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Current research degree projects

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Explore our current postgraduate research degree and PhD opportunities.

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348 research degree projects

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Early fault-tolerant quantum algorithms for drug discovery

This project aims to develop new early fault-tolerant quantum algorithms for drug discovery. You’ll design next-generation quantum algorithms, apply them to binding affinity, free-energy and spectroscopic predictions, and test them on real quantum hardware—advancing foundational theory, practical software development, and quantum use-cases.

Funding: Fully funded (UK and international)

Closing date: 31 March 2026
Engineering | Mathematical sciences

Controlling extreme events in fluid dynamics using modern optimization

Extreme bursts in fluid flows are hard to predict and control. This project develops modern optimisation and dynamical-systems tools to understand and limit these events using low-dimensional models. 

Funding: Competition funded

Closing date: 30 June 2026
Biological sciences

Multimodal AI for Cancer Risk Prediction

Do a PhD as part of the CRUK Cancer Data-Driven Detection (CD3) project, developing advanced AI models that integrate clinical and omic data to improve cancer risk prediction. This PhD program offers training in machine learning, health data science, and multimodal analytics, working closely with clinicians and data scientists to develop next-generation, equitable risk-prediction tools.

Funding: Fully funded (UK only)

Closing date: 8 January 2026
Mathematical sciences

The Mathematics of Deep Bilevel Learning

Deep learning has been a driving force behind the rapid progress of AI for more than a decade, culminating recently in the success of large language models powered by transformer architectures—a class of deep neural networks. In parallel, bilevel optimization has emerged as a powerful framework for modeling complex machine learning tasks, giving rise to what we refer to as deep bilevel learning. This PhD project will investigate the mathematical foundations of deep bilevel learning, with the goal of uncovering structural properties that can be exploited to design more efficient, robust, and explainable learning algorithms. The results have the potential to influence the next generation of AI systems and advance theory at the intersection of optimization and deep learning.

Funding: Fully funded (UK and international)

Closing date: 9 January 2026
Mathematical sciences

Impact of climate and political events on financial stability in complex financial networks

Climate and political shocks can trigger clustered defaults across interconnected financial networks. This PhD project will develop deep learning models and network-based stress testing tools to assess how such events impact credit risk and financial stability, using real nationwide microentrepreneur data in a partnership with a leading microfinance institution.

Funding: Fully funded (UK and international)

Closing date: 31 December 2025
Health sciences | Geography and environmental science | History

Developing climate change resilience for multiple long-term health conditions: co-creating policy recommendations

This PhD aims to understand how people living with long-term health conditions (LTCs) can better build resilience to climate change. Working with vulnerable communities the researcher will use individual narratives and real-time momentary analysis to establish how LTCs impact adaptive capabilities during weather extremes.

Funding: Competition funded

Closing date: 31 January 2026
Ocean and earth science | Geography and environmental science | Politics and international relations

The Volcanic Mind: Lessons from Volcanoes on Trust, Confidence, and Resilience in a Changing World

“The Volcanic Mind” uses volcanic risk reduction as a lens to explore how resilience emerges from the interplay between emotional trust and deliberative confidence in times of crisis. Combining volcanology, social science, political psychology, and creative practice, it reimagines how societies can sustain trust and adaptability in an accelerating world.

Funding: Competition funded

Closing date: 31 January 2026
Business studies | Geography and environmental science | Psychology | Politics and international relations

Adaptive shared mobility for systemic resilience: Trust, fairness, and decision-making under disruption

This PhD explores how shared mobility systems, such as car clubs, e-bikes, and platform-based services, can support communities during crises like floods, storms, or transport shutdowns. Combining optimisation, behavioural science, and governance, the research will design fair, trusted, and practical ways to use shared transport for emergency and resilience planning.

Funding: Competition funded

Closing date: 31 January 2026
Biological sciences

Understanding immune cell interactions in the intestine

We are interested in how T cells are induced to become pathological in autoimmune conditions. In this project, the student will work with immunologists, clinicians and patients and will study the development of T cells in the context of Crohn’s disease.

Funding: Fully funded (UK only)

Closing date: 28 February 2026
Health sciences | Geography and environmental science

Investigating resilience in nature connectedness and wellbeing in chronic illness, using mixed-methods

This PhD explores how people with multiple long-term conditions (MLTCs) access and experience nature to support wellbeing. Using mixed methods, it investigates barriers, lived experiences, and the role of different natural spaces. Findings will inform strategies to enhance equitable, sustainable nature-based wellbeing interventions for disadvantaged populations.

Funding: Competition funded

Closing date: 31 January 2026