Molecular and Cellular Cardiology: Fully Funded PhD Research Scholarship in Cellular Memory-based Organisation and Self-Assembly In Cardiorepair rs716

Funding providers: Swansea University (UK) Strategic Partnership Research Scholarships (SUSPRS) with Houston Methodist Research Institute (HMRI)

Subject areas: Molecular and Cellular Cardiology / Heart Failure / Systems Biology / New Therapeutics

Project start dates:

• 1 January 2025
• 1 April 2025
• 1 July 2025

Supervisors: This is a joint PhD programme between Swansea University and Houston Methodist Research Institute (HMRI)

Aligned programmes of study: Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine / PhD

Mode of study: Full time

Project description:

We are looking for a talented and motivated student to join an exciting new project that takes a unique approach to tackling heart failure (HF). HF is a complex syndrome that results in the inadequate pumping of blood around the body and it compromises the length and quality of life of more than 65 million people worldwide. It has a five-year mortality rate of 50% and places huge burden on healthcare systems (globally estimated at £280 billion rising to more than £600 billion by 2030 due to the ageing population). There is an urgent need for innovative solutions to address the current challenges in HF management. You will join a team exploring the novel concept that the human heart possesses an intrinsic memory of its cellular organisation which is a critical determinant in any functional recovery from HF.

Aims: Normal heart function depends on the intricate synchronization of billions of cells organised in complex spatial architectures. Progressive desynchronization of these cellular networks drives the normal-to-disease progression of HF. You will investigate - using deep profiling of cellular arrangements before (normal), during (disease progression) and after (recovery) functional change associated with HF – the hypothesis that the extent of functional recovery in HF is dependent on the scale of reconfiguration of the cellular network to a pre-disease memory state.

Supervisors & facilities: The project is supervised by Prof. Christopher George (Swansea University) and Prof. John Cooke (Houston Methodist Research Institute (HMRI)). It is anticipated that you will spend half of your time in HMRI which is affiliated to the Texas Medical Center, the world’s largest medical facility. You will be based in laboratories equipped with state-of-the-art tools for doing science at the interface of experimental and computational biology. You’ll learn skills in characterising HF recovery in novel pre-clinical experimental models, developing new computational frameworks for profiling cell architecture and harnessing the power of AI to visualise organisation of multicellular networks in ‘normal’, ‘failing’ and ‘recovery’ heart states.

If you’d like to join a project that transcends the conventional constraints of experimental biology and will redefine our knowledge of multicellular systems in normal, diseased and ‘recovered’ human hearts, then please send us your application. We’d love to hear from you!

Applicants must hold a master's qualification (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University).

IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here.

Tuition fees: Does the funding cover tuition fees?

• UK fee-eligible students: Fully Funded
• International students: Fully Funded

Stipend: Does the funding provide a stipend?

Stipend value while in Swansea 2024/25 £19,237, reviewed annually in line with UKRI rates.
While in Texas: the equivalent stipend rate.

Funds for other expenses: (e.g. conferences, fieldwork)?

A travel/training allowance of £1,500 over the duration of the studentship with maximum spend of £500 in any one financial year.

To apply, please complete your application online with the following information:

1. Course choice – please select as per preferred mode of study, either:

• For January 2025 start select: Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine / PhD / Full-time / 3 Years / January
• For April 2025 start select: Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine/ PhD / Full-time / 3 Years / April
• For July 2025 start select: Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine / PhD / Full-time / 3 Years / July

In the event you have already applied for the above programme previously, the application system may issue a warning notice and prevent application, in this event, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk where staff will be happy to assist you in submitting your application.

1. Start year – please select 2025
2. Funding (page 8 on the application process) –

• ‘Are you funding your studies yourself?’ – please select No
• ‘Name of Individual or organisation providing funds for study’ – please enter ‘RS716 - Cardiorepair SUSPRS'

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award.

One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards.

NOTE: Applicants for PhD/EngD/ProfD/EdD - to support our commitment to providing an environment free of discrimination and celebrating diversity at Swansea University you are required to complete an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form in addition to your programme application form.  

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form (online form) 

Please note that completion of the EDI Monitoring Form is mandatory; your application may not progress if this information is not submitted.

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email):

• CV
• Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient)
• A cover letter including a ‘Supplementary Personal Statement’ to explain why the position particularly matches your skills and experience and how you choose to develop the project.
• Two references (academic or previous employer) on headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form. Please note that we are not able to accept references received citing private email accounts, e.g. Hotmail. Referees should cite their employment email address for verification of reference.
• Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable).
• Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable)
• Confirmation of EDI form submission

 For ALL scholarship applications from February 2023 an EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) Monitoring Form is required.

Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact: Prof. Christopher George: Christopher.George@Swansea.ac.uk

*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co- funding of a scholarship project is applicable.