queen's university belfast phd application

FellowshipBard

24 fully funded phd programs at queen’s university belfast, northern ireland.

Are you holding Master’s degree and looking for fully funded PhD positions? Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland invites online application for multiple funded PhD Programs / fully funded PhD positions in various research areas.

Candidates interested in fully funded PhD positions can check the details and may apply as soon as possible. Interested and eligible applicants may submit their online application for PhD programs via the University’s Online Application Portal. 

1. Fully Funded PhD Position in NANOCRYSTALS-IN-NANOFIBRES AS A PROMISING STRATEGY FOR THE DELIVERY OF POORLY SOLUBLE ACTIVES

Summary of phd program:.

One of the most challenging issues that the pharmaceutical industry face is poor aqueous solubility of drugs. 90% of candidate molecules within the discovery pipelines face solubility issues, posing significant hurdles to their clinical translation. Moreover, 40% of drugs in the market are also poorly soluble and need to be administered in high doses to reach therapeutic plasma levels. The formulation of drug nanocrystals (NCs) has become one of the most preferred strategies to enhance the absorption of hydrophobic drugs. NCs are nanoparticles made of the pure drug with crystalline properties. Produced using various industrially-available methodologies, NCs have made a significant clinical impact, with >20 products on the market. 

Application Deadline: 31 March 2024

2. fully funded phd position in software-based approaches for iot attack mitigation.

This project is fully funded as part of the CyReSE: Cybersecurity Research Software Engineering project, led by Dr. Domhnall Carlin as part of the prestigious EPSRC Research Software Engineering Fellowship. CyReSE includes support from several organisations, including NVIDIA, Thales and NICT (Japan), with potential opportunities for internships, collaboration and research placements.

Application Deadline: 8 April 2024

Follow FellowshipBard for daily updates!

Telegram Channel

3. Fully Funded PhD Position in AGE-FRIENDLY ACCESSIBILITY STRATEGIES FOR COMMUNITY PHARMACIES

This project has emerged from an ongoing collaboration from researchers in QUB Environmental Planning with colleagues from Public Health, which have explored the environmental interventions and causal pathways that can provide well-being and improved quality of life. This particular studentship is one of four included in a doctoral training programme (MED-AGE) supported by the Dunhill Medical Trust. The interdisciplinary research conducted under this programme will further understanding of the importance of medicines and environmental interventions in the lives of older people. The successful candidate will be a member of the cohort of Dunhill students funded under this programme and will be exposed to outstanding training and development opportunities.

Application Deadline: 10 April 2024

4. fully funded phd position in enhancing therapeutic responses in dlbcl through advanced understanding of new metabolic regulators.

Investigating a novel role for E3 ubiquitin ligase in the progression of diffuse large B cell lymphoma using gene editing and metabolomics. We have identified a novel role for a Pellino1 E3 ubiquitin ligase in B cell activation. Ubiquitination is a crucial protein modification which can modulate protein-protein interactions, signalling cascade, and protein degradation. Interestingly, Pellino1 is overexpressed in many diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DLBCL), a malignancy accounting for around one third of non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

Find Fully Funded PhD in UK

5. fully funded phd position in dentistry and biomedical sciences.

This project aims to examine the potential of using linked, administrative data to evaluate the impact of General Practice Pharmacists on the health and wellbeing of older people in Northern Ireland. In 2015 a pilot scheme was introduced to integrate general practice-based pharmacists (PBPs) into primary care to relieve GP pressure and provide a variety of services such as medication reviews, medicines management, clinics on specific long-term conditions, triage and repeat prescription requests. A lot of these services were aimed at, and would benefit, the older population. The scheme was rolled out in NI in geographic phases providing the perfect environment for a natural experiment.

6. Fully Funded PhD Position in A NEW THERAPEUTIC TARGET FOR DIFFUSE LARGE B CELL LYMPHOMA (DLBCL)

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Apoptosis or programmed cell death is a critical physiological process that goes wrong in cancer. Dysfunctional apoptosis in many cancers and leukaemias is caused by increased expression of anti-apoptotic proteins, including FLIP, which is the focus of this research project. FLIP inhibits apoptosis by preventing activation of caspase-8, the initiator caspase of the extrinsic death receptor-mediated apoptotic pathway. Notably, poor prognostic DLBCL is characterized by its high expression of FLIP. Moreover, it is the DLBCL patients who have high expression of FLIP that are most likely to relapse. We have developed the first inhibitors of FLIP (FLIPi) promote caspase-8-dependent apoptosis in a range of cancers. 

