PhD Studentship - Understanding ESCRT-Mediated Proteostasis Pathways for Neurodegenerative Disease Intervention

Application deadline: 5pm Wednesday, January 7^th, 2026

Project supervisors: Dr Sriharsha Kantamneni, Dr Kirsten Riches-Suman and Prof Kurt De Vos.

Project description: Neurodegenerative diseases affect over 50 million people worldwide, with limited therapeutic options and enormous societal costs. The endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT) system represents a convergence point for multiple pathogenic processes such as impaired protein aggregate clearance and pathological exosome mediated spreading. These evolutionarily conserved protein complexes orchestrate the clearance of protein aggregates through multivesicular-body (MVB) formation, coordinate with autophagy, and regulate exosome biogenesis—all fundamental processes disrupted in several neurological diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, motor neuron disease, and related disorders.

This project aims to understand the molecular mechanisms governing ESCRT dependent aggregate clearance versus extracellular vesicle (EV) release. Understanding these fundamental processes will pave the way to identify therapeutic targets.

This PhD studentship offers a unique opportunity to work within an interdisciplinary collaboration between the University of Bradford and the University of Sheffield. The candidate will gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge techniques, including molecular and cellular biology, manipulation of neuronal cell models using genetic (lentiviruses) and pharmacological tools, working with patient derived stem cells and advanced microscopy techniques.

We invite passionate and motivated individuals to join our vibrant research.

Funding notes: A tax-free annual stipend at the standard UKRI rate (£20,780 for 2025/26 entry), research costs and tuition fees at UK rate

About the BBSRC Yorkshire Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership (YBDTP): The YBDTP brings together world-class bioscience research and innovation, as well as excellence in doctoral supervision, across the Yorkshire and Teesside region. The YBDTP will fund postgraduate researchers at the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield, York, Bradford, Huddersfield, Hull, Leeds Beckett, Sheffield Hallam and Teesside forming a strong regional training partnership. In YBDTP you'll benefit from a regional doctoral training programme that has interdisciplinary collaboration at its core. The aim is to enable you to develop a range of research skills in biological, biotechnology and biochemical areas as well as equip you with core data analysis and professional skills that are necessary for bioscience research and related non-academic careers.

Eligibility: Open to International (including EU) and UK (home) students.

You can apply if you have, or are expecting to gain, at least an upper second-class honours degree or equivalent. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of this programme, we welcome applications if your background is in any biological, chemical or physical science or mathematics and are interested in using your skills in addressing biological questions. International students should check if they meet the entry requirements for the host university.

We aim to support the most outstanding applicants from outside the UK and are able to offer a very limited number of bursaries that will enable full studentships to be awarded to international (EU and non-EU) applicants. These full studentships will only be awarded to exceptional quality candidates, due to the highly competitive nature of this scheme.

Enquiries:  

If you have any questions about the application process, please email YBDTP@leeds.ac.uk

For informal enquiries about project, please contact research@bradford.ac.uk or s.kantamneni@bradford.ac.uk.

How to apply: To apply for a studentship, please complete an expression of interest form for October 2026 recruitment here: View Website

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