Albert McKern PhD programme in Reproductive Health and Science

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Application deadline: Applications for the positions below will close on 20 January 2026, 4pm (UK time)

Start date: Mid-September to 1 October 2026.

Fully-funded PhD scholarships are available for 2 candidates.

Research 

This 3.5 year Reproductive Health and Science studentship program focuses on pain and distress during pregnancy, encompassing but not limited to the impacts of adverse pregnancy on the mother, fetus and subsequent generation, and how pregnancy is impacted by maternal health due to genetic or environmental factors. 

The programme is based at the Centre for Reproductive Health (CRH) within the Institute for Regeneration and Repair (IRR) which has three main research themes.

• Gonadal health and fertility, including fertility and its preservation, gonadal development and function, and germ cells, gametes and embryos.
• Pregnancy and early life, including maternal health and disease in pregnancy, perinatal determinants of child health, developmental programming of life course health.
• Translational gynaecology, including abnormal uterine bleeding, endometriosis and pelvic pain, gynaecologic and breast cancer, sexual and reproductive health.

Find out more about our research themes

Students will receive cross-disciplinary training aimed at equipping graduates with skills to drive future research developments in reproductive science and health. At the end of 3 years of PhD study, 0.5 years of funding is available to support approved activities that enable student career progression.

Projects currently open for applications for academic year 26-27:

Applicants are encouraged to contact group leaders whose projects they are interested in.

Multidisciplinary approaches to interrogate oocyte mechanobiology with developmental competence

Applicants are encouraged to contact Dr Chih-Jen Lin (Chih-Jen.Lin@ed.ac.uk)

Unravelling the gut–reproductive axis: how endometriosis-associated dysbiosis shapes pregnancy health

Applicants are encouraged to contact Dr Meaghan Griffiths (meaghan.griffiths@ed.ac.uk)
 

About the programme

Students will benefit from the world-leading research at the CRH, which is led by a combination of non-clinical and clinician scientists. Students will be integrated into the broader CRH PhD programme, providing exposure to diverse aspects of Reproductive Health, and be embedded in the IRR’s Postgraduate Training Framework. Students will have access to state-of-the-art research facilities at IRR and the wider University, and benefit from a broad range of training opportunities which are available across the University of Edinburgh campus.

Training in Edinburgh

Edinburgh has a wide range of training opportunities, from those aimed at acquisition of general research skills and transferable skills (Institute for Academic Development) to advanced training courses in specific areas (e.g. image analysis, analysis of transcriptomic data sets).

Training opportunities - Institute for Academic Development

Application eligibility

Applications from UK and non-UK based students are welcomed. The deadline for applications is Tuesday 20 January 2026, 4pm (UK time) and interviews are planned on 24 February 2026.

Full eligibility criteria and further details about the PhD studentships and application process are as below, but these studentships are only to support non-clinical students. University of Edinburgh adheres to equality, diversity and inclusion principles.

These opportunities are open to UK and international students, including those from low-and-middle income (LMIC) countries. The studentships are aimed at supporting non-clinical students and therefore provide funding to cover stipend (maintenance allowance at UKRI rate, which was £20,780 for 2025-2026 and tbc for 2026-2027) and tuition fees.

Applicants are expected to have a good honours degree in the sciences at least UK level of 2.1 or the equivalent from non-UK universities and must meet the English language entry requirements. A Master’s degree in a relevant life sciences subject would be an advantage.

English language entry requirements

How to apply

Required (you must provide all of the documents as described or your application may not be reviewed)

• Personal statement (1 page in total) covering why you want to apply for a specific project, how your career to date has prepared you to do this PhD, and how gaining this PhD will meet your long-term career goals.
• Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages)
• Two academic references submitted by the referee by the deadline, using the template linked below.

• For non-native English speakers, a certificate which meets the programme entry requirements for English or information on when you expect to be able to provide this. You can review the requirements here: English language entry requirements

Optional

Where applicable 0.5 extra pages can be used to explain any exceptional circumstances that may have affected academic performance to date, non-linear career paths, or any other information we may find useful in ensuring adherence to the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion - This is optional and it is anticipated that many applicants will not need to provide this additional document.

Applications should be sent to Aga Wysocka (awysocka@ed.ac.uk). Please use PDF documents. 

Interviews

Interviews will be scheduled for circa early 2026. They will consist of a 7 minute presentation by the applicant on a previous/on-going research project that showcases skills and knowledge.

This will then be followed by questions on the presentation and their application. Interviews will last about 45 minutes, and take place on Microsoft Teams.