School of Science
Supervisor: Dr Weiwei Dai
Applications accepted all year round. Self-Funded PhD Students Only.
About the Project
To cultivate research talents with global leadership, interdisciplinary innovation capabilities, and international research collaboration capabilities, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) fully leverages its characteristics of international education and builds upon the long-established strategic cooperation among XJTLU, Xi’an Jiaotong University (XJTU), and the University of Liverpool (UoL). This initiative integrates top-tier research resources to launch a Joint Doctoral Supervision…
Programme across the three institutions.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is fundamental to the inheritance and modernization of Chinese medical systems. Conventional TCM identification methods rely on destructive chemical extraction or subjective sensory assessment, which are low-efficiency and environmentally harmful. Hyperspectral remote sensing enables non-invasive, batch collection of spectral data from TCM samples, capturing their physical and chemical properties without using organic reagents. This project will use hyperspectral data to build prediction models for TCM origin verification, species differentiation, and quality assessment. By combining spectral analysis with chemometric methods, it aims to create a fast, non-destructive, and eco-friendly TCM evaluation framework, addressing gaps in current quality control and promoting standardized TCM testing.
Joint Supervisory Team:
- XJTLU supervisor: Dr. Weiwei Dai
- XJTU supervisor: Professor Xumei Wang
- UoL supervisor: Dr. Marco Sciacovelli
- XJTLU co-supervisor: Professor Zhiliang Lu
Requirements:
A UK first-class or upper second-class honours Bachelor's degree and a UK Master's degree with Merit (or their equivalent) are required for PhD admissions. Exceptional candidates holding only a Bachelor's degree may be considered on an individual basis.
Evidence of good spoken and written English is essential. The candidate should have an IELTS (or equivalent) score of 6.5 or above, if the first language is not English.
For more information about entry requirements and admission procedures of PhD programme at XJTLU, please visit:
- Entry Requirement - Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
- How to Apply - Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
Other Requirements (if any):
This position is open to all qualified candidates irrespective of nationality.
Programme Structure and Fees:
Doctoral students in the joint programme are registered with both XJTLU and the UoL. Upon successful completion of the programme, the students will be awarded a PhD degree from University of Liverpool. During their doctoral studies at XJTLU, students are expected to conduct research at XJTU as visiting students. Additionally, students have the opportunity to apply for a short-term research visit to the UoL if the project requires it.
The joint doctoral programme is offered on a full-time basis, with a typical duration of three to four years. The tuition fee is RMB 99,000 per year.
How to Apply:
Interested applicants are advised to email Weiwei.Dai@xjtlu.edu.cn the following documents for initial review and assessment (Please include the project title in the subject line):
- CV
- Two formal reference letters
- Personal statement outlining your interest in the position
- Certificates of English language qualifications (IELTS or equivalent)
- Full academic transcripts in both Chinese and English (for international students, only the English version is required)
- Verified certificates of education qualifications in both Chinese and English (for international students, only the English version is required)
- PDF copy of Master Degree dissertation (or an equivalent writing sample) and examiners reports available
Where will I study?
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) is an international joint-venture university founded by Xi’an Jiaotong University in China and the University of Liverpool in the UK, which captures the essence of both parent universities, offering students the opportunity to obtain globally recognised UK degree and a unique life experience within China.
Project supervisors
Dr. Weiwei Dai
Career overview
Weiwei Dai received a B.S. in Biotechnology from Northwest University, Xi’an (2008), an M.Sc. in Fish Nutrition from Ocean University of China, Qingdao (2011), and a Ph.D. from the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), France (2016). Between 2016 and 2023, Weiwei Dai continued an academic career in the United States as a postdoctoral fellow at The Pennsylvania State University (2016-2018) and a Post-Doctoral Associate at Rutgers University (2018-2023). Weiwei Dai joined the Department of Biosciences and Bioinformatics at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University as an assistant professor in June 2023 and has served as the Director of the Suzhou Municipal Key Lab for Metabolic Syndrome Drug Research since June 2024. Research has primarily focused on Nutrition and Metabolism in liver and metabolic diseases, including obesity and liver cancer. Current research interests include cancer metabolism, particularly amino acid/nitrogen metabolism in liver cancer, and epigenetic regulation of metabolic enzymes in liver tumour microenvironments.
Research interests
Weiwei Dai's research focuses on nitrogen metabolism in physiology and metabolic diseases, including obesity and liver cancer. They are particularly interested in the nutritional regulation of mTOR activation (mTORC1 and mTORC2) and cancer metabolism, specifically the effects of urea cycle dysregulation and ammonia accumulation on cancer and immune cells. Additionally, they study dietary regulation and intervention on animal growth and tumor progression, epigenetic regulation of metabolic enzymes, and hepatic nitrogen metabolism reprogramming.
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