PhD Studentships

Candidates for PhD studentships and projects are strongly encouraged to identify their area(s) of interest among the various BioP research activities, and contact the respective academic(s) to enquire about the availability of PhD research projects. Examples of previous PhD projects in the BioP group can be found on the Past PhD Theses page.

Available PhD projects

PhD Studentship in the Physics of Biological and Biomimetic Living Matter - Dr Jaime Agudo-Canalejo
Deadline: January 22, 2025
PhD Studentship in Mechanochemical feedback during developmental patterning and morphogenesis - Dr Zena Hadjivasiliou
Deadline: January 28, 2025
PhD Studentship in Biological Physics - Deadline January 31, 2025
You will join one of the six laboratories that propose the following projects:
- Dr. Nicholas Bell, “Unravelling molecular mechanisms of DNA repair using single-molecule measurements”.
- Dr. Zena Hadjivasiliou, “Using tools from physics and mathematics to probe how material properties of tissues drive chemical patterning during animal development”.
- Dr. Kabir Husain, “Combining statistical physics with evolution to determine how the evolution of new functions in biology is limited not only by the survival of the fittest, but also by the geometry of fitness landscapes – the arrival of the fittest".
- Prof. Phil Jones, “Using optical tweezers to estimate the mechanical and viscoelastic properties of cells, the developing basement membrane, and their relation to disease.”
- Prof. Alexandra Olaya-Castro, “Theory of photo-active molecular complexes interacting with quantum light”.
- Prof. Thanh Nguyen, “Synthesis of high heating doped magnetic nanoparticles and unravelling of their heating effect on cancer biology for effective treatment”.

Please note: any filled projects will be removed from this page.

Candidates should have at least a UK upper second class MSci or Master’s degree (or equivalent) in physics, biophysics or a related subject. To apply for PhD studentships in the BioP group, it is recommended to follow the procedure outlined at www.ucl.ac.uk/physics-astronomy/study/phd, include mention of the Biological Physics research group, and notify the potential PhD supervisor of the application.

In general, students who are interested in research projects in BioP are also encouraged to also explore the various other possibilities for related PhD studentships at UCL. The following links will lead you towards PhD projects and programmes that cover the biological physics remit.