Applications now open for PhD Studentships for September 2026

The CRUK City of London Radiation Research Centre PhD Programme

This is a unique multidisciplinary and collaborative training opportunity for graduates with a background in biological, biomedical or other relevant sciences, who are interested in carrying out research in cancer Radiotherapy and Radiobiology.

Students accepted onto the programme will follow the four-year version of the wider CoL Centre PhD programme, benefitting from high quality multidisciplinary scientific & transferable skills training, and cohort-building & networking activities. In addition, you will develop a customised training plan together with your supervisor tailored to your background and project requirements.

We are looking for talented and motivated candidates, who are passionate about research and have a strong academic track record. You will be based in your primary supervisor’s research group, and you will have the opportunity to work across the Centre, for example when carrying out research placements or accessing the Centre’s infrastructure cores. These are full-time research positions fully funded for four years.

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in a relevant subject.

Applicants do not need to submit information relating to English language skills during the Centre application process. If you are offered a PhD studentship you might require an English language qualification to apply at the host university.

The funding for this studentship covers students with Home tuition fee status only. For more information on Home tuition fee status please visit the UKCISA website. Please note that we will only be able to offer studentships to candidates that have Home tuition fee status or provide evidence that they can fund the international portion of the tuition fee from external sources (i.e. not self-funded).

Funding

Studentships are sponsored fully for 4 years commencing September 2026. Funding covers:

  • A non-taxable annual stipend of £24,643 (incremental increase per year of 1.75%, current CRUK rate)
  • Tuition fees for Home status only (see section Eligibility criteria)

Applications

Before beginning an application, you should read the information on this page and the “completing the application form” page. You should also find out about the projects being offered to start in September 2026 and their supervisors via the specific project pages below.

Key dates

  • Your application must be submitted by the deadline: 5 November 2025, noon
  • We should receive your references by 12 November 2025, noon. Your application may still be considered if references are not received by this deadline. However, no applicant will be invited to interview unless references have been received.
  • You will find out if you have been invited to interview for the programme before: 5 January 2026
  • Supervisors may contact you during the shortlisting period (late March to mid April), to find out more about you and your interest in their project.
  • Information session for interviewees: 6 January 2026, noon
  • Panel interviews will take place: w/c 12 January 2026
  • Programme start date: September 2026

Interviews

During the interview, candidates will be interviewed by a panel of CRUK RRC Centre academics from across the Centre’s partners. Please note that not all projects will be funded and studentships will be awarded to the best applicants based on information submitted on the application form, references and performance during the interview.

PhD Projects available

Project 1: Targeting macrophage metabolism to improve radiotherapy efficacy and reduce toxicity in breast cancer
Primary supervisor: Clare Bennett, UCL Co-supervisor: Patricia Barral, King’s College London

Project 2: Enhancing X-ray and Molecular Radiation Therapy Outcomes by Targeting Senescence
Primary supervisor: Samantha Terry, King’s College London Co-supervisor: Sian Henson, QMUL

Project 3: Investigating ²²⁵Ac-DOTATATE as a Novel Combination Therapy for Neuroblastoma
Primary supervisor: Cinzia Imberti, King’s College London, Co-supervisors: Jane Sosabowski, QMUL

Project 4: Investigating the interplay between DNA damage repair mechanisms, genomic instability and radiotherapy resistance
Primary supervisor: Sarah McClelland, QMUL Co-supervisor: Kasper Fugger, UCL

Project 5: Radiation induced modulation of the extracellular matrix in paediatric solid tumours: implications for CAR T-cell therapy
Primary supervisor: Karin Straathof. UCL Co-supervisor: Oliver Pearce, QMUL

Project 6: Investigating the role of protein synthesis in DNA repair and radiation response to improve cancer radiotherapy
Primary supervisor: Ivana Bjedov, UCL Co-supervisor: Susana Godhino, QMUL

Project 7: Determining the molecular mechanism underpinning vascular inflammation in resistance to radiotherapy
Primary supervisor: Kairbaan Hodivala-Dilke and Rita Pedrosa, QMUL Co-supervisors::Erik Sahai, Francis Crick Institute

Project 8: Harnessing the potential of cancer-on-chip platforms to characterise the impact of radiotherapy on tumour microenvironment
Primary supervisor: Emad Moeendarbary, UCL Co-supervisor: Stefaan Verbruggen, QMUL

Apply Now