bringing together clinical samples, advanced analytical technologies, and patient-derived organoid models to investigate plastic-induced liver injury and the biology of exposure in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
The successful candidate will quantify and characterise MNPs in human liver, blood, and bile from a large cohort of MASLD patients; study toxicity, accumulation, and clearance in organoid systems; develop and validate tissue-based biological reference materials for MNP analysis; and correlate MNP burden and polymer composition with fibrosis stage and clinical severity. Methods and platforms include Pyrolysis-GC/MS, Raman spectroscopy, confocal microscopy, electron microscopy, transcriptomics, proteomics, and ICP-MS.
Funding includes full Home tuition fees plus a stipend of £19,830 per annum at the 2026-27 rate. The studentship is supported for 3 years and is due to start on 1 January 2027.
Applicants should normally have a First or Upper Second Class (2:1) honours degree, and preferably a relevant Master’s degree or equivalent qualification. Preferred backgrounds include Biomedical Science, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Pharmacology, Toxicology, Environmental Science, Analytical Chemistry, Chemistry, or a closely related subject. Prior research experience is valued, and practical experience in cell culture, organoid culture, microscopy, spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, transcriptomics, or bioinformatics would be advantageous.
English-language requirements apply where relevant: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no less than 5.5 in each component, or equivalent. Applications close on 16 October 2026.
This PhD is a strong fit for students interested in environmental health, liver disease, biomarker discovery, plastic pollution, and translational biomedical research in a collaborative multidisciplinary setting.
Funding details
Available
What's required
Applicants should hold a First or Upper Second Class (2:1) honours degree and preferably a Master's degree or equivalent postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline such as Biomedical Science, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Pharmacology, Toxicology, Environmental Science, Analytical Chemistry, Chemistry or a closely related subject. Research experience, ideally from a Master's research project or as a Research Assistant/Technician, is preferred. Advantageous experience includes mammalian cell culture, organoid culture, molecular biology, analytical chemistry, microscopy, spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, transcriptomics or bioinformatics. Applicants should be highly motivated, organised, enthusiastic about multidisciplinary research, and have excellent written and verbal communication skills. If English is not the first language, the minimum requirement is IELTS Academic 6.5 with no less than 5.5 in each component, or equivalent.
How to apply
Click the application link and use the apply button on the University of Plymouth project page. Ensure your application is submitted by 16 October 2026. Check that you meet the academic and English-language requirements before applying.
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