Research

Current studentships

Neurodegeneration and the social environment: sex-specific impacts on neural ageing and immune function in drosophila melanogaster (BBSRC Yorkshire Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership)

Deadline: 07/01/2026 5:00PM
Studentship code: PHD
Staff name: Dr Tora K Smulders-Srinivasan
Research centre: National Horizons Centre (Biosciences)
Start date: Successful applicants will be expected to start in October 2026.

Are you interested in understanding how social environments shape brain ageing and neurodegeneration? This exciting PhD project explores the intersection of neuroscience, behaviour, and immunity using powerful Drosophila melanogaster models. You’ll investigate how social contact, such as isolation or same-sex pairing, affects neurodegeneration in fly models of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, with a focus on sex-specific effects.

Working across two dynamic research centres, Teesside University’s National Horizons Centre and the University of Leeds, you’ll gain hands-on experience in molecular biology, behavioural assays, computational biology, and neurodegeneration research. You’ll be part of a collaborative and supportive supervisory team with expertise in neurobiology, behavioural ecology, and health data science and have access to international networks including the Horizon Europe Marie Sk?odowska-Curie Doctoral Network.

This project is ideal for students with a background in biomedical science, biology, or neuroscience who are curious about how the environment interacts with genetics to shape ageing. You’ll develop a broad skill set and contribute to research with real-world relevance to ageing and public health.

Background
Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s are driven by complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors. While Drosophila melanogaster has long been used as a model for studying neurodegeneration, for example, Dr Smulders-Srinivasan’s research focuses on neurodegeneration using Drosophila models of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Recent research has revealed that the social environment can significantly influence ageing, cognition, and immune responses. Professor Amanda Bretman’s work at the University of Leeds has shown that same-sex social contact in male flies accelerates ageing and reduces lifespan, particularly under immune stress. These effects are sex-specific and linked to changes in gene expression, including immune and stress-related pathways. Dr Pettigrew’s interdisciplinary research at Teesside University in genetic epidemiology, microbial genomics and social sciences provides a population-level perspective.

Funding eligibility

This fully funded PhD Studentship covers tuition fees for the period of a full-time PhD Registration of up to four years and provide an annual tax-free stipend of £21,380 for three years, subject to satisfactory progress.

You must complete your PhD in four years..

Applications are welcome from UK and international students.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold or expect to obtain a good honours degree (2:1 or above) in a relevant discipline. A masters level qualification in a relevant discipline is desirable, but not essential, as well as a demonstrable understanding of the research area.

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 applicants. These full studentships will only be awarded to exceptional quality candidates, due to the highly competitive nature of this scheme.

International students will be subject to the standard entry criteria relating to English language ability, ATAS clearance and, when relevant, UK visa requirements and procedures.

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.

How to apply

To submit your application, complete the Expression of Interest form for any of the projects which interest you. 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

Apply now

Selection process

Shortlisting will take place as soon as possible after the closing date and successful applicants will be notified promptly. If you are shortlisted, you will be invited for an interview on a date to be confirmed in February 2026. You will 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 ten days.

About Teesside

We are committed to providing a safe, welcoming and inclusive campus and to supporting all members of our University community to thrive whatever their age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, marital status, nationality or any other characteristic.
More about our Inclusive campus

As a Teesside University research student, you will join a growing and dynamic research community, allowing you to share your experiences, insight and inspiration with fellow researchers. You will benefit from our academic expertise and be supported through a strong programme of research training. You will be offered opportunities and support at each stage of your research degree. Our research is designed to have impact, and to influence policy and practice within our region, the UK and beyond. We work with external organisations to anticipate and respond to research needs, and to put our research into practice in sectors as diverse as the arts, engineering, healthcare and computing.

PhD students are encouraged to work with their supervisors to explore the potential impact of their work.

The successful candidate will be expected to participate fully in research group and centre activities, including training sessions and workshops, and will become a member of the University's wider postgraduate research community. Mentoring and support will be provided for the development of a strong academic and professional CV during the PhD.

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. Yorkshire Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership

Academic enquiries

For academic enquiries, please contact t.smulders@tees.ac.uk.

Key dates

Deadline: 07/01/2026 5:00PM
Interview date: We envisage that interviews will take place in February 2026.
Start date: Successful applicants will be expected to start in October 2026.