PhD Studentship: The Mitochondrion as an Engineering Target for Mammalian Cell Factories

Department: Chemical Engineering
Title: The mitochondrion as an engineering target for mammalian cell factories
Application deadline: 24/07/2026
Research theme: Biotechnology
How to apply: https://uom.link/pgr-apply-2425 

This 3.5-year PhD project is fully funded; students who are eligible to pay tuition fees at the Home rate are eligible to apply (more details can be found here). The successful candidate will receive an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£21,805 for 2026/27) and tuition fees will be paid. We expect the stipend to increase each year. The start date is January 2027. 

We recommend that you apply early as the advert may be removed before the deadline.

This is an Industrial collaboration PhD project (working with FUJIFILM Biotechnologies) associated with improvement of the manufacture of recombinant medicines (antibodies, domain-engineered multi-specifics). This work is part of our research portfolio directed towards engineering improvements into CHO cells as a chassis biofactory for high level function protein secretion (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymben.2024.01.006, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymben.2026.02.004).

In the project you will engage in the technologies of engineering biology (mammalian cell culture, gene expression assessment and modulation, cell phenotype reprogramming) and develop a molecular vision for the regulatory features that offer engineering targets to increase the efficiency, predictability and speed for production of life-changing medicines. The project will involve close association with staff at FUJIFILM Biotechnologies and periods of working at their manufacturing site (Billingham) where your understanding will be translated into the industrial level scale of manufacture.

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or international equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering related discipline.

To apply, please contact the main supervisor Prof Alan Dickson. Please include details of your current level of study, academic background and any relevant experience and include a paragraph about your motivation to study this PhD project.

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