PhD Studentship: Molecular Imaging and Theragnostics for Wound Healing

About this project

Applications are invited for an exciting 3-year fully funded PhD studentship to commence in September 2023. 

The studentship is part of an interdisciplinary programme of work supervised by Dr Holly Wilkinson, Prof Mat Hardman and Prof Steve Archibald at the Hull York Medical School. The project provides a unique opportunity to use molecular imaging to determine the factors that cause poor wound healing, alongside developing new theragnostic strategies to treat chronic wounds.

The project will provide an unprecedented opportunity to identify and target senescent cells in wounds using molecular imaging and novel theragnostic agents. The student will perform detailed mechanistic studies as well as testing the potential to re-purpose existing theragnostic drugs for the treatment of chronic wounds.

For informal inquiries, please contact Dr Holly Wilkinson (h.n.wilkinson@hull.ac.uk).

About the research cluster / about the research environment

Theragnostics is a rapidly developing area of nuclear medicine which combines diagnosis and therapy into a single unified strategy for the treatment of disease. We are already implementing approved theragnostics into the clinic at Castle Hill Hospital, for the benefit of cancer patients in the surrounding area. Complementary to this is our ambition to expand our own research capacity around novel theragnostic radiopharmaceuticals and their application to disease. In 2022, we established the Hull University Theragnostics (HUT) PhD cluster. The cluster unites two successful research groups in molecular imaging and wound research, to collaborate and explore new ground in theragnostic radiopharmaceutical development with applications in cancer and wounds.

Supervisors

Main supervisor: Dr Holly Wilkinson

Co-supervisors: Prof Mat Hardman, Prof Steve Archibald

Funding

• The successful applicant will receive a fee waiver and a maintenance grant / stipend for three years (full-time) or five years (part-time), which covers the research period of the PhD. The fee waiver for 22/23 is £4596 (Home fee) and the maintenance grant is £17668 per annum. This rises each year in line with the UKRI’s recommended stipend allowance.

• If you need to move into a fourth year (full-time) or sixth year (part-time) to complete your thesis, please note that you will not receive a tuition fee waiver or maintenance grant during this period and you will be required to pay a continuation fee.

Submission of thesis

Submission of your final thesis is expected within three years and three months from the start of your PhD scholarship for full-time and within five years and six months if studying part-time.

Eligibility and entry requirements

This studentship will appeal to a candidate with a strong interest in the Biomedical area. You will require an undergraduate degree with at least a 2.1, or MSc/MRes, in a relevant subject (Biomedical Science, Biochemistry or related discipline). If English is not your first language you will require a valid English certificate equivalent to IELTS 6.5+ with a minimum of 6.0 in all components.

International applicants

This opportunity comes with a Home fee waiver only, which will not cover the full International fee. You will therefore need to pay the difference between the Home fee and the International fee and will need to provide evidence that you have sufficient funds to cover this.

How to apply   Applications are via the University of Hull webpage  

Closing date for applications

10 February 2022

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