About the Project
Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Network SPACE-MEL
SPACE-MEL is an EU-funded MSCA Doctoral Network advancing the next generation of spatial single-cell omics technologies for precision medicine. Bringing together leading European universities, technology providers, clinical partners and innovative companies, the programme will address key experimental and computational challenges currently limiting the clinical translation of spatial biology. By integrating multi-omics approaches, enabling the transition from 2D to 3D tissue analysis and…
developing advanced data interpretation methods, SPACE-MEL aims to unlock deeper insights into cellular organisation and disease mechanisms. The network will train 15 Doctoral Candidates through an interdisciplinary programme spanning spatial imaging technologies, molecular biology, computational biology, pathology and biomarker discovery. Through cross-sectoral secondments, hands-on research and comprehensive transferable-skills training, SPACE-MEL will equip a new generation of researchers with end-to-end expertise in spatial biology and strengthen Europe’s leadership in this rapidly evolving field.
Project description:
The doctoral candidate will develop a dermatopathology-specific foundation model for melanoma diagnosis and risk stratification. The project will build a large, harmonised dataset of digitised H&E and IHC images linked to pathology reports, molecular information and spatial omics data. It pursues two integrated objectives: i) train a pathology foundation model adapted to dermatopathology; ii) integrate histology-derived representations with textual and omics information for diagnostic triage, molecular status prediction and risk stratification.
At the University of Manchester, the candidate will work on computational pathology, visual foundation models and multimodal learning for digital pathology applications. During a first secondment at Erasmus MC, the candidate will support the curation and harmonisation of digitised melanoma images and linked clinical-pathology data. A second secondment at Intelligent Biodata will focus on integrating model outputs with LLM-based approaches and pathology reports. Expected outcomes include: (1) a dermatopathology-specific foundation model; (2) diagnostic triage support; and (3) a combined histology-omics risk stratification tool.
What SPACE-MEL will offer
- A thorough scientific education in the frame of a doctoral training program.
- The possibility to participate in specific international courses, workshops and conferences.
- A strong involvement in a European research project with high international visibility.
- The possibility to perform research visits to internationally renowned research labs in Europe.
- A prestigious three-year MSCA Fellowship.
A competitive salary including mobility and family allowances.
Entry Requirements
Applicants must have obtained or be about to obtain a minimum Upper Second class UK honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in a relevant discipline.
- Bachelor or Master’s degree in Computer Science or related fields.
- Applicants must be doctoral candidates, i.e not already in possession of a doctoral degree.
- Mobility rule: researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date.
How to Apply
For information on how to apply for this project, please visit the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health Doctoral Academy website (https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/research/apply/). Interested candidates must first make contact with the Primary Supervisor prior to submitting a formal application, to discuss their interest and suitability for the project. On the online application form select PhD Biomedical Imaging Sciences.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Equality, diversity and inclusion is fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester, and is at the heart of all of our activities. The full Equality, diversity and inclusion statement can be found on the website https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/research/apply/equality-diversity-inclusion/
Funding Notes
Marie Curie Doctoral Training Network (EU Horizon)
Studentship funding is for 3 years starting January 2027, covering UK tuition fees and an annual stipend. The value of the stipend for the academic year 2026-27 will be aligned with the UKRI Stipend Level.