PhD Studentship: Incentives and Barriers: Patent Law in the Age of the 3Rs

Overview

Biological research is seeing the emergence of technologies that can reduce and replace animal testing, yet patent law may be obstructing their adoption. This PhD studentship examines the extent to which patent law is in tension with the objectives of the 3Rs principles of replacement, reduction, and refinement of animals in research. The project will investigate how patentable subject matter and the governance of 3R technologies shape both development and accessibility, building on established literature regarding research tools and licensing mechanisms.

Who can apply

Candidates of any nationality are eligible to apply for this opportunity. Applicants should have an interest in animal welfare, technology regulation, intellectual property law, innovation, or related areas of legal research. The project will be supervised by Professor Tanya Aplin and Dr Johnathon Liddicoat.

What you get

The award is a fully funded studentship that covers three years of fees and provides a maintenance stipend at the UKRI level, with the 2026 to 2027 rate set at 23,805 pounds per annum alongside small annual inflationary increases.

How to apply

Interested individuals must submit an application for the Law Research MPhil/PhD programme using the Kings Apply system. Within the funding section of the admissions application form, applicants are required to tick the box indicating that they have applied to a King's funding scheme and enter the award scheme code, which is LAW2027.

Key dates

The closing date for applications is 1st December 2026.