Cancer Immunometabolism: PhD Studentship: The Role of Lipid Metabolism in Regulating the Immune Tumour Microenvironment of Glioblastoma (RS979)

The funding provider: Cancer Research Wales Brain Tumour Research Initiative (BATRI)

The subject area: Cancer Immunometabolism

The Project start dates: October 2026**

(Please see the note below regarding potential later start dates.)

** In exceptional circumstances, and subject to the discretion of the University and/or the relevant funding body, a deferral of offer may be granted to the next available enrolment period. Such deferral will typically not exceed a duration of three calendar months from the originally stipulated commencement date. Please note that only one deferral may be considered, and any such deferral is not guaranteed.

Supervisors:

• Dr James Cronin, Swansea University Medical School 
• Dr Nick Jones, Swansea University Medical School 
• Dr Roberto Angelini, Swansea University Medical School 
• In collaboration with Dr Florian Siebzehnrubl & Dr Matthew Clement, Cardiff University 

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Cancer and Genomics

Mode of study: Full-time

Place of study: Swansea University Medical School (Singleton Campus)

Project Description:

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain cancer with poor survival and limited treatment options. A major barrier to effective therapy is the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment, which can restrict anti-tumour immunity and contribute to resistance to immune-checkpoint therapy. Nutrient availability is increasingly recognised as a determinant of immune cell fate and lipid metabolism is emerging as a key regulator of immune suppression in GBM, influencing lipid-laden macrophages and microglia, regulatory T-cell differentiation, cytotoxic T-cell exhaustion, and the wider balance between anti-tumour and pro-tumour immune states.  

Using established protocols for the isolation, culture and functional analysis of human immune cells, the student will develop patient-derived GBM immune co-culture models to investigate how lipid metabolism regulates the immune tumour microenvironment. 

The project will examine how lipid availability and lipid-metabolic pathways influence key immune populations in GBM, including regulatory T cells, cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T-cell subsets, glioma-associated macrophage/microglia-like cells, and other immune cells. Particular focus will be placed on how lipid metabolism affects immune-cell differentiation, suppressive function, inflammatory signalling, exhaustion and anti-tumour activity. 

This will help determine whether lipid metabolism can be targeted to reduce immune suppression and restore anti-tumour immune function in GBM. 

The project would suit a motivated student with experience or interest in cancer immunology and immunometabolism biology. Experience in primary immune-cell culture, flow cytometry, or lipidomics & mass spectrometry would be particularly advantageous, although full training will be provided.

*In exceptional circumstances, and subject to the discretion of the University and/or the relevant funding body, a deferral of offer may be granted to the next available enrolment period. Such deferral will typically not exceed a duration of three calendar months from the originally stipulated commencement date. Please note that only one deferral may be considered, and any such deferral is not guaranteed.  

PhD: Applicants for PhD must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level (or non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) in Engineering or similar relevant science discipline.  

English Language Requirements:  

IELTS 6.5 Overall (5.5+ each comp.) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here. 

Note for applicants holding international and/or European qualifications: details of how your qualification compares to the published academic entry requirements can be found on our Country Specific Entry Requirements page.  

If you have questions regarding your academic eligibility based on the above, email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with the link to the scholarships you are interested in.  

Please note that the programme requires some applicants to hold ATAS clearance, further details on ATAS scheme eligibility are available on the UK Government website.  

ATAS clearance IS NOT required to be held as part of the scholarship application process. Successful award winners (as appropriate) are provided with details as to how to apply for ATAS clearance in tandem with a scholarship course offer.

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently £21,805 for 2026/27).

Additional research expenses of up to £1,000 per year will also be available.

To apply, please complete the entire application form here.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh and any application submitted in Welsh will be treated no less favourably than an application submitted in English. Please refer to the University’s Welsh Language Policy on Awarding Grants

To be considered for this scholarship award the following steps are also required.

1) In section ‘Programme Related Information’ please input the relevant RS Code for the scholarship award i.e. RS979

2) In section ‘Research’ you will see ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’* (Mandatory)

• In ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’ please input:

• the RS Code, RS979
• the scholarship title

• Please leave Proposed Supervisor field blank
• Please leave Research Project (if applicable) blank
• In ‘Do you have a proposal to upload? *’(Mandatory) Please select Yes
• Then upload copy of advert (you can save the advert by clicking print, and then print to pdf)

3) In section ‘Funding information’ please choose the option ‘Scholarship Funding’ only. Please ensure no other options are selected.

*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.

If you’ve previously applied for this programme, the system will display an “Application Submitted” warning and block a new submission. In this case:

1. Apply for the same course with the next available start date (e.g., select January if October is unavailable).

2. Email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with your student number and the relevant scholarship RS code, requesting the start date be amended to match the advert.

3. Admissions staff will then update your application accordingly.

Important: If you have previously applied for the same programme & intake, do not re‑apply using a different email address. Applications submitted with an email address that differs from the one used in your original application will not be accepted or considered.

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

NOTE:  Applicants for PhD/EngD/ProfD/EdD - to support our commitment to providing an environment free of discrimination and celebrating diversity at Swansea University you are required to complete an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form in addition to your programme application form.  

Please note that completion of the EDI Monitoring Form is mandatory; your application may not progress if this information is not submitted.

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email):

•  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.

•  One reference (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 - please note that you do not need to hold a valid English Language test at time of application, as any offer made can be conditional upon the appropriate level of English. Please find further information on what we can accept via our English Language policy pages here).

•  Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable)

•  Confirmation of EDI form submission

Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact:

NAME: Dr James Cronin

EMAIL:  j.cronin@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.