Qualification Type: | PhD |
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Location: | Newcastle upon Tyne |
Funding for: | UK Students, EU Students, International Students |
Funding amount: | £17,668 |
Hours: | Full Time |
Placed On: | 5th December 2022 |
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Closes: | 3rd February 2023 |
Reference: | MSP058 |
Award Summary
100% of home tuition fee and a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £17,668 (2022-23 UKRI rate).
Overview
Optimising stem cell therapies for corneal damage: insights from multiscale mathematical modelling harnessing artificial intelligence
In this unique inter-disciplinary PhD project you'll develop mathematical models, informed by experimental image analysis using artificial intelligence techniques, to optimise limbal stem cell transplants for damaged corneas. You will be based in the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics, guided by supervisors Dr Laura Wadkin and Prof Anvar Shukurov. You will also have the exciting opportunity to collaborate with leading stem cell biologist, Prof Majlinda Lako, and pioneering ophthalmic surgeon Prof Francisco Figueiredo, developer of a new limbal stem cell transplant to restore the sight of patients with corneal damage. With access to a proprietary library of anonymised microscopic images of healthy and damaged corneas, you will apply a broad range of statistical, image analysis, and artificial intelligence techniques to deepen our understanding of the properties limbal stem cells and create diagnostic tools for assessing corneal health. This will then inform the development of multiscale mathematical models, consisting of agent-based and stochastic differential equation approaches, to simulate a variety of limbal stem cell behaviours. This project will suit a candidate with enthusiasm for mathematical modelling and computational approaches, and a keen interest in applying mathematics to a complex medical scenario.
Number of awards: 1
Start date: 18th September 2023
Award duration: 42 months
Sponsor
School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics, Newcastle University
Supervisors
Dr. Laura Wadkin (School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics)
Professor Anvar Shukurov (School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics)
Eligibility criteria
You must have, or expect to gain, a minimum 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent in a relevant subject such as Mathematics, Statistics, or another strongly quantitative discipline. Enthusiasm for research, the ability to think and work independently, excellent analytical skills and strong verbal and written communication skills are also essential requirements.
Home and international applicants (inc. EU) are welcome to apply. In the first instance the studentship covers only home tuition fees. The School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics has very limited additional funding to offer full studentships including international fees to exceptional international applicants.
Applicants whose first language is not English require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each subsection.
International applicants may require an ATAS ((Academic Technology Approval Scheme) clearance certificate prior to obtaining their visa and to study on this programme.
How to apply
You must apply through the University’s Apply to Newcastle Portal
Once registered select ‘Create a Postgraduate Application’.
Use ‘Course Search’ to identify your programme of study:
You will then need to provide the following information in the ‘Further Questions’ section:
Contact details
Contact the supervisors for project specific information or maths.physics.pg@newcastle.ac.uk for application information.
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