7. Fully Funded PhD Position in EVALUATING DNA URACILATION AS A TARGETED THERAPEUTIC STRATEGY IN ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKAEMIA

Our project revolves around a two-pronged strategy: enhancing the cancer-killing efficiency of an existing chemotherapy drug, Methotrexate (MTX), while simultaneously reducing its toxicity. MTX works by targeting cells that are rapidly dividing, a common feature of cancer cells, but it also affects healthy cells, leading to adverse effects. To improve this, we’re introducing a novel inhibitor that targets a specific enzyme in the cancer cells, dUTPase, which when blocked in combination with existing chemotherapy causes cancer cells death.

Find Fully Funded PhD in USA

8. fully funded phd position in the role of melatonin in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis – a randomised, feasibility trial.

This project aims to examine the feasibility of prescribing melatonin in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Many older people have symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, there are limited treatment options for managing pain in knee OA. This study will look to examine the feasibility of prescribing melatonin in the treatment of painful knee OA.

9. Fully Funded PhD Position in POLYPHARMACY WITHIN THE NICOLA COHORT AND IMPACT ON QUALITY OF LIFE

This project aims to determine the impact of polypharmacy on quality of life within participants from the Northern Ireland Cohort for Longitudinal Ageing (NICOLA) study. Many older people take more than five medications (polypharmacy); some take more than 10 (hyperpolypharmacy). Using the NICOLA cohort (n=8500 people age >50 years old), data linkage will be used to ascertain the impact of polypharmacy on quality of life, frailty, hospital admissions, predicting admissions to care homes. This will be supplemented with case studies (n=20 participants) to explore the impact of polypharmacy on participants lives.

Find Fully Funded PhD in Europe

10. fully funded phd position in targeting usp7 as a novel therapeutic approach in drug resistant non-hodgkin lymphoma (nhl)..

Chemotherapy resistance represents a major challenge in cancer therapy. This is a significant problem in Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), which arise in B-cells and lymphoid tissues and are amongst the most common cancers. One important observation made in B-cell lymphomas, is that they have a high frequency of mutations in a gene called EZH2, which plays a crucial role in controlling the chemical modification of chromatin. Accordingly, a drug that inhibits EZH2 function has been recently approved by FDA as a promising therapy in NHL. However, lymphoma cells that have prolonged treatment with the EZH2-inhibitor drug develop resistance. 

11. Fully Funded PhD Position in NOVEL STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE THE DEGRADATION OF IRF4, THE ACHILLES HEEL OF MULTIPLE MYELOMA

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a serious blood cancer caused by the abnormal proliferation of immune cells called plasma cells. Although the prognosis has improved within the past 20 years, it remains a devastating disease, with around half of MM patients surviving beyond 5 years. The key to improved MM patient survival is to identify ways to bypass common mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance that occur during relapse in MM patients. A protein called IRF4 plays a key role in MM by promoting the expression of oncogenic genes that drive uncontrolled proliferation and chemotherapy resistance. Notably, a major class of drugs called IMiDs that are used in the clinic to treat MM, reduce IRF4 levels, triggering MM cell death. 

Explore PhD Salary, Jobs, & Career Growth

12. fully funded phd position in identifying cancer vaccine targets in azacitidine-treated aml.

Novel Cancer Antigens Discovery for AML Treatment. Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML), a fast-growing cancer of the bone marrow, disrupts healthy blood production by generating immature and non-functional white blood cells. More than 3,000 people are diagnosed in the UK annually and 42% of these are over 75 years old. While intensive chemotherapy offers a conventional treatment option, its harshness and limited efficacy in specific patient groups, like older adults, necessitates alternative approaches. Azacitidine, a chemotherapy drug that alters DNA methylation patterns, provides a gentler approach for these patients. However, its effectiveness remains limited, motivating the search for further treatment advances. 

