PhD Studentship: Research Studentship in Control & Engineering Biology Project: Learning and controlling cellular dynamics
University of Oxford, United Kingdom
- Institution
- University of Oxford
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Position type
- PhD
- Subject area
- Biology & Life Sciences
- Salary
- GBP 21805.00 YEAR
- Location
- Oxford, England, United Kingdom
- Funding
- Fully funded position
Want to be the strongest applicant for this position?
Book a free 15-minute call with our team. We will look at your profile against what University of Oxford is actually looking for, and tell you honestly where you stand and what to strengthen before you apply.
Book a free call about this position →No cost, no obligation. Mentors who have secured funded PhD positions themselves.
How our PhD admission mentorship works →
We mentor STEM applicants only. If your research aspirations are outside STEM subjects, you're very welcome to use this board and apply directly; we just aren't the right people to mentor you.
About this position
Research Studentship in Control and Engineering Biology
3.5-year D.Phil. studentship
Project: Learning and controlling cellular dynamics
Supervisors: Prof Jean-Baptiste Lugagne
This DPhil studentship will explore questions at the intersection of engineering, biology, control theory, and machine learning.
Possible directions include developing mathematical and computational models of cellular behaviour, designing feedback control strategies, or building experimental tools using microfluidics, automated microscopy and light-controlled gene expression. Applications include understanding bacterial physiology and improving the reliability and productivity of biological manufacturing.
The specific research questions and balance of experimental, computational and theoretical work will be developed with the successful candidate.
Eligibility
This studentship is open to UK students (full award – home fees plus stipend).
There may be flexibility to support international students. If you are an international student and want to apply for this studentship please contact the supervisor to see whether the flexibility might be available for you.
Award Value
Course fees are covered at the level set for Home students. The stipend (tax-free maintenance grant) is provided at c. £21,805 p.a. for the first year, and at least this amount for a further two and a half years.
Candidate Requirements
Prospective candidates will be judged according to how well they meet the following criteria:
- A first class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent) in Engineering, Physics, Biology, or in a relevant discipline.
- A clear interest in understanding or engineering biological systems, and motivation to learn beyond their existing discipline.
- Excellent English written and spoken communication skills.
The following skills are desirable but not essential:
- Programming, data analysis, mathematical modelling, control theory or machine learning.
- Molecular biology, microbiology, synthetic biology or bioprocess engineering.
- Microscopy, microfluidics, instrumentation or experimental automation.
Application Procedure
Informal enquiries are encouraged and should be addressed to Professor Lugagne (jean-baptiste.lugagne@eng.ox.ac.uk).
Candidates must submit a graduate application form and are expected to meet the graduate admissions criteria. Details are available on the course page of the University website.
Please quote 27ENGCO_JL in all correspondence and in your graduate application.
Application deadline: noon on 2 December 2026 (In line with the University admissions deadline set by the University)
Start date: October 2027
Apply directly to University of Oxford
Emerging Scholars Council is not the employer and does not recruit for this position. It is advertised by University of Oxford, and your application goes to them. We help students prepare and strengthen their applications.
Go to the official application page →Contact listed in the advert
Some positions — especially in Germany, Austria and Switzerland — are filled by writing directly to the supervisor rather than through an online form. These addresses were taken from the advert text, so check them against the official listing before you write.
A cold email to a supervisor is the highest-leverage thing you can send — and the easiest to get wrong. Ask us to look at yours before you hit send.