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MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

PhD in Neuropeptide Networks in Worms and Octopus Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology in United Kingdom

Degree Level

PhD

Field of study

Molecular Biology

Funding

Competition funded PhD project for students worldwide. Funding details are not specified in the post, but it is presented as a funded PhD opportunity.

Deadline

Dec 8, 2026

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Country

United Kingdom

University

MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

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Keywords

Molecular Biology
Biology
Optogenetics
Connectomics
Electrophysiology
Neuropsychology
Behavioral Neuroscience
Neuropeptide

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About this position

PhD opportunity in Neuroscience, Molecular Biology, and Behavioural Biology at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Cambridge, United Kingdom).

This project, supervised by Dr W Schafer, focuses on neuropeptide networks and how “wireless” neuronal communication shapes behaviour. The first part uses C. elegans to study neuropeptide signaling in feeding circuits, including how peptides and receptors related to human hypothalamic appetite pathways regulate feeding and starvation responses. Students will use genetic tools and optogenetics to probe circuit and single-neuron function.

The second part explores neuropeptide signaling in the octopus, aiming to identify receptors for putative neuropeptide genes, map their expression in the hatchling brain, and test effects on neural circuits and behaviour using electrophysiology and calcium imaging. The project combines comparative neuroscience, connectomics, and molecular approaches across two very different animal systems.

Funding: listed as a Competition Funded PhD Project for students worldwide.

Eligibility/fit: suitable for candidates interested in neuroscience, molecular biology, behavioural biology, neuropeptide signaling, and experimental work with model organisms. No specific deadline, language requirement, or degree classification is stated in the post.

How to apply: register your interest via the FindAPhD enquiry form on the project page. The university will respond directly.

Funding details

Competition funded PhD project for students worldwide. Funding details are not specified in the post, but it is presented as a funded PhD opportunity.

What's required

Applicants should be interested in neuroscience, molecular biology, behavioural biology, and working with model organisms. The project involves genetic and optogenetic tools in C. elegans, plus receptor identification, expression mapping, electrophysiology, and calcium imaging in octopus. No specific degree class, language test, or GPA requirement is stated in the post.

How to apply

Register your interest through the FindAPhD enquiry form. The university will respond directly after you submit your details and question.

More information can be found here

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