PhD Studentship: Fully Funded PhD Studentship in Cardiovascular Science

Overview

The Cardiovascular Research Group at the University of Surrey is offering a fully funded PhD studentship in cardiovascular science, focused on extracellular vesicles in cardiovascular disease. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common inherited heart condition and a leading cause of heart failure and sudden cardiac death in young adults. It is often caused by faults in heart muscle proteins, but how these genetic changes lead to thickening of the heart, scarring and electrical instability is still poorly understood.

The student will use human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and supporting cells that carry a clinically relevant HCM-causing mutation. The work will compare the structure and function of healthy and diseased cells, examine how communication between cardiac cells contributes to harmful remodelling, and look for molecular changes that could point to future biomarkers or therapeutic targets. Training will cover human cell culture, isolation and characterisation of extracellular vesicles, advanced microscopy, cardiac functional assays and molecular and proteomic analysis. The supervisor is Dr Patrizia Camelliti.

Who can apply

The studentship is open to candidates who pay UK/home rate fees. Applicants should hold, or be about to obtain, a first or upper second-class honours degree or equivalent in a relevant area such as medical sciences, biomedical sciences, biomedical engineering, molecular biology, physiology or biochemistry. An MSc or MRes with merit or distinction in cardiovascular or molecular science, or earlier research experience in molecular or cell biology, would be an advantage. Scientific curiosity, communication and organisational skills, and the ability to work both independently and in a team are essential.

What you get

Funding covers tuition fees at the Home rate, research and training expenses, and an annual tax-free stipend at UKRI rates, set at £21,805 for 2026-27.

How to apply

Applicants send a CV listing modules and grades, a supporting statement on their motivation, research experience and career goals, contact details for two academic referees, degree certificates and transcripts, and an official English language result if applicable. Informal enquiries to Dr Camelliti are welcome.

Key dates

The deadline is 31 October 2026. Interviews are expected in November 2026, with the studentship starting in April 2027.