University of Exeter
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PhD Studentship - Turning Off Transcription Factors to Understand what Happens First in Neurodevelopmental Disorders University of Exeter in United Kingdom
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Biomedical Engineering
Funding
Available
Deadline
Oct 21, 2026
Country
United Kingdom
University
University of Exeter

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About this position
The University of Exeter is offering a PhD studentship through the GW4 BioMed3 Doctoral Landscape Programme on the project Turning Off Transcription Factors to Understand what Happens First in Neurodevelopmental Disorders.
This four-year, MRC-funded studentship will investigate early events in human brain development using human stem cells. The project will grow early brain cells and then rapidly switch off selected disease-linked transcription factors to observe the immediate effects on chromatin accessibility and gene activity. Advanced genomics approaches, including CUT&Tag and RNA-seq, will be used to identify how altered gene control may contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders.
The research is focused on understanding the earliest biological changes associated with conditions such as intellectual disability, autism, epilepsy, and speech impairment. The successful student will gain training in cutting-edge stem cell methods, genome editing, and genomics, while contributing to a fundamental question in human developmental neurobiology.
Funding is available through the GW4 BioMed3 MRC Doctoral Landscape Programme and includes UK/Home tuition fees and a doctoral stipend matching the UK Research Council National Minimum (listed as £21,805 per annum for 2026/27, updated each year). The programme also provides up to £5,000 per annum in additional research training and support costs.
The position is open to UK and international students. It is one of up to 18 funded studentships available across the partnership, so applicants should note that this is a competitive call. The advertised start date is October 2027.
Deadline: 21 October 2026.
Apply via: the University of Exeter funding page linked in the posting.
Funding details
Available
What's required
Open to UK and international students. The project is part of a competitive studentship scheme with 18 places across the partnership; no specific degree classification, language test, or prior experience requirements are stated in the posting. Interest in stem cell, genome editing, and genomics methods would be relevant based on the project description.
How to apply
Apply through the University of Exeter funding/application page. Submit your application before 21 October 2026 and compete for one of the GW4 BioMed3 studentship places. Review the project details carefully and follow the instructions on the linked application page.
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