EastBio: Dissecting neuro-immune responses to TDP-43 proteinopathy in human cortical microtissues

Details

This fully funded, 4-year PhD project is part of a competition funded by the BBSRC EASTBIO Doctoral Training Partnership.

Ageing is accompanied by profound changes in the ability of our cells to maintain protein homeostasis. In the human brain, the accumulation and mislocalisation of proteins is associated with cellular dysfunction, inflammation and neurodegeneration, yet understanding how these processes interact within human tissue remains a major challenge. TDP-43 is an RNA-binding protein that provides a compelling example: alterations in TDP-43 localisation and aggregation occur during ageing and are a key pathological feature of several neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia, limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy, and Alzheimer’s disease. However, the mechanisms that initiate TDP-43 proteinopathy and determine its cellular consequences within the multicellular environment of the human brain remain poorly understood

This interdisciplinary PhD will combine stem-cell biology, neuroscience, medicinal chemistry, and computational biology to investigate these fundamental mechanisms. The student will develop defined three-dimensional human brain microtissues containing iPSC-derived neurons and key glial cell populations, including astrocytes and microglia. These multicellular tissues will provide a highly controllable experimental system that bridges the gap between reductionist cell cultures and complex but variable organoid models. Combining this system with complementary approaches in protein chemistry, the student will establish and characterise TDP-43 proteinopathy within human brain microtissues. Advanced microscopy and single-cell molecular profiling will be used to determine how TDP-43 pathology affects individual cell populations and alters interactions between neurons and glia. Computational analysis will identify cell states and molecular pathways associated with vulnerability to TDP-43 pathology. Selected mechanisms emerging from these analyses will subsequently be tested experimentally.

The project will provide interdisciplinary training in human iPSC culture and differentiation, advanced 3D tissue models, protein and molecular biology, microscopy and quantitative image analysis, and single-cell transcriptomics. The student will learn to integrate cellular biology and protein chemistry to address fundamental questions about human brain ageing and disease. This project will establish a new experimental framework for understanding how TDP-43 proteinopathy affects the multicellular environment of the human brain, providing insights into fundamental mechanisms linking ageing, cellular dysfunction, and neurodegeneration.

Interested applicants should contact the lead supervisor to discuss the project prior to applying. You can do this by selecting the first listed name at the top of this advert and sending your enquiry. Alternatively, you can search for the supervisor through the University of Aberdeen staff directory and email them directly.

———————————

ELIGIBILITY:

Applicants should hold a minimum of a 2:1 UK Honours degree (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject. Those with a 2:2 UK Honours degree (or international equivalent) may be considered, provided they have (or are expected to achieve) a Distinction or Commendation at master’s level.

We encourage applications from all backgrounds and communities, and are committed to having a diverse, inclusive team.

All students must meet the eligibility criteria as outlined in the UKRI guidance on funding for postgraduate training and development. This guidance should be read in conjunction with the Terms and conditions for training funding – UKRI.

———————————

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

For full details and to download the application form, visit: https://biology.ed.ac.uk/eastbio/how-to-apply

Please note that you may only apply for one EASTBIO project.

1. Application submission

Submit your complete application by 23:59 GMT on 16th November 2026 to smmsn-pgrenquiries@abdn.ac.uk.

Send your application as a single email with the subject line:

“EASTBIO Application – [Your Name]”

2. Required documents

Your application email must include the following:

• Completed EASTBIO application form
• Academic certificates and transcripts
• Two references (one reference may be non-academic)

3. References

All references must be provided using the official EASTBIO reference form (available here).

References can be either:

• Included with your application, or
• Sent directly by referees to smmsn-pgrenquiries@abdn.ac.uk with the subject line: “EASTBIO Reference – [Your Name]”

All references must be received by 23:59 GMT on 16th November 2026.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure both references are submitted by the deadline, as we cannot request them on your behalf.

Important notes

• No research proposal is required.
• Do not include any additional documents (for example, school certificates, conference papers, or dissertations).
• Incomplete applications or those including unnecessary materials will not be considered.
• Due to workload constraints, we are unable to follow up on missing documents or process incomplete applications.
• All candidates will be notified of the outcome of their application.
• We will confirm receipt of your applications upon processing. Due to the high volume of applications, this may not be until after the deadline. We ask that you please refrain from contacting us regarding updates or to see if your application has been received.

For any questions or assistance with the application process, please contact smmsn-pgrenquiries@abdn.ac.uk.

Funding Notes

This fully funded, four-year PhD project is offered as part of a competition within the EASTBIO BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership. The opportunity is open to both UK and international applicants, although the proportion of international students recruited through the EASTBIO DTP is capped at 30% by UKRI BBSRC.

EASTBIO studentships provide a tax-free UKRI doctoral stipend (estimated at £22,437 for the 2027/28 academic year), a training grant of £5,000 per year for the first three years (and £1,500 in the fourth year), and a travel and conference allowance of £230 per year.

Please note that EASTBIO is unable to fund visa costs or associated healthcare surcharges for international students.