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PhD in Stem Cell Self-Organisation with AI-Guided Experimental Design University of Edinburgh in United Kingdom
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Computer Science
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 appointees. Open to UK and international students, subject to EASTBIO/UKRI eligibility and international student cap.
Deadline
Nov 16, 2026
Country
United Kingdom
University
University of Edinburgh

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About this position
PhD opportunity at the University of Edinburgh in stem cell self-organisation, neural cellular automata (NCA), AI-guided experimental design, and developmental biology.
This EASTBIO-funded project sits in the School of Regeneration and Repair, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, and is supervised by Dr Linus Schumacher and Dr Guillaume Blin. The research asks how groups of stem cells organise into tissue-like patterns and how computational models can learn the rules behind those patterns from microscopy data.
You will develop computational methods using NCA applied to time-lapse microscopy images of stem cells that mimic human tissue development. The project combines machine learning for scientific discovery, quantitative imaging, image analysis, uncertainty quantification, and optimisation of experimental conditions. A key aim is to extend NCA so it can take experimental conditions as input and help identify which experiments are most informative for understanding biological mechanisms.
The project is especially relevant for students with a background in computational science, mathematics, physics, or engineering who want to apply quantitative methods to biological problems. Interest in developmental biology and biological data analysis is important. The project uses existing in-house imaging data and a published perturbation screen across multiple signalling conditions.
This is a 4-year funded PhD under the EASTBIO BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership. Funding covers a 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 successful appointees. UK and international students may apply, although there is a cap on the number of international students recruited.
Application deadline: 16 November 2026.
How to apply: Submit the EASTBIO Application Form and your academic transcripts (PDF) by email to [email protected]. Referees must also send references using the EASTBIO reference form template to the same email address before the deadline.
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 appointees. Open to UK and international students, subject to EASTBIO/UKRI eligibility and international student cap.
What's required
Applicants should have a computational, mathematical, physics or engineering background and a genuine interest in solving biological problems. The project is suited to students interested in machine learning for scientific discovery, quantitative imaging, image analysis, and developmental biology. UKRI eligibility criteria apply, and the EASTBIO DTP has a cap on the number of international students it recruits.
How to apply
Complete the EASTBIO Application Form and attach your academic transcripts as a PDF. Email the application and transcripts to [email protected]. Also ask your 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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