AstraZeneca Non-Clinical PhD Studentship in Development of an Integrated Pre-Clinical Pipeline for Safety Assessment of Small Molecule and Peptide-Based Radioconjugates

Applications are invited for an AstraZeneca Non-Clinical PhD Studentship in Development of an Integrated Pre-Clinical Pipeline for Safety Assessment of Small Molecule and Peptide-Based Radioconjugates Using In Vivo PET Imaging and Multimodal Ex Vivo Tissue Analysis.

The Department of Radiology at the University of Cambridge, in partnership with AstraZeneca, is offering a funded PhD studentship to develop innovative approaches for the safety assessment of next-generation radiopharmaceuticals. We are seeking a motivated, enthusiastic and inquisitive student with an interest in molecular imaging, radiopharmaceutical sciences, oncology, translational medicine and drug development.

The successful candidate will join a highly multidisciplinary team, supervised by Professor Luigi Aloj (Department of Radiology), Dr Flaviu Bulat (Department of Radiology), Dr Nisha Kuzhuppilly Ramakrishnan (Department of Clinical Neurosciences), and Dr Andreas Dannhorn (AstraZeneca), and gain experience working across both academic and industrial research environments.

Project Aims: 

Targeted radionuclide therapy is an emerging and highly promising approach for cancer treatment. Radioconjugates combine tumour-targeting molecules with therapeutic radioisotopes, enabling the selective delivery of radiation to cancer cells while minimising damage to healthy tissue. Despite recent clinical successes, there remains a significant need for improved methods to evaluate how these compounds distribute throughout the body and to better understand potential toxicities in normal organs. This project aims to establish an integrated preclinical framework for the assessment of small molecule and peptide-based radioconjugates using advanced molecular imaging and tissue analysis techniques.

Candidate: 

We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual capable of thinking and working independently within a multidisciplinary research environment. Applicants should have or shortly expect to obtain a first or high 2:1 bachelor's degree from a UK university, or an equivalent standard from an overseas university, in a relevant subject such as imaging, biology, biochemistry, chemistry, biomedical sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, data analysis, or medicine. 

Funding:

The funding for this post is available for 4 years. Funding will cover the student's stipend and tuition fees at the Home rate. This studentship is also open to overseas students who meet the UK residency requirements (home fees) or who can cover the extra costs associated with international student fees through scholarships or funding schemes. Students may not supplement fees via self funding. 

How to Apply: 

The deadline for applications is Friday 30th October 2026.   

Applications should be made via the University Application portal. When asked to select a course, please apply for the PhD in Radiology. You should then put the title of this studentship as your proposed project title.

You are not required to write your own research proposal. When asked for a research proposal in the applicant portal, instead please upload one side of A4 with your motivation for applying for the studentship, your relevant skills, what you hope to achieve if appointed, and long-term career aspirations.

You do not need to secure a supervisor before applying for this studentship. 

Informal enquiries about the project are welcome and should be directed to Professor Luigi Aloj: la398@medschl.cam.ac.uk 

For application process queries, please contact clusterPG@medschl.cam.ac.uk The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. 

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.