Tumour Immunology, Cancer Biology: Fully Funded PhD Studentship in Interpreting Stress Responses that Drive Adaptive Immune Switches in the Tumour Microenvironment SUSPRS (RS857)

Funding providers: HMRI Houston Methodist Research Institute & SUSPRS Swansea University Strategic Partnership Research Scholarship

Subject areas: Tumour Immunology, Cancer Biology

Project start dates: October 2025 

Supervisors:  

• Prof Francis (Swansea University)
• Prof Chih-Chi Andrew Hu (Houston Methodist Hospital)

Aligned programme of study: Biomedical Sciences PhD

Mode of study: Full-time

Place of Study: Swansea University & Houston Methodist Hospital

Project Description:  

Swansea University and Houston Methodist Research Institute (HMRI) are pleased to offer a fully-funded Swansea University Strategic Partnership Research Scholarship (SUSPRS) for full-time doctoral students to its eighth cohort, commencing in October 2025. 

Swansea University (FMHLS) and Houston Methodist Hospital (Neal Cancer Centre) are offering a fully funded PhD project investigating cancer cell-immune regulatory signalling and chemotherapeutic treatment efficacy. 

Led by Prof Francis (SU), an expert in reproductive biology and gynaecological oncology, and Prof Chih-Chi Andrew Hu (HMH), specialising in B cell biology and ER stress, this collaborative project will explore tumour microenvironment (TME) stress responses in ovarian cancer (OC). By leveraging functional genomics and advanced disease models, we aim to identify novel cellular and molecular differentiation switches that could enhance treatment response in resistant patients. 

This PhD will utilise in vitro co-culture models at SU to uncover links between TME composition, ER stress, and gene expression. Findings will then be validated in in vivo models at HMH, including HGSOC orthotopic models and B cell-specific IRE-1/XBP-1 deficient mice. If successful, this research could pave the way for next-generation treatment regimens with translational potential. 

Ideal candidates will have a strong background in cancer biology, immunology, molecular biology, or related disciplines. The successful candidate will be comfortable travelling and living in both the UK and USA, as the project requires collaboration across both institutions. Indeed, it is anticipated that you will spend half of your time in HMH which is affiliated to the Texas Medical Center, the world’s largest medical facility. 

Informal scholarship enquiries from applicants to prospective supervisors – prior to the application deadline – are warmly encouraged; please direct these to the relevant member/s of faculty staff.  

PhD: Applicants for PhD must have achieved, or be expecting to achieve, a 1st class UK undergraduate degree (or equivalent international qualification), or a 2:1 UK undergraduate degree and a Distinction in a UK master’s degree (or international equivalent). I.e. 

1st UG Degree
or
2.1 UG Degree & Master's with Distinction 

English Language 
IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here. 

Essential Criteria:  

• Strong background in mammalian cell culture, including maintenance and experimentation as well as techniques such as flow cytometry, magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS), or fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) 
• Experience with 3D models of cancer or tissue biology. 
• Knowledge of or expertise in functional genomics techniques. 
• Understanding of tumour microenvironment (TME) interactions and cellular differentiation. 
• Knowledge of, or ideally hands-on experience with, animal husbandry in a research setting. 
• Comfortable working across both UK and USA institutions as part of an international collaboration. 
• Demonstrable skills in scientific research and communication, including data analysis, interpretation, and effective dissemination through presentations and/or publications. 

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently £20,780 for 2025/26). 

*While in Texas: equivalent stipend rate. 

A travel/training allowance of £1,500 over the duration of the studentship with maximum spend of £500 in any one financial year.

SUSPRS
Each SUSPRS scholarship includes tuition fees and a stipend – reviewed annually at the UKRI standard rate and a £500 annual training allowance to support immersive training experiences, conference attendance, engagement with industry and international collaborative opportunities.  

Informal scholarship enquiries from applicants to prospective supervisors prior to the application deadline are warmly encouraged.  

To apply, please complete the entire application form:

In order to be considered for this scholarship award the following steps are also required. 

1) In section ‘Programme Related Information’ please input the relevant RS Code for the scholarship award i.e. RS857 

2) In section ‘Research’ you will see ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’* (Mandatory) 

• In ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’ please input either: 

• the RS Code RS857
• the scholarship title

• Please leave Proposed Supervisor field blank 
• Please leave Research Project (if applicable) blank 
• In ‘Do you have a proposal to upload?*’(Mandatory) Please select Yes 
• Then upload copy of advert (you can save the advert by clicking print, and then print to pdf) 

3) In section ‘Funding information’ please choose the option ‘Scholarship Funding’ only. Please ensure no other options are selected.  

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award. 

One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards. 

If you’ve previously applied for this programme, the system will display an “Application Submitted” warning and block a new submission. In this case:

1. Apply for the same course with the next available start date (e.g., select January if October is unavailable).
2. Email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with your student number and the relevant scholarship RS code, requesting the start date be amended to match the advert.
3. Admissions staff will then update your application accordingly.

NOTE: Applicants for PhD/EngD/ProfD/EdD - to support our commitment to providing an environment free of discrimination and celebrating diversity at Swansea University you are required to complete an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form in addition to your programme application form.    

Please note that completion of the EDI Monitoring Form is mandatory; your application may not progress if this information is not submitted. 

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email): 

• CV 

• Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient) 

• A cover letter including a ‘Supplementary Personal Statement’ to explain why the position particularly matches your skills and experience and how you choose to develop the project. 

• One reference (academic or previous employer) on headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form. Please note that we are not able to accept references received citing private email accounts, e.g. Hotmail. Referees should cite their employment email address for verification of reference. 

• Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable). 

• Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable) 

• Confirmation of EDI form submission 

Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact Lewis Francis l.francis@swansea.ac.uk

*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co- funding of a scholarship project is applicable.