DPhil Studentship – Investigating and Modelling Brain Dynamics Across Species

Overview

The Department of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford offers a funded DPhil studentship in computational and translational neuroscience, starting in October 2027, on investigating and modelling brain dynamics across species. It belongs to the ERC-funded ROSETTA project, which introduces a functional coordinate system for the brain to describe brain function comprehensively and to integrate neuroimaging findings across experiments, disorders and species.

The student joins a group that charts how cognitive disorders, drugs and brain stimulation reposition the brain within a shared functional space, combining neuroimaging and consciousness science with information theory, network science and whole-brain biophysical modelling. The group compares fMRI data across humans, macaques and mice and collaborates with several European and Canadian institutions.

What you will do

The DPhil, refined with the candidate, centres on an ERC Starting Grant mapping causal interventions from anatomy to function across species. The student will analyse brain dynamics from fMRI datasets of targeted perturbations such as anaesthetics, psychedelics or brain stimulation, mainly in macaques, with an emphasis on cross-species comparison and whole-brain computational modelling. Training covers complex systems analysis of neural dynamics, consciousness neuroscience, cross-species neuroimaging, whole-brain modelling and NeuroAI, with funded travel for regular collaboration visits to the Italian Institute of Technology.

Who can apply

Applicants should hold at least an upper second-class honours degree or equivalent and, or, a relevant master's in neuroscience, physics, computer science, engineering or a related field, with experience of independent research. Experience with large neuroimaging datasets such as fMRI, data science, and strong Python or MATLAB skills are essential, as are communication and collaboration skills.

What you get

The scholarship covers course fees up to the value of home fees, a tax-free stipend at the UKRI standard rate of 21,805 GBP per year, and extra support for research expenses and conference attendance. Applicants with overseas fee status would need to fund the fee difference from other sources.

How to apply

Applications are made through the university's online graduate application form, which must include all supporting materials, references and a 20 GBP application fee, though fee waivers may be available. The studentship code is 27PSYCH02WEB.

Key dates

The submission deadline is 12:00 noon UK time on Friday 6 November 2026, earlier than the university's December deadline. Interviews are in the week commencing 23 November 2026.