The University of Manchester
Top university
Just Landed
New Today
PhD Studentship (MRC NW-DMS) - Antibiotic Use in Hidradenitis Suppurativa The University of Manchester in United Kingdom
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Computer Science
Funding
Available
Deadline
Nov 27, 2026
Country
United Kingdom
University
The University of Manchester
Apply for this scholarship
Keywords
Suggested scholarships
About this position
This PhD studentship is based in the Department of Biology, Medicine and Health at The University of Manchester and sits within the MRC North West Doctoral Programme in Medical Sciences. The project investigates antibiotic use in hidradenitis suppurativa, a painful dermatological condition associated with recurrent boils, abscesses and scarring.
The research uses electronic health records from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum, linked to hospital admission and mortality data, to study how oral antibiotics are prescribed for hidradenitis suppurativa across the UK and how those prescribing patterns have changed over time. The student will also use machine learning to identify distinct treatment trajectories, test whether they predict disease flares, and explore whether prolonged antibiotic exposure is followed by later treatment failure when patients are treated for other infections.
The project combines dermatology, pharmacoepidemiology and health informatics, with training in epidemiological study design, causal inference, survival analysis, machine learning, statistical programming and governance of large health datasets. The student will join the Dermatology and Pharmaco-epidemiology Research Group in Manchester, within a dermatology centre that is a standalone theme of the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre.
The advert also states that the student will be supported to work with patients in shaping the research, and that findings are intended to inform clinical guidelines and antimicrobial stewardship policy, with analysis code shared openly.
Funding details
Available
What's required
Applicants are expected to hold, or be about to obtain, a minimum upper second-class undergraduate honours degree (or equivalent) in medicine, pharmacy, epidemiology, public health, statistics, data science, health informatics or a related quantitative discipline. A relevant Masters degree is desirable. Research experience in health data analysis and familiarity with a statistical programming language such as R, Stata or Python are desirable. Applicants may also have a master's qualification, relevant research experience, and experience demonstrating suitability for doctoral research. Applicants who are offered a place must meet the University of Manchester's English language requirements before commencing studies.
How to apply
Contact the primary supervisor before applying to discuss your interest and suitability. Apply through the MRC North West Doctoral Programme in Medical Sciences / online application portal, selecting MRC NW-DMS PhD Programme as the programme of study. Submit a tailored supporting statement, CV, academic certificates and transcripts, and provide two references.
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the provider.
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the provider.