The Chi-Wang Studentship at Jesus College and the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine.
Funding Application deadline: 23:59pm (midnight) UK time on 20th February 2026.
A PhD studentship is available starting October 2026, offering a unique opportunity for a talented student to pursue a four-year doctoral degree in biomedical sciences, focusing on the molecular mechanisms of neurological diseases affecting children and young people. Supported by a generous philanthropic gift, the studentship brings together three inspirational institutions:
- Jesus College, home to a vibrant and diverse global community of postgraduate students, supporting cutting-edge research and innovation across academic disciplines.
- Cambridge Children's Research Institute, within the new Cambridge Children’s Hospital, the first hospital globally to care for children’s physical and mental health, pursuing integrated research into disease causes, diagnostics, and precision therapies.
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research (CIMR), which aims to determine the molecular mechanisms of disease to advance human health and has a strong track record in bridging fundamental and clinical research.
Research Focus
Genome sequencing is revolutionising the diagnosis of the genetic causes of childhood neurological disease - for example, cerebral palsy, which affects 20 million people worldwide, has recently been associated in some cases with novel genetic variations in cellular signalling pathways. The PhD project will investigate the root causes of childhood neurological disease and move from genetic data to mechanistic understanding by bringing together cutting-edge cellular methods with data-driven genomic analysis, with the goal of improving understanding, diagnosis and pioneering new treatments. The precise project will be determined after appointment, but will involve working with researchers in CIMR who focus on devastating childhood neurological diseases such as:
Janet Deane - Investigating lipid dysfunction in childhood dementias. Lipids are essential components of membranes and regulators of cell signalling and adhesion. Glycosphingolipids are bioactive lipids enriched in the brain, and their dysregulation causes severe neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. The Deane lab uses multidisciplinary cell-based, biochemical, and structural approaches, to study how altered lipid metabolism disrupts neuronal and synaptic function in childhood neuropathologies.
Melissa Gammons – Genetic variants identified in childhood neurodevelopment disorders disrupt Wnt/β-catenin signalling. The Gammons lab uses cellular models, functional genomics and proteomics to understand the molecular mechanisms of Wnt signalling in health and disease. The successful applicant will investigate how altered signalling affects brain development, with the long-term goal of improving diagnosis and informing new therapeutic approaches to childhood neurodevelopmental disorders, such as cerebral palsy.
David Gershlick – Characterising the secretory pathway machinery in neurodevelopmental disorders. The Gershlick Lab focuses on understanding the fundamental principles underlying rare neurodevelopmental diseases. Secretory pathway dysfunction is often associated with developmental delay and brain abnormalities. The successful applicant will take advantage of advanced pipelines, AI-driven cellular phenotyping, molecular cell biology and nanoscale imaging to classify and understand mutations in human disease in molecular detail.
Jonathon Nixon-Abell – Familial mutations in early-onset hereditary spastic paraplegias. Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) are a group of rare, genetic neurodegenerative disorders leading to progressive motor disability. The successful applicant will use human iPSC-derived neuronal models and advanced imaging to investigate how fundamental neuronal processes are disrupted in HSPs. This work aims to identify pathways that are amenable to therapeutic intervention in juvenile patients.
Mentorship and Training
The successful student will be part of dynamic postgraduate communities in the School of Clinical Medicine and Jesus College and receive extensive mentorship and support throughout their PhD journey. All partners in this studentship believe that science is at its best when the most talented individuals have an opportunity to contribute, regardless of background. We therefore welcome applications from groups who are historically under-represented in research.
Eligibility and Application
This studentship is fully funded for a maximum of 4 years and covers fees at the ‘Home’ student rate with a starting annual stipend of £22,280.
To be eligible to apply, students must:
- meet University of Cambridge ‘Home Student’ admission requirements
- have or are expected to attain at least an upper second-class honours degree or equivalent in a relevant biological sciences subject
- have English language skills that meet the minimum requirements for entrance to the University of Cambridge
There is a two-step application process:
- Candidates must download and email a completed application form and return it with a CV with the names and contact details of two academic references to phdadmin@cimr.cam.ac.uk by 23:59pm (midnight) UK time on 20th February 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview mid-March 2026.
- Following interview, the successful candidate will be invited to apply online to Postgraduate Admissions the University of Cambridge and will receive information on how to do this at the time.