Early Cancer Institute Non-Clinical PhD Studentships

1. Modelling progression risks in Barrett's oesophagus - with Profs Rebecca Fitzgerald and Nora Pashayan. 2. Understanding the optical signature of cancerous tissues - with Dr Danielle Harper. 3. Understanding the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the progression of clonal haematopoiesis to blood cancer (MDS+/-AML) - with Dr Caroline Watson. Please see the Further Particulars documents for more information, they can be found at the bottom of the page The Early Cancer Institute The Early Cancer Institute at the University of Cambridge is the UK's only Institute dedicated to the early detection of cancer. We are located on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and in 2026 we will move into state-of-the-art facilities, thanks to a £23m redevelopment project. Our key research objectives are:

• Risk prediction.
• Detection of early cancers.
• Interception to prevent lethal cancer developing.
To achieve our aims we have a range of approaches including discovery science as well as more translational projects that might lead to a clinical trial, product licenses or a spin-out company. We perform laboratory research to determine the cell and molecular factors that lead to the initiation and development of primary cancer. Importantly we want to understand what distinguishes between the development of indolent, very slowly progressing lesions occurring as a normal part of ageing compared with processes leading to a symptomatic cancer that threatens life. We perform analyses of big data and AI to develop risk prediction tools with close collaboration with the Cambridge Centre for Genetic Epidemiology and Genomics England. We are developing novel technologies that have the resolution to detect cancer and pre-cancer with the required accuracy for clinical application. These include devices and algorithms working in partnership with the Engineering and Physics departments. We collaborate with public health researchers, social scientists and ethicists across the wider University, including Social Anthropology and Public Health and Primary Care, to understand the implications for the health system and for society at large as new clinical strategies emerge. Our research culture is vibrant and inclusive and our students play a vital role in setting the tone of our Institute and contributing to its activities., As a Postgraduate Student with the Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, you will have access to a wide range of training opportunities and benefit from close supervision provided by a Principal Supervisor who oversees your research project and an Adviser who provides additional support. Our Postgraduate Student Administrator acts as the first point of contact for any student with a query or difficulty that is not directly related to their scientific work. All student matters in the department are overseen by our Director of Postgraduate Education and the Cancer Biology Postgraduate Education Committee. There are no taught elements or examined coursework in the PhD in Oncology course, but students are encouraged to attend the wide variety of lectures and training courses available across the department and wider University. This includes a centrally run Statistics course and the University Core Skills Training Programme, which covers sessions on Time Management, Presentation and Performance and Scientific Writing. Our Postgraduate Students are automatically made members of the University's Postgraduate School of Life Sciences (https://www.postgradschl.lifesci.cam.ac.uk/research-themes-1/cancer), which also offers a wide variety of core skills and professional development training. We also expect that our Postgraduate Students register as members of the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre (https://crukcambridgecentre.org.uk/).

We are looking for highly motivated and enthusiastic individuals capable of thinking and working independently. Applicants should have or shortly expect to obtain a minimum of a good upper second-class honours degree from a UK university, or an equivalent standard from an overseas university, in a relevant discipline.

These studentships commence October 2025. They provide a maintenance stipend of £21,500 per annum for 3.5 years, tuition fees at the UK rate. In addition, £1225 for personal development and overseas travel and £5000 for research consumables is provided per annum for the first 3 years.,
• Modelling progression risks in Barrett's oesophagus - with Profs Rebecca Fitzgerald and Nora Pashayan.
• Understanding the optical signature of cancerous tissues - with Dr Danielle Harper.
• Understanding the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the progression of clonal haematopoiesis to blood cancer (MDS+/-AML) - with Dr Caroline Watson.