PhD Pregnancy Research

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Application deadline: Applications for 2024 are now closed.

Start date: Mid-September-1^st October 2024.

Fully-funded PhD scholarships are available for up to 3 candidates

This 3-and-a-half year PhD studentship programme aspires to train the next generation of scientists in tackling pain and distress during pregnancy, encompassing but not limited to the impacts of adverse pregnancy on the mother, fetus and subsequent generations, and how pregnancy is impacted by adverse maternal health. Students will receive cross-disciplinary training aimed at equipping graduates with skills to drive future developments in improving pregnancy outcome. 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.

The programme is based at the Centre for Reproductive Health (CRH) within the Institute for Regeneration and Repair (IRR).

Projects on offer:

• Elucidating the relationship between the neonatal cerebral connectome and immune dysregulation in preterm infants

• Impact of maternal stress on offspring immune development and later life health and disease

• Defining the impact of endometriosis on immune-vascular remodelling in pregnancy

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

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).

Applications from UK and non-UK based students are welcomed. The deadline for applications is June 6th 2024, and interviews will take place on June 26-28^th 2024.

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

This opportunity is open to UK and international students and provides funding to cover stipend (maintenance allowance at UKRI rate £19,237.00 for 2024-2025) and tuition fees. 

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

What is required:

• Personal statement (1 page in total) covering why you want to apply for a specific project(s). In the case you wish to be considered for more than 1 project, please indicate clearly your order of preference. 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 using this template, submitted by the referee by the deadline

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 the many applicants will not need to provide this additional document.

Interviews

Interviews will be in the format of a 7 min 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 the application. The interview lasting about 45 minutes, taking place on Microsoft TEAMS.

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