13. Fully Funded PhD Position in ADDRESSING ORAL HEALTH FOR OLDER ADULTS IN CARE HOMES

This project aims to work collaboratively with care home residents, staff and oral health professionals to co-design and pilot test nutritional interventions for older adults which better consider their oral health. Prevention and management of malnutrition in care homes is a significant clinical challenge meaning that residents are often provided with diets rich in complex carbohydrates, including sugars, plus additional sugared medications and oral nutritional supplements to increase caloric intake. However, this creates a significant problem for oral health as the causal link between sugar intake and dental caries is well established.

14. Fully Funded PhD Position in AN EXPLORATION OF NON-PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION USE AMONGST OLDER ADULTS

Dunhill Medical Trust: Medicines in an ageing society – an interdisciplinary research programme (MED-AGE) This project is part of a doctoral training programme (MED-AGE) which will fund four studentships supported by the Dunhill Medical Trust. The interdisciplinary research conducted under this programme will further understanding of the importance of medicines in the lives of older people. The successful candidate will be a member of the cohort of Dunhill students funded under this programme and will be exposed to outstanding training and development opportunities. The use of medications by older adults is acknowledged to be the most common form of medical intervention for many acute and chronic conditions and prescribing amongst the older population (those aged 65 years and over) continues to increase due to increasing multimorbidity. Older adults have been reported to be the largest consumers of non-prescription medications. 

Explore Our Career Blog

15. fully funded phd position in novel regulatory pathways leading to neutrophil activation.

In chronic lung diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis lung disease or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, the lung is susceptible to destruction of lung tissue by human cells that normally participate in removing bacteria from the lung. These human cells (neutrophils) release enzymes that can degrade lung tissue and cause inflammation in the lung. In this study, we will evaluate how these enzymes are synthesised prior to their release from neutrophils which will include development of new inhibitors to regulate their activity

Application Deadline: 17 April 2024

16. fully funded phd position in reconfigurable antennas for computational microwave imaging.

Conventional microwave imaging methods involve variants of synthetic aperture radar and phased arrays. These techniques offer significant drawbacks in terms of key system metrics, including data acquisition speed, imaging resolution, and hardware-layer complexity. Metasurface-based compressive coded-apertures offer an alternative to solve this problem; computational imaging (CI). However, a significant challenge for CI stems from the fact that metasurface antennas can lack sufficient measurement modes, and they are conventionally adopted in near-field-based scenarios, limiting the imaging distance.

Application Deadline: 30 April 2024

17. fully funded phd position in agriculture, environmental protection and the northern ireland planning system.

Agricultural pollution is a substantial environmental challenge for Northern Ireland with significant impacts on water quality, biodiversity, and human health. The severity of this issue been highlighted by a major algae bloom in Lough Neagh and other waterways, which is symptomatic of much wider ecosystem breakdown in rural parts of NI. There are long-standing critiques of environmental governance in Northern Ireland, and a key instrument for preventing such environmental degradation should be the planning system. While the planning system does have statutory basis and strategic objectives to protect the environment and prevent pollution (e.g. in the Planning Act 2022 and as a strategic objective in the Strategic Planning Policy Statement, 2015) it has been continually and officially sanctioned as failing in many of its functions, including environmental protection (such as in reports from the NI Audit Office and the NI Assembly Public Accounts Committee).

Application Deadline: 1 May 2024

18. fully funded phd position in imagen: enhancing perennial ryegrass ghg credentials using genomics and 3d imagery to study root responses to algal biostimulants.

Perennial ryegrass (PRG), is the largest constituent of grassland-based farming and is pivotal for the Ireland/UK dairy, beef, and sheep sectors. PRG varieties, characterized by diverse root structures, wield considerable influence over carbon sequestration and nitrogen use efficiency. Notably, extended leaf lamina lengths in specific varieties contribute to enhanced grazeability and reduced stocking density and fertilizer intensity. Understanding these traits is of paramount importance for breeding elite, sustainable grass varieties that will shape the future of Irish agriculture.

Application Deadline: 3 June 2024

10 best ai cover letter builders, 19. fully funded phd position in modelling-4-grass: modelling climate change impacts on grassland in n. ireland.

Expertise in data-based modelling is ever-more sought after in the field of life science research. Do you see yourself as one of these forefront modellers of the future? This project aims to development a climate-based simulation model for grassland to identify traits & strategies for enhancing resilience and protecting N. Ireland’s ruminant industry by securing its primary homegrown grazing feedstock in the face of rising climatic stresses.

