PhD Studentship in Bioscience (CENTA) at University of Birmingham 2026-2027

The University of Birmingham is awarding This PhD project aims to develop a human thyroid–liver organ-on-a-chip (OoC) platform to investigate how environmental chemical pollutants disrupt endocrine function, with a focus on thyroid hormone disruption. 

By integrating omics and systems toxicology approaches, the project will provide a physiologically relevant, mechanistic alternative to animal-based testing, directly addressing the environmental challenge of precisely assessing endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) released into air, water, soil, and food chains. The key research questions include:

1. How can a microphysiological thyroid–liver chip be optimised to capture hormone production, transport, and metabolism in a human-relevant context that reflects environmentally mediated exposure?
2. Can this platform accurately model disruption of thyroid hormone homeostasis by environmental contaminants, including mixtures, and identify mechanistic biomarkers of endocrine disruption?
3. How can omics and systems toxicology approaches be integrated to predict environmentally relevant adverse outcomes and support next-generation chemical safety assessment? 

To achieve these goals, the project will develop thyroid organoids with follicular structure and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)-dependent hormone production, co-cultured with liver organoids capable of phase I/II metabolism and thyroid hormone clearance. These models will be integrated into a microfluidic chip to simulate inter-organ crosstalk and dynamic hormone regulation. A panel of environmentally relevant chemicals and mixtures will be applied to evaluate dose–response effects and mechanisms of thyroid disruption. High-throughput omics technologies (e.g. transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics) will characterise molecular responses. 

The project will be structured for 3.5 years: the first year will focus on literature review, organoid optimisation, and chip design; the second year will involve establishing co-culture models, functional validation, and chemical testing; and the final year will emphasise omics integration, systems modelling, regulatory discussions, and thesis preparation. By the end of the PhD, this research aims to deliver a validated thyroid–liver chip platform for predictive, mechanistically informed assessment of environmental endocrine disruptors. 

Table of Content

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

Summary

• Application DeadlineJanuary 7, 2026
• Study LevelPhD
• SponsorUniversity of Birmingham
• City to studyBirmingham
• School to studyUniversity of Birmingham
• Course to studyBiological Sciences
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

Fully funded studentship

Requirements

Applications are open to both International and Home students

For any enquiries related to this project please contact Pu Xia, [email protected]

Application Documents

• You must include a CENTA studentship application form, downloadable from: CENTA Studentship Application Form 2026.
• You must include a CV with the names of at least two referees (preferably three) who can comment on your academic abilities.

Check also:
Wits-Edinburgh Programme in Sustainable African Futures by Mastercard Foundation 2026-2027
Department of Aeronautics MSc Scholarship at Imperial College London 2026

Application Deadline

How To Apply

To apply to this project:

• You must include a CENTA studentship application form, downloadable from: CENTA Studentship Application Form 2026.

• You must include a CV with the names of at least two referees (preferably three) who can comment on your academic abilities.

• Please submit your application and complete the host institution application process via: https://sits.bham.ac.uk/lpages/LES068.htm. Please select the PhD Bioscience (CENTA) 2026/27 Apply Now button.
• The CENTA Studentship Application Form 2026 and CV can be uploaded to the Application Information section of the online form. Please quote 2026-B30 when completing the application form.

Applications must be submitted by 23:59 GMT on Wednesday 7th January 2026.

To learn more, visit the scholarship webpage