About the BBSRC Yorkshire Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership (YBDTP):
The YBDTP brings together world-class bioscience research and innovation, as well as excellence in doctoral supervision, across the Yorkshire and Teesside region. The YBDTP will fund postgraduate researchers at the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield, York, Bradford, Huddersfield, Hull, Leeds Beckett, Sheffield Hallam and Teesside forming a strong regional training partnership. In YBDTP you'll benefit from a regional doctoral training programme that has interdisciplinary collaboration at its core. The aim is to enable you to develop a range of research skills in biological, biotechnology and biochemical areas as well as equip you with core data analysis and professional skills that are necessary for bioscience research and related non-academic careers.
https://www.yorkshirebiosciencedtp.ac.uk
Project Description:
Ribosome biogenesis is a fundamental cellular process that drives protein synthesis and cell growth, consuming up to 80% of a cell's energy. Disruption of ribosome production is linked to a wide range of conditions, from rare developmental disorders (ribosomopathies) to cancer and age-related diseases. While we know a great deal about how biochemical signals such as nutrients and growth factors regulate ribosome production, the role of mechanical signals from a cell's surrounding microenvironment remains almost completely unexplored.
Recent research has shown that tissue stiffness, a property that changes in diseases such as fibrosis and cancer, can directly influence nuclear organisation and gene expression. Preliminary data from our lab suggest that extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness also impacts nucleolar structure and rRNA synthesis, highlighting a potential mechanistic link between mechanical forces and ribosome production. Understanding this connection could reveal how abnormal tissue mechanics drive pathological cell growth.
This interdisciplinary project will combine cell and molecular biology, bioengineering, and computational approaches to explore how ECM stiffness regulates ribosome biogenesis. You will work with state-of- the-art biomaterials, including tuneable 2D and 3D culture systems, advanced microscopy, and polysome profiling, to study the impact of mechanical cues on ribosome function. In parallel, you will use bioinformatics to analyse large-scale datasets and identify a 'mechanical signature' of ribosome biogenesis, linking findings to human disease and therapeutic response.
The project offers training in a diverse range of skills, from mechanobiology and gene regulation to computational biology and big-data analysis. It provides excellent preparation for careers in academia, biotechnology, and bioengineering, with potential applications in tissue engineering, drug development, and precision medicine. This is an exciting opportunity to join a collaborative, cutting-edge research team and make a discovery at the interface of mechanics, molecular biology, and biotechnology.
For informal enquiries about the project, please contact Dr Kai Erdmann
Link to website: https://sheffield.ac.uk/biosciences/people/academic-staff/kai-erdmann
Eligibility:
Open to International (including EU) and UK (home) students.
You can apply if you have, or are expecting to gain, at least an upper second-class honours degree or equivalent. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of this programme, we welcome applications if your background is in any biological, chemical or physical science or mathematics and are interested in using your skills in addressing biological questions. International students should check if they meet the entry requirements for the host university.
We aim to support the most outstanding applicants from outside the UK and are able to offer a very limited number of bursaries that will enable full studentships to be awarded to international (EU and non-EU) applicants. These full studentships will only be awarded to exceptional quality candidates, due to the highly competitive nature of this scheme.
The YBDTP is committed to recruiting extraordinary future scientists regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or career pathway to date. We understand that commitment and excellence can be shown in many ways and have built our recruitment process to reflect this. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, particularly those underrepresented in science, who have curiosity, creativity and a drive to learn new skills.
Not all projects will be funded; a limited number of candidates will be appointed via a competitive process.
English language: If English isn't your first language, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. Please see the English language requirements for the host university.
How to apply:
Application deadline: 5pm (UK time), Wednesday 7th January 2026
To submit your application, click on the link to the Expression of Interest form (also found in the Funding Notes section) of any of your chosen projects. You can apply for up to two YBDTP projects (which can be at different universities).
If you have any questions about the application process, please email YBDTP@leeds.ac.uk
If you have any questions about the project you are interested in, please email the project supervisor.
How we allocate:
Shortlisting will take place as soon as possible after the closing date and successful applicants will be notified promptly. If you're shortlisted, you'll be invited for an interview on a date to be confirmed in February 2025. You'll be notified as soon as possible after the interview dates whether your application has been successful, placed on a reserve list or unsuccessful. If you are successful, you'll be required to confirm your intention to accept the studentship within 10 days.
Terms and conditions:
The studentships are fully funded for four years, and you must complete your PhD in four years.
You'll receive the UKRI minimum doctoral stipend per year for your living costs, which is paid to you in regular installments. The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) stipend is tax free and does not need to be paid back.
International students will need to have sufficient funds to cover the costs of their student visa, NHS health surcharge, travel insurance and travel to the UK as these are excluded from UKRI funding.