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University of Exeter

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PhD Studentship: From Variants to Placental Function Using Cell-free DNA to Dissect the Functional Genomics of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes University of Exeter in United Kingdom

Degree Level

PhD

Field of study

Computer Science

Funding

Available

Deadline

Jan 5, 2027

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Country

United Kingdom

University

University of Exeter

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Keywords

Computer Science
Biomedical Engineering
Biology
Functional Genomics
Medical Science
Salud Pública
Preeclampsia
Statistics

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About this position

[Home tuition fees plus a Doctoral Stipend for up to 4 years.]

PhD Studentship at the University of Exeter in From Variants to Placental Function: Using Cell-free DNA to Dissect the Functional Genomics of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes.

This project explores how genetic variants influence placental biology and adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preeclampsia, foetal growth restriction, and pre-term delivery. The research uses cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from maternal blood as a minimally invasive way to infer placental gene activity during pregnancy, combining cfDNA sequencing with single-cell RNA sequencing reference data and statistical genetics.

The successful student will work on computational and genomics-based analyses, including identifying cell type-specific markers of placental cell types, mapping nucleosomal footprints in cfDNA, predicting gene activity from those footprints, and integrating these data with GWAS signals for perinatal traits and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The project also includes the possibility of supplementing analyses with new plasma sample data from pregnancy cohorts.

The training environment includes access to curated cfDNA pregnancy datasets, GWAS summary statistics for traits such as placental weight and birthweight, longitudinal gene-expression data from pregnancy, and a placenta scRNA-seq atlas from the Wellcome Sanger Institute through existing supervisory links.

Funding: Home tuition fees and a Doctoral Stipend are funded for up to 4 years.

Eligibility highlights: The advert does not specify exact academic thresholds or test requirements, but the work is strongly suited to candidates interested in computational biology, functional genomics, bioinformatics, single-cell analysis, and statistical genetics.

Application window: Deadline listed as 05 Jan (normalized to 2027-01-05 based on the posted date).

Funding details

Available

What's required

No specific degree classification, language score, or technical prerequisites are explicitly stated in the posting. The project is computational and genomics-focused, so candidates with interests or experience in bioinformatics, single-cell RNA-seq, cfDNA analysis, statistical genetics, or computational tool development would be well aligned.

How to apply

Apply through the University of Exeter funding/application link provided in the advert. Prepare your application materials and submit before the deadline. Review the project details carefully to ensure your research interests align with the topic.

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