Metabolic regulation of neural circuits controlling cognition and metabolism

About the Project

How do ageing and obesity affect the brain and behaviour? This PhD project will investigate how the metabolic hormone insulin regulates neural circuits that control attention, learning, physical activity, and feeding behaviour. The research will focus on the basal forebrain, a key brain region involved in cognitive function that becomes less effective during ageing and in obesity.

The project will examine how insulin normally enhances activity within basal forebrain circuits and will test whether targeting downstream signalling pathways can restore brain function when insulin signalling is impaired.

The successful candidate will receive training in a wide range of modern neuroscience approaches, including behavioural analysis, multiphoton imaging, electrophysiology, and pharmacology.

This studentship is funded by the John Findlay Scholarship and is open to UK applicants only. The award covers full tuition fees and a maintenance stipend and is available for students starting in the 2026/27 academic year within the School of Biomedical Sciences.

You will join a supportive, collaborative and well-funded research team with expertise spanning behaviour, metabolism, electrophysiology, imaging and ion channels. The project will be based in the Johnston lab in the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Leeds in collaboration with the Filippi and Lippiat labs.

The student will also benefit from being part of the wider neuroscience research community at Leeds, providing opportunities for collaboration, seminars, and training.

We welcome applicants from diverse academic backgrounds including neuroscience, psychology, biology, biomedical sciences, engineering, or related disciplines. Curiosity, motivation, and enthusiasm are important attributes of a successful candidate. Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Dr Johnston to discuss the project further.

Your work could help uncover new ways to protect brain function in ageing and metabolic disease.

Entry Requirements

This award is only available to applicants who are eligible to pay fees at the UK Home fee rate.

Applicants to this scholarship in the School of Biomedical Sciences should normally have an Undergraduate degree of 2:1 or above (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject area. A Master’s degree is desirable, but not essential.

If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements. The minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study is an IELTS of 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid. Some schools and faculties have a higher requirement.

Other conditions:

• Applicants must not have been awarded or be currently studying for a doctoral degree.
• Awards must be taken up by 1st October 2026
• Applicants must live within a reasonable distance of hte University of Leeds whilst in receipt of this scholarship.

How to Apply

Please note that this is one of five advertised projects for the John Findlay PhD Scholarship, applicants should only submit one application for this award.

To apply for this scholarship opportunity applicants should complete an online application form and attach the following documentation to support their application.

• a full academic CV
• degree certificate and transcripts of marks
• Evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (if applicable)

To help us identify that you are applying for this scholarship project please ensure you provide the following information on your application form;

• Select PhD in Biological Science as your programme of study
• Give the full project title and name the supervisors listed in this advert
• For source of funding please state you are applying for a John Findlay PhD Scholarship.

For further information about the admissions process, please contact the FBS PGR Admissions Team: fbsgrad@leeds.ac.uk

Funding Notes

We are offering 1 full-time PhD scholarship in the School of Biomedical Sciences for one UK candidate, covering a maintenance grant matching the UKRI stipend (£21,805 for 2025/26) and UK tuition fees for 4 years. The award will be made for one year in the first instance and renewable for a further period of up to two years, subject to satisfactory academic progress.