PhD Studentship: Can Blood Reveal the Body? Trustworthy AI for Tissue Gene Expression

Overview

A four-year PhD studentship is available through the Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership, hosted at the Earlham Institute within the University of East Anglia. The research focuses on developing Blood2Tissue, an artificial intelligence modelling framework designed to predict tissue-specific gene expression programmes from blood samples. The project aims to advance methods for inferring what is happening in tissues where biopsies are not feasible, while also establishing when individual predictions can be trusted. Work will involve benchmarking existing methods using the GTEx dataset, developing and calibrating the new framework, and investigating cross-tissue regulation using reference cell atlases and the IBDverse. The student will also undertake confirmed visits to Ellen McDonagh's Open Targets team at the European Bioinformatics Institute. Training will cover machine learning, transcriptomics, uncertainty quantification, genetics, single-cell genomics, high-performance computing, reproducible software, and responsible artificial intelligence.

Who can apply

Applicants must hold at least a UK equivalent Bachelors Honours 2:1 degree. Candidates must also meet the English Language requirement equivalent to the Faculty of Science standard of an IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with 6 in each category.

What you get

The studentship provides payment of tuition fees directly to the University, a living stipend at the 2026/27 rate of 21,805 British pounds per annum, and a Research Training Support Grant of 5,000 British pounds per annum for each year of the studentship.

Requirements

The project requires full-time study starting on 1 October 2027, conducted on site at the Earlham Institute in the United Kingdom.

Key dates

The closing date for applications is 30 November 2026. The program starts on 1 October 2027.