Disrupted brain development and stress responses in a zebrafish model of psychiatric disease

About the Project

Details of the Project

Psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia affect over one in five people worldwide and are a leading cause of disability and early mortality. A common feature across many of these conditions is an altered response to stress, yet the developmental and genetic factors that shape this vulnerability remain poorly understood.

This PhD project will investigate how early brain development influences stress regulation, using zebrafish as a model system. The zebrafish offers unique advantages for studying the developing brain in vivo, including genetic tractability, transparency for live imaging, and conservation of key pathways that control stress and emotion.

Our work has identified that mutations in the psychiatric risk gene Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia-1 (DISC1) alter both brain development and stress hormone responses in zebrafish, suggesting a fundamental role for this gene in shaping stress-regulating circuits of the hypothalamus. Building on these findings, the project will explore how DISC1 and related molecular pathways influence the development and function of neurons that control stress. The project will incorporate a range of approaches, including advanced imaging, molecular genetics, behavioural assays, and bioinformatics.

The student will receive comprehensive training in zebrafish developmental neurobiology and stress physiology, gaining experience in cutting-edge techniques for imaging and genetic manipulation. This work will contribute to understanding how genetic risk factors disrupt brain development to produce altered behaviour, offering insights relevant to psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety.

The project would suit students with backgrounds or interests in neuroscience, developmental biology, genetics, or biomedical science, and will provide excellent interdisciplinary research training in a supportive and collaborative environment.

Overseas Applicants

Overseas applicants may apply for this studentship but will need to pay the difference between the ‘Home’ and the ‘Overseas’ tuition fees. Currently the difference between ‘Home’ and the ‘Overseas’ tuition fees is £17,712 for 2026/7. As part of the application, you will be required to confirm that you will provide this additional funding. Please indicate this on the application form in the funding section.

Location

This position will be based on the Aston Campus in Birmingham, UK. The successful candidate will need to be located within a reasonable distance of the campus, and will be expected to visit in person regularly.

Person Specification

Candidates should have been awarded, or expect to achieve, EITHER:

a] a First or Upper Second Class award in their Undergraduate Degree (Bachelors or UG Masters) from a UK institution, in a subject judged by Aston to be relevant to the proposed research.

OR

b] a Merit (or above)* in a Postgraduate Masters degree in a relevant subject AND an Undergraduate Degree (Bachelors or UG Masters), both from UK institutions.

*where appropriate.

Qualifications from overseas institutions will be also considered but performance must be equivalent to that described above, and the University reserves the right to ascertain this equivalence according to its own criteria.

Contact information

For formal enquiries about this project contact Dr Helen Eachus at h.eachus@aston.ac.uk

Submitting an application

We can only consider applications that are complete and have all supporting documents. Applications that do not provide all the relevant documents will be automatically rejected.Your application must include:

1. English language copies of the transcripts and certificates for all your higher education degrees, including any Bachelor degrees.
2. A Research Statement detailing your understanding of the research area, how you would approach the project, and a brief review of relevant literature. Be sure to use the title of the research project you are applying for. There is no set format or word count.
3. A personal statement which outlines any further information which you think is relevant to your application, such as your personal suitability for research, career aspirations, possible future research interests, and further description of relevant employment experience.
4. A Curriculum Vitae (Resume) which details your education and work history.
5. Two academic refereeswho can discuss your suitability for independent research. References must be on headed paper, signed and dated no more than 2 years old. At least one reference should be from your most recent University. You can submit your references at a later date if necessary.
6. Evidence that you meet the English Language requirements. If you do not currently meet the language requirements, you can submit this at a later stage.
7. A copy of your passport. Where relevant, include evidence of settled or pre-settled status.

Interviews

Interviews will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. If you are shortlisted, you will be contacted directly with details of the interview.

Apply for this position here

Please select “Research - Health Sciences” from the application form options

If you require further information about the application process please contact the Postgraduate Admissions team at pgr_admissions@aston.ac.uk

Funding Notes

This project covers the Home tuition fees. Candidates who do not have Home status will be responsible for the difference in tuition fees. Currently the difference between ‘Home’ and the ‘Overseas’ tuition fees is £17,712 for 2026/7.