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University of Exeter

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PhD Studentship: Functional Genomics of Health and Unhealthy Fat Distribution University of Exeter in United Kingdom

Degree Level

PhD

Field of study

Computer Science

Funding

Available

Deadline

Dec 8, 2026

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Country

United Kingdom

University

University of Exeter

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Keywords

Computer Science
Population Genetics
Biomedical Engineering
Biology
Functional Genomics
Adipose Tissue Biology
Medical Science
Epigenetic
Statistics

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About this position

[Fees plus a stipend of £21,805 per annum for 2026/7.]

PhD Studentship in Functional Genomics of Health and Unhealthy Fat Distribution at the University of Exeter, in collaboration with the University of Cambridge.

This funded doctoral project investigates why fat distribution differs between individuals and how genetic regulation influences healthier subcutaneous fat storage versus higher-risk visceral fat accumulation. The research focuses on identifying coding and non-coding variants linked to fat distribution, prioritising causal regulatory elements using multi-omic maps and AI-based interpretation tools, and testing gene function in human cellular models.

The studentship brings together computational genomics, population genetics, stem-cell biology, and genome editing. At Exeter, the student will analyse whole-genome sequencing data and fat measurements from large, multi-ancestry cohorts, integrating association signals with adipose regulatory information such as gene expression, chromatin accessibility, enhancer-gene links, and AlphaGenome predictions. At Cambridge, the project moves into wet-lab validation using human iPSC-derived adipocytes patterned toward visceral and subcutaneous identities, a stable Cas9-expressing line, high-content imaging, biochemical assays, and CRISPR-based perturbation or knockout screening.

The project is designed to uncover the biological mechanisms behind non-coding regulatory variants that control human adipocyte identity and fat storage. The expected outcome is a validated human iPSC-adipocyte platform and new insights into therapeutic targets for cardiometabolic disease, especially approaches that promote safe fat storage rather than only overall weight loss.

Training and research resources are strong at both sites. Exeter provides large-scale computational infrastructure and cloud trusted research environments for analysing over one million genomes. Cambridge offers advanced iPSC infrastructure, high-content imaging, flow cytometry, and metabolic science facilities. The advert also notes input from senior clinical academics with expertise in lipodystrophy, adding an important translational perspective.

Funding is provided by the EPSRC Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. The studentship includes fees and a stipend of £21,805 per annum for 2026/7.

Applicants should be interested in interdisciplinary research spanning data science and experimental biology. The application deadline is 8 December 2026.

Funding details

Available

What's required

Applicants should be suitable for PhD-level research in computational genomics and experimental biology. The project is interdisciplinary and would suit candidates with interest in population genetics, multi-omic data integration, iPSC culture, CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, and quantitative analysis of biological phenotypes. No specific degree classification, language test, or prior experience is explicitly stated in the advert.

How to apply

Apply through the University of Exeter application page using the provided link. Prepare and submit the required PhD application materials before the deadline. Review the project details carefully to match your research experience to the interdisciplinary scope.

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