Jonathan Hirst

The University of Nottingham, in partnership with Nottingham Trent and the National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC), invites applications for a fully funded four-year PhD studentship as part of the BBSRC Doctoral Training Programme. This CASE project, offered in collaboration with Sygnature Discovery, focuses on quantum computing applications in bioscience for human health, specifically within the Bioscience for Human Health research theme. Quantum computing is poised to revolutionize biomedical and healthcare research, offering computational power far beyond conventional computers. This project aims to harness quantum neural networks and quantum machine learning (QML) to accelerate drug discovery, with a particular emphasis on RNA structure prediction and ligand binding simulations. By leveraging both classical and quantum simulation methods, the research will address key challenges in predicting RNA structures and simulating the binding of bivalent ligands to r(CUG) hairpins, which are crucial for understanding and targeting mutant RNA in disease contexts. The successful candidate will join the School of Chemistry, benefiting from a dynamic postgraduate training environment and tailored modules such as 'Introduction to Practical Quantum Computing.' The project is supported by state-of-the-art High Performance Computing (HPC) facilities, including the University’s own cluster and the EPSRC-funded HPC Midlands Plus centre, as well as exclusive access to an NVIDIA HGX H200 8-GPU cluster for quantum computing emulations. Supervision is provided by Professor Jonathan Hirst, a leading expert in machine learning in chemistry and quantum computing, who holds a Royal Academy of Engineering Chair in Emerging Technologies and leads a major Wellcome Leap Quantum 4 Bio (Q4Bio) challenge program. The project also benefits from collaboration with Sygnature Discovery, a world-leading drug discovery contract research organization with sites in the UK and Canada. Applicants should have or expect to obtain a first or upper-second UK honours degree (or equivalent) in Bioscience, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Chemical/Biochemical/Process Engineering, Pharmacy, Computer Science, Maths, or related disciplines. Candidates with a 2:2 or lower undergraduate degree may apply if they hold a relevant Masters degree or have three or more years of full-time relevant work experience. The programme is open to both UK and international candidates, and the Nottingham BBSRC DLA is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, offering a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for applicants from Black and Black mixed backgrounds who hold home fee status. Funding covers UK tuition fees and an annual UKRI stipend (£20,780 for 2025/26 entry), with support available for four years starting October 2026. The application deadline is 12 noon GMT on Monday 2 February 2026, and the start date is September 2026. For application instructions, visit this link . For informal enquiries, email [email protected] .