The School of Life Sciences at the University of Westminster is pleased to offer four self-funded opportunities for prospective PhD researchers starting in September 2026.
The School is home to the Centre for Resilience, Centre for Nutraceuticals and the Research Centre for Optimal Health. Research in the School across these fields has an international reputation for excellence.
Located in the heart of London, the School of Life Sciences has an active research culture to which our well-established doctoral research programme makes a vital contribution. The School is fully committed to enabling a supportive and safe learning and working environment which is equitable, diverse and inclusive, based on mutual respect and trust, and in which harassment and discrimination are neither tolerated nor acceptable.
The successful candidates will have exceptional research potential in a Life Science discipline:
- Biomarkers of healthy ageing
- Infection and disease
- AI, imaging and health
- Exercise
- Resilience and nutrition
- Medicines development
- Quantum biology
- Stem cells
- Biomaterials and nanotechnology
Fees for 2026–2027
- Home students: £5,238 per annum,
- Overseas students £17,510 per annum.
Depending on your project, you may be required to pay bench fees in addition to the fees outlined above. Bench fees can vary from £1,000 to £10,000, and you will be informed of any bench fees you will be required to pay at the time of offer.
For more information, visit our Fees and funding page.
Impactful doctoral research projects
We are looking for high-quality prospective doctoral students who will select one research project from the list below. We highly recommend that you discuss your proposal with potential supervisors before submitting your proposal.
Mycetoma is a chronic, debilitating infectious disease that disproportionately affects populations in low-resource countries. The fungal form of the disease, eumycetoma, is particularly challenging to treat, often requiring prolonged antifungal therapy and extensive surgery, with high rates of recurrence.
This PhD project aims to address a critical unmet clinical need by developing innovative drug-delivery systems to improve the effectiveness of antifungal treatment. The project will focus on reformulating itraconazole, a commonly used antifungal drug, into nanoparticle-based systems designed to enhance drug penetration into mycetoma lesions. These nanoparticles will be incorporated into injectable in-situ gels to enable sustained, localised drug release directly at the site of infection.
The successful candidate will gain interdisciplinary training in pharmaceutical formulation, nanomedicine, advanced drug delivery systems, and drug safety and efficacy testing, with relevance to global health and neglected tropical diseases. The project offers the opportunity to contribute to impactful research with the potential to improve outcomes for patients affected by mycetoma.
Applicants with backgrounds in pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, biomedical sciences, chemistry, or related disciplines are encouraged to apply.
Please contact Dr Abeer Mohamed Ahmed to discuss: [email protected].
We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join an innovative project investigating alternative strategies to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs). This project focuses on Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus, a predatory bacterium, and beneficial microbes, using a 3D human urothelial model to study their interactions with uropathogens and host immune responses.
This studentship offers hands-on training in microbiology, developing 3D in vitro models, and immunology, within a multidisciplinary environment, with opportunities for high-impact publications, and to present at national and international conferences. Candidates should have a strong background in microbiology, cell culture, molecular biology, or a related field, and be enthusiastic about experimental research.
Please contact Dr Nazila Jafari to discuss: [email protected].
Parasitic nematode infections such as lymphatic filariasis and river blindness affect millions worldwide, yet effective adult worm killing drugs are urgently needed. This PhD project will investigate vaccinia-related kinase (VRK) as a novel drug target using the model nematode C. elegans. The student will gain training in comparative genomics, AI-guided virtual screening, small-molecule screening, phenotypic imaging assays, RNAi and transcriptomics to understand how VRK controls parasite survival and development. This interdisciplinary project combines molecular biology and early-stage drug discovery, offering excellent opportunities for high-impact publications and collaborative research addressing global health challenges.
For further information, please visit the ONDB website.
Please contact Dr Alastair Barr to discuss: [email protected]
This PhD will develop and evaluate a school-embedded digital health education toolkit for secondary schools, building on the University of Westminster’s Nourish to Flourish skills-based intervention. The project addresses the challenge of fragmented and unsustainable health education in schools by creating scalable, teacher-led digital resources. Using a co-creative, mixed-methods approach, the student will work with pupils, teachers, and school stakeholders to design, pilot, and refine the toolkit. Content will focus on nutrition, physical activity, mental health and social media use. Evaluation will examine feasibility, engagement, and impact on health-related behaviours among students and staff.
Candidate background
We are seeking a motivated candidate with a strong interest in adolescent health, education, and health inequalities. Applicants should have a background in public health, nutrition, education, psychology, behavioural science, digital health, or a related discipline.
Essential criteria
- A good undergraduate degree (2:1 or above) and/or a Master’s degree in a relevant field.
- Interest in school-based or adolescent health research.
- Willingness to work collaboratively with schools, teachers, and young people.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Desirable criteria
• Experience with qualitative and/or quantitative research methods.
• Experience working with schools, young people, or community settings.
• Interest in co-design, implementation research, or digital interventions.
Please contact Dr Raysa El Zein to discuss: [email protected].
All doctoral researchers will have access to comprehensive personal and professional development training and a mentoring programme from the University of Westminster Graduate School. The researchers will join a School committed to decolonising and diversifying policies, practices and cultures within and beyond Higher Education.
Entry requirements and how to apply
Candidates should have a minimum classification of 2.1 in their bachelor’s degree or equivalent and preferably a Master's degree. Applicants whose secondary level education has not been conducted in the medium of English should also demonstrate evidence of appropriate English language proficiency normally defined as IELTS: 6.5 (overall score with not less than 6.0 in any of the individual elements).
Read more about the requirements:
To make an application: Visit the School of Life Sciences page to apply for the programme most appropriate to your research.
Application deadline: Applications should be submitted by 5pm on Friday 15 May 2026.
Interviews will take place in June.
You must include the code and title of the studentship you are applying for in your application header, ie “SLS-SF1 Studentship”.
For queries about any aspect of the application process or informal enquiries, contact our Doctoral Coordinator, Dr Polly Hayes at [email protected].
* Minimum full-time enrolment before submission is 33 months. Fees are required for the three-year studentship. Following that, there is a six-month no-fee period for writing up. If a doctoral research student has not submitted by the end of the no-fee period, a £1,500 fee applies.