PhD Studentship: Fully Funded PhD Studentship in Agent-Based Infection Modelling for HIV Treatment Optimisation

Open to: UK applicants only

Funding providers: EPSRC CASE Conversion with GSK 

Subject areas: Applied Mathematics, Mathematical Modelling, Mathematical Biology 

Project start dates: 

• 1 October 2025  
• 1 January 2026 
  ** (Please see the note below regarding potential later start dates.)

Supervisors: 

• Primary Supervisor: Professor Gibin Powathil 
• Secondary Supervisor: Professor Mark Jones    
• Additional Supervisor: Dr James Yates, Director GSK 

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Mathematics 

Mode of study: Full-Time

Project description: 
HIV remains one of the most persistent and challenging infections to cure due to its ability to lie dormant in reservoirs within the body: T-cells that are infected but no actively replicating virus. This allows the virus to evade standard treatment approaches. Despite years of antiretroviral therapy (ART), complete eradication of the virus is hindered by the presence of these reservoirs, which require continuous lifetime treatment. Recent efforts to cure HIV infection have focused on developing latency reversing agents as a first step to eradicate the latent reservoir and animal models are being studied to understand these dynamics. 

This project proposes a novel pipeline of ideas to generate tools and techniques to simulate HIV infection dynamics using a multiscale agent-based modelling technique (cells, viruses, drugs, antibodies, human lymph system, seconds, days, years). 

This project is in collaboration with GSK and we will work closely with experts from GSK. 

The Departments of Mathematics is part of the Computational Foundry, a world-class centre for computational research, part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through Welsh Government. The brand-new building of the Computational Foundry provides an ideal environment for doing a PhD. 

Funding duration – 4 years

Eligibility

Scholarship available to UK fee-eligible students only 

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA Full list of categories for HE in Wales 

Applicants for PhD must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level and a master’s degree. Alternatively, applicants with a UK first class honours degree (or non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) not holding a master’s degree, will be considered on an individual basis. International applicants looking for UK award equivalence, click here – Country Specific Entry Requirements - Swansea University

Knowledge in biology is not essential, but the candidate will be required to learn appropriate biological and clinical knowledge in order to develop mathematical and computational models. The candidate is expected to have a strong applied mathematical or related subject background Strong Mathematical modelling skills in one or more programming languages such as Matlab, Python and C/C++ are preferred. Strong interpersonal skills and the capacity to work and learn independently will be required. 

English Language 

IELTS 6.0 Overall (with no individual component below 5.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here. 

Funding

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently £20,780 for 2025/26). 

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

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