Naiara Beraza

[4-year Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership PhD CASE studentship with Inspiralis Limited. Includes full tuition fees, a stipend of £20,780 (2025/6 rate), and a Research Training Support Grant of £5,000 per annum.] This fully funded PhD studentship at the University of East Anglia investigates the role of non-canonical autophagy, specifically LC3-associated phagocytosis (LAP), in the liver's response to unhealthy Western diets. With obesity and fatty liver disease reaching epidemic levels in the UK, this project addresses the urgent need to understand how poor dietary habits contribute to liver steatosis, hepatocyte toxicity, and inflammation. The research aims to define the mechanisms mediating lipid uptake and metabolism in the liver under high-fat dietary conditions, with the goal of identifying targets to preserve liver metabolic health and prevent disease progression. The successful candidate will receive comprehensive training in cellular and molecular biology, immunology, confocal microscopy, spectral flow cytometry, and preclinical in vivo models. Supervised by Dr Naiara Beraza and Rushworth, both experienced molecular biologists with a translational research focus, the student will work across the Quadram Institute and University of East Anglia, gaining exposure to multidisciplinary research environments and presenting findings at conferences. The project is part of the Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Programme (NRPDTP), which offers a vibrant research community, a three-month professional internship placement (PIPS), and extensive professional development support. The studentship covers full tuition, a competitive stipend (£20,780 for 2025/6), and a generous research training support grant. Applicants must hold at least a UK 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent) and meet English language requirements (IELTS 6.5 overall, 6.0 in each category). The position is full-time, starting 1 October 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in February 2026. For more information and to apply, visit the UEA and NRPDTP websites.

[Fully funded 4-year Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership PhD studentship including payment of tuition fees, a stipend for living expenses at the 2026/27 rate of £21,805, and a Research Training Support Grant of £5,000 per year.] This PhD studentship at the University of East Anglia is offered through the Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Programme (NRPDTP) and focuses on the role of non-canonical autophagy in liver lipid metabolism in response to unhealthy diets . The project addresses an important health challenge: obesity and fatty liver disease linked to western-style/high-fat diets. It will investigate how autophagy and related intracellular cargo degradation pathways, including LC3-associated phagocytosis (LAP) , influence lipid handling in hepatocytes and contribute to liver metabolic health or disease progression. The research aims to identify mechanisms and potential targets that may help preserve liver function under poor dietary conditions. The successful PhD student will gain training in preclinical in vivo models , in vitro experiments , cellular and molecular biology, and immunology techniques, including confocal microscopy and spectral flow cytometry . The project is collaborative and translational in nature, with work spanning labs at the Quadram Institute and the University of East Anglia, offering opportunities to develop a broad scientific network and present at conferences and meetings. Supervision: Primary supervision is by Professor Naiara Beraza , with collaboration from Rushworth as noted in the advert. Funding: This is a fully funded 4-year studentship for October 2027 entry. The award includes tuition fees paid directly to the university, a living stipend at the 2026/27 rate of £21,805 , and a Research Training Support Grant of £5,000 per year . Eligibility: Applicants should hold at least a UK-equivalent Bachelors (Honours) 2:1 and meet the English language requirement of IELTS 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in each component . Application: Apply via the University of East Anglia postgraduate research portal. The NRPDTP personal and research statement templates must be used. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed on 2, 3, and 4 February 2027 . The start date is 1 October 2027 .