Biomedical Engineering: Fully Funded Swansea and HMRI PhD Scholarship: Spatial transcriptomics as a basis for multi-factorial analysis of cellular phenotypes (RS621)

Fully Funded Swansea and HMRI PhD Scholarship: Spatial transcriptomics as a basis for multi-factorial analysis of cellular phenotypes involved in fibrosis and solid tumour cancer

Funding providers: Swansea University's Faculty of Science and Houston Methodist Research Institute 

Subject areas: Biomedical engineering, computer science, medicine

Project start date: 

• 1 October 2024 (Enrolment open from mid-September)

Supervisors:

• Professor Paul Rees (Science and Engineering, Swansea - p.rees@swansea.ac.uk)
• Professor Huw Summers (Science and Engineering, Swansea)
• Dr Lewis Francis (Medicine, Swansea)
• Dr Keith Chan (Houston Medical Research Institute)

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Medical and Health Care Studies

Mode of study: Full-time

Project description:

Swansea University Faculty of Science and Engineering is pleased to advertise a fully funded joint PhD position in collaboration with the Houston Methodist Research Institute. The heterogenous cellular and biochemical environment in cancer, presents many hurdles for therapy development, patient care and clinical management. With the advent of multi-comic approaches, more and more knowledge is being developed to tailor chemotherapeutic and precision medicine approaches to cellular and molecular factors that drive advanced stage disease. In this project, an interdisciplinary team will utilise the expertise and resources available in Swansea and Houston Methodist, to better understand the tumour heterogeneity in bladder cancer.   

Similar to other cancers, distinct subsets of stromal and immune cell populations are thought to be involved in, and are affected by tissue fibrosis, rendering some treatment options ineffective. Indeed, tumour aggression and poor patient prognosis correlate with degree of tissue fibrosis and level of stromal stiffness. This project will utilise advanced multi-mic approaches to identify and de-convolute the interplay between tumour cells, cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF), immune cells and ECM stiffness in malignant transformation and cancer aggression. 

The programme follows the existing, highly successful framework of collaborative PhDs developed under the strategic alliance between Swansea University and the Houston Methodist Research Institute (HMRI). 

The first year of the PhD will be spent at Swansea University where the student will develop the skills required to analyse single cells in tumours using different measurement modalities including single cell transcriptomics etc. This will require the use of cutting edge machine learning algorithms to identify the cell types and investigate cell-cell signalling pathways.  

The second and third year the student will be based in Dr Keith Chan’s lab in HMRI. During which time the student will use the skills developed to analyse models for bladder cancer  (including from patient derived cells) to assess the perturbation of the cells, the signalling pathways and their environment due to novel biologic agents to help find new treatments. 

While in Houston the student will benefit from the expertise of academic staff and clinicians and are facilitated in the development of the skills required to establish networks with surrounding hospitals, academic institutions, and biotech companies. The student will also receive further professional growth support, through the Methodist Association for Postdoctoral and Trainee Affairs, a student-governed association for translational science research trainees. They support postdoctoral fellows, graduate trainees, medical students, and other translational science research trainees with education, networking, intramural activities, as well as career development and advancement opportunities.  

The final six months will be spent back at Swansea to complete the writing of the PhD thesis and finish the preparation of publications for submission from the work. 

Candidates must hold a UK bachelor’s degree with a minimum of Upper Second Class honours or overseas bachelor’s degree deemed equivalent to UK honours (by UK ECCTIS) and achieved a grade equivalent to UK Upper Second Class honours in Engineering or similar relevant science discipline. If you are eligible to apply for the scholarship but do not hold a UK degree, you can check our comparison entry requirements (see country specific qualifications). Please note that you may need to provide evidence of your English Language proficiency. 

Essential criteria: 

• Knowledge and experience of cancer cell heterogeneity and the complexity of the Tumour microenvironment  
• Skills and experience in single cell genomics and epigenomics data analysis and bioinformatics  
• Demonstrable interest in cellular phenotypes in disease; particularly around fibrosis and cancer cell differentiation  
• Resilience and communication skills to support studying abroad in Houston  
• Good written and oral communication skills, shown through undergraduate/postgraduate marks and/or awards  

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA regulations. 

If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with the web-link to the scholarship(s) you are interested in. 

This scholarship covers the full cost of UK tuition fees and an annual stipend at £19,237.

Additional research expenses will also be available.

To apply, please complete your application online with the following information:

1. Course choice – please select Medical and Health Care Studies / PhD / Full-time / 3 Years / October

   In the event you have already applied for the above programme previously, the application system may issue a warning notice and prevent application, in this event, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk where staff will be happy to assist you in submitting your application.

2. Start year – please select 2024
3. Funding (page 8) –

• ‘Are you funding your studies yourself?’ – please select No
• ‘Name of Individual or organisation providing funds for study’ – please enter ‘RS621 - Multi-factorial Analysis’

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award.

One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards.

We encourage you to complete the following to support our commitment to providing an environment free of discrimination and celebrating diversity at Swansea University: 

• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form (online form) 

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via e-mail). We strongly advise you to provide the listed supporting documents by the advertised application closing date. Please note that your application may not be considered without the documents listed:

• CV
• Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient)
• A cover letter including a ‘Supplementary Personal Statement’ to explain why the position particularly matches your skills and experience and how you choose to develop the project.
• Two references (academic or previous employer) on headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form. Please note that we are not able to accept references received citing private email accounts, e.g. Hotmail. Referees should cite their employment email address for verification of reference.
• Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable).
• Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable)
• Confirmation of EDI form submission (optional) 

Informal enquiries are welcome, please contact Professor Paul Rees (p.rees@swansea.ac.uk).

*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co- funding of a scholarship project is applicable.