PhD Studentship: From X to Y: Decoding Sex Chromosome Effects in the Human Brain

Overview

This PhD project at the University of Exeter studies why males and females show different risks for brain disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, autism and Alzheimer's disease. It explores how the sex chromosomes shape gene expression and epigenetic regulation in the human brain across development and ageing.

The work is bioinformatics-based and draws on multi-omic and single-cell datasets generated by the supervising team and international collaborators. The student will investigate how the X and Y chromosomes drive molecular differences at the cellular level and will also examine sex-specific differences in brains affected by neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disease, with the aim of uncovering the biological foundations of sex differences in brain health and disease.

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.