PhD in Perceptual Bias and the Evolution of Organism at University of Sheffield 2025

The plan of this PhD studentship is to develop a novel therapeutic cassette that can be efficiently packaged into a single AAV9 vector. The efficacy of this vector will be tested in vitro on cell lines and primary neuronal cultures, before progressing towards in vivo safety and efficacy studies. This project offers distinct translational potential as the vector design and in vivo safety and efficacy studies would help inform further pre- clinical development, and even future clinical trials.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineSeptember 15, 2025
• Study LevelPhD
• SponsorUniversity of Sheffield
• City to studySheffield
• School to studyUniversity of Sheffield
• Course to studyBiomedial Science , Biomedical Research
• Eligible CountryUnited Kingdom

Benefits

Fully funded PhD position (3.5 years) via a Leverhulme Trust Research Project Grant. Funding covers stipend (UKRI 2025/26 rate £20,780), tuition fees (UKRI 2025/26 rate £5,006) and research support and training grant (RTSG). 

Requirements

• Applications are welcome from candidates from any relevant background (e.g. ecology, evolution, computer science, neuroscience) to tackle this novel and exciting opportunity.
• Training will be provided in specific analysis techniques and the successful applicant will acquire advanced computational and communication skills that are highly transferable.
• The student can expect to work closely with all supervisors, as well as other project team members including a PDRA and research technician.
• In addition to the objectives outlined above, there will be ample opportunity for the student to develop their own research questions over the course of the project.
• The student will join a vibrant community of academic staff and postgraduate students within the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology cluster within the School of Biosciences at the University of Sheffield, where extensive PhD training and development are available.
• There will also be opportunities to engage with the public at large to disseminate the student’s research, for example via exhibitions at local (Weston Park Museum) and national (Natural History Museum, London) museums with which the supervisory team already have strong links.

Check also:
Free Ongoing Fully Funded Scholarships Guide 2026 (Download Now)

Application Deadline

How To Apply

To apply for the PhD, please submit an application via the University of Sheffield's application portal: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/phd/apply/applying. Informal enquiries are welcome, please contact: [email protected].

For more details, visit University of Sheffield Scholarship webpage