20. Fully Funded PhD Position in MAPPING AND VALORISATION OF BEEF PRODUCTION CO-PRODUCT & WASTE STREAMS

Dawn Meats, established in Co. Waterford, Ireland in 1980, has grown to a business with over €2bn in annual revenue, employing over 8,000 staff in twelve countries. Within their portfolio, Dunbia, employing over 5,000 across 15 sites in N.I ROI and GB, is one of Europe’s leading food companies specialising in the production of quality beef, lamb, further processed and slow cooked products. With a global focus on improved resource stewardship across all sectors Dawn Meats recognise that agricultural waste represents a reserve of unexploited resources that can provide avenues for economic growth while promoting improved waste management practices.

Application Deadline: 21 June 2024

21. fully funded phd position in development and optimisation of the demagnetisation process of end-of-life permanent magnets.

Efficient demagnetisation of end-of-life permanent magnets is critical for recycling rare earths and metals, but current industrial processes use energy-intensive thermal treatment. This PhD project will investigate optimised, sustainable demagnetisation methods using multiphysics simulations and lab experiments with different heat sources like infrared, induction furnaces, and microwaves. By modeling heat transfer and magnetic domain evolution in COMSOL, we will predict optimal configurations and parameters for thermal demagnetisation. Validations will be through demagnetisation experiments, with magnetic properties evaluated via SQUID magnetometry. 

22. Fully Funded PhD Position in MAPPING AND VALORISATION OF BEEF PRODUCTION CO-PRODUCT & WASTE STREAMS

23. fully funded phd position in development and optimisation of the demagnetisation process of end-of-life permanent magnets, 24. fully funded phd position in quantum visualisation with single photon emitters: theory and experimentation.

This PhD project aims to harness the capabilities of solid-state emitters for integration with photonic devices and connecting them through an optical channel known as a waveguide. When coupled with the waveguide, emitters can interact with guided electromagnetic modes, exchanging energy and information. The term ‘cooperativity’ signifies the extent of their interaction with the guided mode and the mode’s capability to mediate interactions between distant individual emitters [1-3]. The research objective is to investigate the degree to which cooperative interactions among waveguide-coupled emitters enable them to withstand external decoherence effects in solid-state hosts. 

Application Deadline: 30 June 2024

Get 3X More Success with Our Academic CV Templates!

Our Ready-to-Use CV Templates Land You in Harvard, MIT, Oxford, and Beyond!

Search type

University Wide

Faculty / School Portals

• Grad Studies

Programs and Degrees

Programs & degrees.

Queen’s offers a range of programs and degrees, including Doctoral (PhD) Programs, Master's programs, and Graduate Diplomas, which you can explore through the links on this page. Our Academic Calendar includes important rules, regulations, and deadlines.

Our Grad Maps help as you navigate through Queen’s and beyond, offering program-specific advice on academics, research, networking, and launching your career.

View Grad Maps

Faculty of Health Sciences

Visit the Health Sciences Graduate Studies website .

Visit each program's website for a full description of the program, areas of study, faculty members, admission requirements and more.

Faculty of Arts and Science

Visit the Arts and Science Graduate Studies webpage.

Smith Engineering at Queen's University

Visit the Smith Engineering and Applied Sciences Graduate and Professional Studies website .

Visit each program's website for a full description of the program, areas of study, faculty members, admission requirements and more.

** - part of the Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy Program

Faculty of Law

Visit the Law Graduate Studies website .

Smith School of Business

Visit the Smith School of Business Graduate Programs website .

The Smith School of Business also provides additional graduate programs - Master of Business Administration, Master of Finance, Master of Financial Innovation & Technology, Master of International Business, Master of Management Analytics, Master of Management in Artificial Intelligence, Master of Management Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Graduate Diploma in Business, Graduate Diploma in Accounting.

Faculty of Education

Visit the Faculty of Education Graduate Studies website .

• MyQueen'sU - SOLUS, MyHR and more
• Outlook on the web - Email
• Course Reserves
• Business - Program Portals
• Education - Faculty & Staff Portal
• Grad Studies – Faculty & Staff Portal
• Health Sciences - Elentra

PhD Economics

Prospective Students

Current Students

Awards & Prizes

Job Postings