Funding opportunities are launched throughout the year - Please check these pages regularly for updates
| Title | Summary | Deadline | Full details and how to apply |
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NANOMICO – Decoding Nanoparticle–Epithelium–Immune Interactions in the Human Lung in Early-life |
Supervised by Professors Sejal Saglani and Clare Lloyd, this PhD project focuses on the early-life pulmonary epithelial and immune responses following nanoparticle exposure in the human lung. The candidate will investigate how nanoparticles influence epithelial function, responses to concurrent exposures such as infection and downstream immune responses and impact on lung structure and inflammation using complex cell cultures.
The PhD is a joint and collaborative initiative between the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Imperial, and offers the opportunity of a research placement at TUM.
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17 July 2026 |
Please provide a CV (including degrees and grades), a personal statement detailing your research interests and expertise and reasons for applying, and the names of two academic referees (we will only contact referees for successful applicants) to Sejal Saglani (s.saglani@imperial.ac.uk).
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The PhD will focus on the immune response mounted following vaccination with live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV). The successful candidate will work within the Thwaites laboratory at the Hammersmith hospital campus of the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London. We will conduct analyses of the titre and function of mucosal and blood antibodies in samples donated by people receiving different influenza vaccines. We will additionally analyse the frequency and function of T cells in both the blood and airway tissues from these donors. Furthermore, we will collaborate with partners of the MOVE consortium, a new partnership with AstraZeneca and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to achieve these goals. Depending on project progress and direction, placement opportunities may arise with MOVE partners during the PhD project. |
3 July 2026 |
To apply, please submit a one-page personal statement detailing your academic background and research interests, a CV and contact information of two professional/academic references to Dr Ryan Thwaites (r.thwaites@imperial.ac.uk). The studentship is expected to start in October 2026. |
Looking for a PhD at NHLI?
If you are looking for funding to undertake a PhD with a supervisor from the National Heart and Lung Institute, please see our step by step guide on applying.