Discover Funding Opportunities

Targeting the Biofilm for Drug Design: Modelling the roles and impacts of extracellular matrix composition in a mixed species bacterial biofilm

This PhD project focuses on modeling bacterial biofilms, which are protective colonies that bacteria use to shield themselves from therapeutic molecules like antibiotics. The project specifically examines the polysaccharide extracellular matrices of multi-species biofilms, particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, two dangerous pathogens linked to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The research will model the polysaccharide structures of multi-species biofilms, exploring interactions and partitioning behavior of biofilm components, and examining how quorum sensing molecules and nutrients move through overlapping matrices. This knowledge will inform rational design and modification of antibiotics targeted against extracellular enzymes that maintain the glycocalyx. The project is entirely computational in nature, using computer-aided drug design and working on the University of Leeds' High-Performance Computer, Aire. It suits students with backgrounds in chemistry, physics, materials, mathematics, biology, or microbiology who are interested in computational methods.

Smart bioactive materials for sustainable nutrition and crop enhancement: Integrating AI-driven design with functional biopolymers

This interdisciplinary PhD project explores the development of smart bioactive materials that can simultaneously enhance nutritional value in food systems and/or promote plant health in agriculture. The research integrates materials science, machine learning, and nutrition, offering a unique opportunity for candidates from diverse backgrounds to contribute to sustainable innovation. The project builds on recent advances in biopolymer-based materials. The PhD student will design and synthesize composite materials using bioactives, optimizing their structure and functionality for dual applications. A key innovation in this project is the use of machine learning-driven materials informatics. Machine learning models will be employed to predict the relationships between material composition, structure, and performance. This data-driven approach will accelerate the discovery and refinement of formulations, enabling targeted improvements in bioactivity, stability, and scalability. The student will conduct experimental testing to evaluate the materials' effectiveness in both food and agricultural contexts. This includes assessing nutrient delivery in food matrices and measuring crop growth in controlled environments. The project also includes a sustainability assessment, examining the environmental impact and life-cycle of the developed materials. This PhD offers broad accessibility to candidates with backgrounds in materials science, chemistry, food science, biotechnology, plant sciences, AI/data science, or chemical/environmental engineering. The outcomes of this research have the potential to contribute to global challenges in food security, sustainable agriculture, and green materials development.

Identifying high value compounds during a yeast fermentation of food waste

This PhD research project focuses on yeast strain development for use as a fortified strain in the fermentation industry with potential as a standalone product. The research involves identifying high value metabolites produced by yeast during fermentations and testing the feasibility of upcycling vegetable loss to formulate growth media for microorganisms, lowering production costs and promoting circular economy. The project integrates microbial fermentation optimization and builds into an advanced artificial intelligence database. Research activities include designing and conducting fermentation optimization of vegetable and fruit sidestreams, determining changes in yeast during fermentation using analytical tools such as ICP-OES, XRF, and NMR, seeking opportunities to develop yeast products in collaboration with commercial stakeholders, and generating independent research ideas. The position involves preparing papers for publication in leading international journals and disseminating research results through recognized conferences.

Real-World Food Choice and Children's Dietary Health

This PhD project takes a real-world approach to explore children's food choices within the school setting. By examining high-quality, large-scale data, this work will provide valuable insights into children's food selection patterns and how children choose their food - and importantly, how healthier and more sustainable choices may be supported. Improving children's dietary intake is critical to addressing childhood obesity, a public health priority – and central to this challenge is understanding the mechanisms underpinning children's food choice. The research will generate new knowledge and understanding about children's food choice parameters, with findings having the potential to inform policy and practice in school food provision, both in the UK and internationally, with practical implications for food service providers. The increasing use of digital pre-order platforms presents a timely opportunity to capture detailed food choice data at scale – and this research will lay the ground for future interventions, focused on how children engage with such platforms. This work will also provide valuable knowledge on the methodological approaches relevant to large food choice datasets. This is a non-funded PhD position, but students can apply for funding separately. In addition to the tuition fee for the programme, there will also be a bench fee of £3,000 per year for this project. The project is based at the School of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Leeds.

Vitamin D Deficiency, Obesity and Breast Cancer Risk

This PhD research project investigates the complex relationship between vitamin D status, obesity, and breast cancer risk. Vitamin D plays a crucial role in bone health and has been associated with reduced risk of several cancers, including breast cancer. However, the relationship between vitamin D status, obesity, and breast cancer risk remains complex and poorly understood. Obesity is a well-established risk factor for breast cancer, particularly in postmenopausal women, and is also associated with lower vitamin D status due to sequestration in adipose tissue. The project addresses a significant knowledge gap through a comprehensive multi-component study including: (1) a longitudinal study examining the relationship between vitamin D status, obesity markers, and breast cancer risk over time; (2) a pilot human study assessing vitamin D status and obesity, and (3) cell culture work to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the vitamin D-obesity-breast cancer relationship. This research will provide greater understanding of the complex interactions between vitamin D, obesity, and breast cancer risk, facilitating appropriate guidance on vitamin D status and obesity management for breast cancer risk reduction. The position is based in the School of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Leeds.

Artificial Intelligence and Social Justice

This PhD research opportunity at the University of Leeds examines the relationship between artificial intelligence and social justice. The project explores how AI is transforming governance, decision-making, and resource allocation, and how it affects social inequalities across race, class, gender, sexuality, disability, and citizenship. Successful candidates will develop a highly original research project examining spatial dimensions of power in relation to AI, which may include analyzing government adoption of AI, studying harmful effects on specific populations, or exploring resistance to AI-caused harms. Research may focus on case studies such as policing, borders, counterterrorism, or specific technologies like facial recognition. Candidates are encouraged to develop their own proposal related to AI and social justice with no geographic limitations. The position is based in the School of Geography under the supervision of Dr Matthew Abbey and will be part of the Social Justice, Cities, Citizenship research cluster. While based in Geography, applicants from adjacent fields such as sociology, politics, and cultural studies are encouraged to apply, particularly those with knowledge of anti/de-colonial studies, Black studies, critical race theory, disability studies, gender studies, neurodiversity studies, queer theory, and other critical approaches to power, knowledge, and space.

Women in Mining UK Scholarship

The Women in Mining UK Scholarship is a financial award supporting women pursuing postgraduate education in the Metals and Energy Finance MSc programme at Imperial College London. The scholarship provides £12,000 to support studies during the 2024/2025 academic year. This opportunity is specifically designed for female applicants to the course starting in 2024, promoting women's participation in the mining and energy finance sectors. The scholarship is offered to one prospective student who will be studying full-time in the Department of Earth Science and Engineering at Imperial College London. This funding supports both home and overseas students, helping to reduce financial barriers for women entering this specialized field.