PhD Studentships in the Cell Biology of Cancer

As a world-leading cancer research centre, the CRUK Scotland Institute supports cutting edge work into the molecular mechanisms of cancer development. We provide an outstanding research environment, underpinned by state-of-the-art core services and advanced technologies with special emphasis on imaging and in vivo models.

We are looking for students with a very good degree in a Life Sciences subject and an aptitude for experimental work, who are also highly committed to pursuing a PhD and a career in cancer research. The Institute has an excellent reputation and success record in training its graduate students. Students, whilst being trained at the Institute working within our research groups, will matriculate with the University of Glasgow.

Our PhD studentships are for a maximum of 4 years, and currently provide students with an annual stipend of £21,000 and matriculation fees for home or overseas students.

PhD opportunities at the CRUK Scotland Institute will be advertised on this page and on our social media. 

To apply for a PhD studentship at the CRUK Scotland Institute, please complete an online application form for individual projects from the below list. 

For your application to be considered, you must upload your CV and a completed document CRUK EDI Recruitment Form(319 KB)  with your application.

CRUK EDI Recruitment Form Instructions

• We ask that you do not add your name or any Institution details to the CRUK EDI Recruitment Form.
• Applications will be shortlisted initially based on the CRUK EDI Recruitment Form only. CVs will be used in further rounds of shortlisting to invite candidates to interview.

If you have any questions about the application process or our studentships in general, please contact us by email at phdstudentships@crukscotlandinstitute.ac.uk or see the FAQs below.

Visit our TRACC page to find out about current PhD opportunities for medical/dental students and clinicians. 

Other PhD studentship opportunities

CRUK Black Leaders in Cancer Scholarships

The programme is aimed at students from Black heritage backgrounds pursuing a PhD in cancer-related fields. A comprehensive programme of mentoring, career support, leadership training and networking led by the Windsor Fellowship and Black in Cancer, in addition to the support provided by our Centres, to drive your career forward and realise your full potential to beat cancer

University of Glasgow MVLS College Futures Themes PhD Programme 

Funding: 3.5 years of funding at UKRI stipend rates, home fees
Application deadline: Monday 12th January 2026

Current MVLS College Futures opportunities at CRUK SI:

Mapping Common and Divergent Therapy-induced Remodelling of Extracellular Matrix Towards Novel Therapeutic Combinations in Pancreatic Cancer
Supervisors: Dr Xiao Fu and Prof Jen Morton

An AI and Agentic Framework for Mapping the E3 Ligase Interactome and Discovering Novel Cancer Therapeutics
Supervisors: Dr Ke Yuan, Prof Danny Huang, Dr Jake Lever (School of Computing Science), Prof David Chang (School of Cancer Sciences)

Longitudinal Spatial Deconstruction and Computational Modelling of Morphology Evolution in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Supervisors: Prof Ram DasGupta, Dr Ke Yuan, Dr Paul Henderson (School of Computing Science)

A Self-Supervised AI Approach to Biological Discovery in Lung Cancer
Supervisors: Prof John Le Quesne and Dr Ke Yuan

APPLY HERE

NorthWestBio Doctoral Training Programme

NorthWestBio (NWB) is a new BBSRC-funded Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) delivered between the Universities of Glasgow, Lancaster, Queen’s Belfast and Strathclyde. 

Current NWB DTP opportunities at CRUK SI:

Moonlighting mitochondria: understanding why mitochondria import and metabolise methylated amino acids
Supervisors: Dr Tom MacVicar and Dr Colin Adrain (Queen's University Belfast)
Funding: BBSRC NorthWestBio Doctoral Training Partnership
Application deadline: Sunday 4th January 2026

APPLY HERE

MRC DTP in Precision Medicine 

Application deadline: Monday 12th January 2026

Current MRC DTP in Precision Medicine opportunities at CRUK SI:

Revealing Vulnerabilities and Preventive Strategies for Restraining Liver Metastasis through Integrated Computational and Experimental Approaches
Supervisors: Dr Xiao Fu, Prof Marco Gerling (Karolinska Institutet), Prof Owen Sansom

Establishing the role of non-canonical NFκB signalling within the tumour microenvironment of colorectal cancer
Supervisors: Dr Colin Steele, Dr Kevin Myant (Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh), Dr Xiao Fu, Dr Kathryn Pennel (School of Cancer Sciences)

Mitochondrial Metabotyping to Identify Targetable Metabolic Vulnerabilities in PIK3CA-associated Disorders
Supervisors: Dr Tom MacVicar, Prof Robert Semple (Institute of Neuroscience and Cardiovascular Research, University of Edinburgh), Dr Ralitsa Madsen (MRC Protein Phosphorylation Unit, University of Dundee)

Biomarkers for Predicting Radiotherapy Side Effects to Improve Lung Cancer Patient Outcomes
Supervisors: Dr Ximena Raffo-Iraolagoitia, Prof Leo Carlin, Prof Kevin Blyth (School of Cancer Sciences), Dr Vanessa Smer-Barreto (School of Informatics & Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh)

APPLY HERE

James McCune Smith PhD Scholarships 

The James McCune Smith Scholarships fund Black UK students to undertake PhD research at the University of Glasgow. They provide an enhanced experience through external mentors, placements, leadership training, community-building activities and networking opportunities. The Scholarships are named after James McCune Smith, who graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1837 as the first African American to receive a medical degree.

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