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The University of Manchester
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FSE PhD President's Doctoral Scholarship: Mapping the nanoscale architecture of T cell sensing The University of Manchester in United Kingdom
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Immunology
Funding
Available
Deadline
Dec 18, 2026
Country
United Kingdom
University
The University of Manchester
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About this position
This 4-year PhD studentship at The University of Manchester explores how T cells sense their environment through the nanoscale organisation of signals at the immune synapse. The project asks how stimulatory, co-stimulatory, inhibitory, and adhesive cues are arranged, clustered, and reorganised in space and time, and how that spatial organisation shapes downstream immune signalling.
The student will work on a synthetic antigen-presenting cell platform designed to present precisely defined combinations of peptide-MHC complexes, co-stimulatory receptors, co-inhibitory receptors, and integrin ligands at controlled surface densities. This programmable system is intended to give fine control over the composition and architecture of immune synapses, enabling the student to probe how different extracellular cues are integrated by T cells.
The research combines super-resolution imaging with photocatalytic proximity-labelling approaches to generate detailed molecular maps of synapse architecture. By comparing different signal combinations, the project aims to reveal how nanoscale context influences signalling output and functional immune responses.
The main project supervisor is Dr Aaron Trowbridge, and prospective applicants are encouraged to contact him to discuss the project. A project web page is provided for further background on the group and research area.
This is a competitive funded doctoral studentship starting in September 2027.
Funding details
Available
What's required
Open to Home (UK) and international applicants. Applicants must submit a full application with details of previous study, two referees, a supporting statement, CV, and transcripts of awarded and in-progress university qualifications. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
How to apply
Contact Dr Aaron Trowbridge to discuss the project before applying. Submit a formal application through the online application portal for the FSE PhD President's Doctoral Scholarship. Include the project title and supervisor details, previous study information, two referees, a supporting statement, CV, and transcripts.
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