PhD Studentship: Cell-to-cell spread of persistent viruses

About the role

The Department of Pathology at the University of Cambridge is offering fully funded PhD studentships from October 2027 to investigate how herpesviruses and polyomaviruses spread from one cell to another. Persistent viruses must spread to new uninfected cells while evading the immune response, but how they balance this is not well understood. The project aims to understand the mechanisms behind this spread, which could be targets for intervention.

Funding covers the stipend at the current Research Council rate and Home University fees, for 4 years starting October 2027. Applications are made online through the Cambridge postgraduate application system for a PhD in Pathology (BLPA22), quoting reference PK51390. The closing date is 2 December 2026.

Required profile

• Eligible for UK Home fee status only; applicants must check eligibility on the university's fees page.
• Equivalent of a UK upper 2.1 or higher in an undergraduate honours or Masters degree in a relevant subject.
• By the time of interview, applicants must have met the language requirements for admission.
• Applicants must explain their motivation, research interests and background, and the qualities and experience they will bring.