School of Life Sciences Studentship: How Chromosome Structure Shapes Genetic Diversity and Genome Stability (2026)

What you get

Funding will cover tuition fees for UK students (at the Home rate), a stipend at the UKRI rate, and a consumables budget (RTSG).

International applicants are welcome to apply and receive the stipend and RTSG but will be required to provide evidence how they will pay the difference between Home and International tuition fees (approx. £20k per year).

Type of award

Postgraduate Research

PhD project

The challenge
Cells must faithfully copy their genomes during division while, in meiosis, reshuffle genetic information to generate diversity. DNA replication, transcription and repair act on DNA, which is an ultra-long and fragile polymer, generating topological stress and shaping chromatin structure. How these processes are coordinated in mitotic and meiotic cells to preserve genome stability while enabling genetic variation remains poorly understood.

The project
This PhD project will compare how DNA topology and chromosome structure are shaped by replication, transcription and repair in mitosis and meiosis, and how these interactions influence genome stability, genetic diversity and heritability. The work will provide fundamental insight into the mechanisms underlying genome maintenance and inheritance.

Approaches and training
The project will use next-generation sequencing–based methods to map DNA topology and chromosome organisation, including CC-seq to probe topoisomerase activity alongside Hi-C and bTMP-seq. The project will advance interdisciplinary training in both state-of-the-art molecular biology experimental techniques and cutting-edge bioinformatic analyses, and will suit applicants who are keen to establish both skill sets in parallel.

Environment 

The studentship will be hosted within the internationally renowned Genome Damage and Stability Centre (GDSC) at the University of Sussex. Collectively, groups here study the molecular mechanisms that underpin DNA replication, transcription, DNA repair, mitosis, meiosis, chromatin organisation and telomere biology. The GDSC hosts a regular international seminar series and annual research retreat, and maintains cutting edge experimental infrastructure including tissue culture facilities, advanced microscopy, and genomics. Alongside the School of Life Sciences and Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine, GDSC post-graduate researchers enjoy a rich collegial environment and are extremely well supported including diverse opportunities for collaboration and onward training.

Background reading
Mapping topoisomerases (2024): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-54567-6

DNA replication control (2024): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39589889/

Meiotic recombination (2021): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03389-3

Topological stress (2020): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32259483/

Meiotic chromosome structure (2019): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-12629-0

Neale lab: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/lifesci/nealelab/
https://bsky.app/profile/labneale.bsky.social

Baxter Lab: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/lifesci/baxterlab/
https://bsky.app/profile/drjonbaxter.bsky.social

Eligibility

Candidates should have or expect to obtain a minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree. An MSc degree is advantageous. Your qualification should be in Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics or a related subject area. You may be considered for this position if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing.

Candidates for whom English is not their first language will require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall or equivalent proficiency - English language requirements 

Applications are particularly welcomed from candidates with protected characteristics – e.g., from Black and other ethnic minorities – who are under-represented in postgraduate research at our institution.

Deadline

22 March 2026 23:45

How to apply

Please submit a formal application using the online admissions portal attaching a CV, degree transcripts and certificates, and two academic referees. A research proposal is not required. Instead, please upload a personal statement describing your subject areas of interest, skills and previous experience, motivation for Doctoral Research, future goals, and why you are applying to this project.

On the application system select Programme of Study – PhD Genome Stability. Please select ‘funding obtained’ and state the supervisor’s name where required.

Contact us

Informal enquiries about the project can be made to: Prof. Matthew Neale m.neale@sussex.ac.uk and Dr. Jon Baxter Jon.Baxter@sussex.ac.uk