PhD Studentship - Communication Breakdown: Using Human 3D Bioprinted Models to Understand Disruption of Neuron-muscle Interactions in ALS

Overview

This PhD project at the University of Exeter, based at the Living Systems Institute within Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, studies the breakdown of communication between nerves and muscle in ALS. ALS is a devastating neurological disease with no cure, and new ways of understanding and treating it are urgently needed.

The project combines stem cell technology, 3D bioprinting, brain cell models and genomic analysis to explore how nerve cells and support cells interact in health and disease. The student will model a key ALS feature seen in most patients and use high-resolution single-cell techniques and drug screening to uncover new disease mechanisms and identify new drug candidates. The project is highly interdisciplinary and collaborative, with training in neuroscience, genomics, bioinformatics, bioengineering and translational research.

What you get

The project is one of up to 18 MRC-funded studentships offered through the GW4 BioMed3 Doctoral Landscape Programme, with a start date of October 2027. The studentships last four years. Funding covers UK tuition fees and a doctoral stipend matching the UK Research Council national minimum, which is 21,805 pounds per year for 2026/27 and is updated annually. Up to 5,000 pounds per year is also available for research training and support costs.

Who can apply

The studentships are open to UK and international students. This project competes for a place with projects across the whole MRC GW4 BioMed3 Doctoral Landscape Award, in which 18 studentships are available across the partnership.

Key dates

The closing date is 21 October 2026, and the studentship begins in October 2027.