Research Studentship in Control and Engineering Biology

3.5-year D.Phil. studentship 

Project: Efficient engineering and control of predictable and reliable biotechnologies.

Supervisors: Prof Antonis Papachristodoulou and Prof Harrison Steel

This project will tackle challenges at the interface of Synthetic Biology, Control Engineering, AI, and Mathematics, and their application to global challenges across biotechnology. The research will have a computational or mathematical focus, leveraging quantitative methods to develop new techniques for design, analysis, and ultimately application of reliable engineered biosystems. This may include approaches that leverage control engineering and AI to create novel genetic circuits or proteins, mathematical methods that underpin new experimental technologies for high-throughput characterization of biodesigns, or in general novel computational and mathematical methods that underpin Engineering Biology.

The candidate will be able to collaborate with a broader team working in computational and experimental engineering biology, and engineers developing new robotic measurement and automation platforms that push the boundaries of experimental biosciences. Potential project extensions include applying the work to sub-disciplines of Engineering Biology such as directed evolution, microbial communities, or biomedical and environmental applications.

The project will enable candidates to build a broad skillset in the design, engineering, and application of new biotechnologies, providing an ideal foundation for future careers in academia, the bioscience industry, or entrepreneurship/start-ups. The studentship will integrate with work across the recently funded EPSRC Programme Grant “EEBio: Efficient engineering and control of predictable and reliable biotechnologies”; as such the candidate will be supported by a multidisciplinary team of academic and industrial experts with experience in related areas of biotechnology and have opportunities to collaborate with industrial and academic partners nationally and internationally.

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 UK students (c. £10,700p.a.). The stipend (tax-free maintenance grant) is at least c. £19,237 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 2:1) degree in any of Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics, or Bioengineering.
• Excellent English written and spoken communication skills.

It is desirable that candidates possess expertise in some (but not all, or even most) of the following areas:

• Applied Mathematics and Statistics
• Computer Science/AI
• Control Engineering
• Programming / Software Engineering
• Electrical Engineering or Robotics

Application Procedure

Informal enquiries are encouraged and should be addressed to Prof Antonis Papachristodoulou and Prof Harrison Steel (antonis@eng.ox.ac.uk, harrison.steel@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 25ENGCL_HS all correspondence and in your graduate application.

Application deadline: noon on 3^rd December 2024  (In line with the December admissions deadline, set by the University)

Start date: October 2025

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