PhD Studentships 2024
MND Scotland and LifeArc are partnering to fund one PhD studentship to start in 2025 to increase research into improving MND diagnosis or identifying biomarkers for use in MND research or care.
About the awards
MND is a progressive, life-shortening illness, which arises from the death of motor neurons. The subsequent weakening of muscles leads to a loss of ability to walk, talk, eat and, eventually, breathe. In the UK, 1 in 300 people will die from MND and there is currently no cure or effective
disease modifying treatment available. Average life expectancy following diagnosis is just 18 months. Diagnosis is challenging, often taking over a year, and there is an urgent need for unique biomarkers and new diagnostic tools to not only help speed up this process, but also provide
improved monitoring of disease progression in clinical trials.
MND Scotland is committed to ‘making time count’ for people affected by MND and our core strategic goals include working in partnership to enable transformation in MND research and investing in ground-breaking research to change the future for people with MND. Our PhD studentships are designed to encourage young science graduates within the UK to embark on a research career in MND.
As a self-funded medical research charity, one of LifeArc’s aims is to help young researchers become established as scientists and as part of that to provide them with valuable insights into industry to advance their future career options. MND is one of LifeArc’s focus areas for research, supporting the development of new approaches to disease modifying interventions as well as new diagnostic tools and patient assisting devices.
As part of this joint studentship the student will spend placement periods within LifeArc laboratories, accessing industry leading facilities and technologies whilst embedded in a MND translational research environment. These placements would complement the capabilities in the home academic lab and would be managed around the exact needs of the PhD project.
For this MND Scotland-LifeArc jointly funded studentship, we welcome applications from all disciplines (including, but not limited to, laboratory-based, translational and clinical research, engineering, machine learning, and data-based science) but are specifically inviting projects aimed at improving the diagnosis pathway for MND or identifying biomarkers for use in MND research or care. This could include fluid-based
biomarkers detected in the periphery, imaging-based biomarkers e.g. detection by MRI, PET or CT, electrophysiology-based biomarkers like EMG or digital biomarkers like, for example speech-detection patterns.
Application deadline
The deadline for this funding call is 11:59 pm on 31 October 2024.
What do I need to know?
LifeArc and MND Scotland will jointly fund up to one PhD studentship, to start in Autumn 2025.
How often?
Usually awarded annually.
How many, how much and for how long?
We are offering up to one PhD studentship for 2025. Up to £100,000 will be available for a project up to three years in duration.
Funding will cover:
• Institute tuition fees (at UK rate only)
• UKRI level stipend
• Justified consumables and travel
In addition, LifeArc will provide the opportunity for the student to spend a minimum of 6 weeks as a placement student at the LifeArc laboratories either in Stevenage or Edinburgh where they can get valuable insights into work in an industrial setting and learn more about translational science. If required, additional funds will be provided by LifeArc for travel and accommodation costs for the duration of the LifeArc placement. This does not need to be requested as part of the studentship application.
The maximum that can be applied for: £100,000.
- Applications should be submitted by the supervisor, not the student.
- The primary applicant should be a researcher based at a recognised University in the UK and have an employment contract that exceeds the duration of the studentship. An early career researcher (ECR, within 10 years of PhD) can be named as a co-applicant but may not be a lead applicant unless they have a contract of employment that exceeds the duration of the PhD studentship (e.g. someone who has recently
established their own research group), and they are supported by someone who has experience in PhD supervision. - The primary applicant may not have been awarded a PhD Studentship with MND Scotland in the 12 months prior.
- The PhD student recruited must have a minimum of a 2ii degree in a relevant subject. We can accept applications from a clinical source but any costs above the agreed threshold will need to be met elsewhere.
- The student does not need to be named on the application and can be recruited postaward.
All applications must be submitted via the MND Scotland FlexiGrant online application portal.
Deadline is 11.59 pm on 31 October 2024.
If your research proposal requires input from people affected by MND, your application must be accompanied by a completed ‘Involving People in Research’ form. This will allow us to assess what support and assistance MND Scotland can provide for you. Should your research project be funded you will automatically be given the assistance you require.
For PhD studentships, the nature of the training environment provided for the student is very important and substantial weight is given to the part of the application where this is addressed.
LifeArc is aiming to use its funding contribution to form a partnership with the host University. They will provide an industry- based advisor to support the PhD student with advice on project plans and progress to bring industrial expertise to the project. This will allow the student to learn more about translational science and how industry engages with projects to eventually take them into the clinics. LifeArc offers a 20 min online meeting to potential applicants to explore what a partnership would look like and to discuss what the applicants would like to gain
from this collaboration. If you would like to discuss this further, please email research@mndscotland.org.uk and request a meeting with LifeArc.
As part of this collaboration the student will be invited to spend a minimum of six weeks at the LifeArc laboratories in either Stevenage or Edinburgh in order to access industry leading facilities and technologies whilst embedded in a MND translational research environment. These
placements would complement the capabilities in the home academic lab and would be managed around the exact needs of the PhD project.
More for researchers
Find out more about MND Scotland's research policies, other funding schemes, FAQs and latest research news here.
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