Population and Health Data Science: SURES Funded PhD in Multimodal Machine Learning Prediction of Neuropathy, Foot Ulceration and Mortality

Key Information

Open to: UK and international applicants

Funding Providers: Swansea University is pleased to offer fully-funded Swansea University Research Excellence Scholarships (SURES) for full-time doctoral students to its seventh cohort, commencing in October 2026.

Each SURES scholarship includes tuition fees and a stipend – reviewed annually at the UKRI standard rate and a £1,000 annual training allowance to support immersive training experiences, conference attendance, engagement with industry and international collaborative opportunities.

Each scholarship is offered for a maximum period of three years; SURES students are expected to submit their theses within this timescale.

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.

Subject Area: Population and Health Data Science

Project Start Dates: October 2026

** (Please see the note below regarding potential later start dates.)

**In exceptional circumstances, and subject to the discretion of the University and/or the relevant funding body, a deferral of offer may be granted to the next available enrolment period. Such deferral will typically not exceed a duration of three calendar months from the originally stipulated commencement date. Please note that only one deferral may be considered, and any such deferral is not guaranteed**.

Supervisors:

• Rebecca Thomas
• Arron Lacey
• Soloman Tesfaye

Aligned programme of study: Population and Health Data Science, Ph.D. - Swansea University

Mode of study:Full time

Place of study:

• Swansea University (Singleton Campus)
• Swansea University (Bay Campus)

Project description

This PhD will investigate whether routinely collected diabetic retinal photographs, combined with clinical measurements, can more accurately identify individuals at risk of developing diabetic neuropathy, foot ulceration, other long-term complications and mortality. The project draws on a uniquely rich 9-year dataset from Sheffield’s One Stop microvascular screening service, where retinal images, validated point-of-care nerve tests (DPNCheck and SUDOSCAN), neuropathy scoring, foot assessment and blood biomarkers). Participants were then followed for 7–9 years to determine who went on to develop confirmed neuropathy, foot ulceration or mortality. The student will extract quantitative features from retinal images and combine these with clinical variables using interpretable machine learning methods to build practical risk-prediction tools. The aim is to identify early microvascular or nerve-related signals that may precede symptoms. This PhD aligns with emerging NHS priorities and benefits from Dr Tesfaye unique position as advisor to NHS England on the development of national One Stop microvascular screening services. The project aims to produce clinically interpretable prediction tools that could support earlier detection of high-risk individuals and reduce the burden of neuropathy, ulceration and mortality.

Eligibility

Candidates 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)

• Where applicants have multiple master’s degrees, a distinction must be held in the degree that is most relevant to the intended PhD study.
• If you are currently studying for a master’s level qualification with an expected award date that is later than 01/10/2026, you should hold a minimum of an upper-secondclass (2:1) honours degree.
• You should be able todemonstratea pass with a minimum grade average of at least 70% for your part-one master’s degree modules (the taught aspect of your master’s course rather than a research-focused dissertation) and submit your dissertation by no later than 30/09/2026.

NB: If you hold a non-UK degree, please see the Swansea University degree comparisons to find out if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Applicants must be able to begin their course of study in October 2026.

As a cohort-based programme, deferral to an alternative enrolment window within the academic year or to another academic year is not permissible.

English Language requirements: If applicable – IELTS 6.5 overall (with a score of at least 6.5 in each individual component) or equivalent that is recognised by Swansea University.

Details on the Swansea University English Language entry policy can be found here.

Please note that both the degree and language-proficiency entry requirements for SURES are higher than the baseline standard for entry that is stipulated for most of the PhD programmes at Swansea University.

UK and International applicants

Please note that International applicants will be required to hold a SUIPRES scholarship, with further guidance to follow if shortlisted.

Funding Notes

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently £21,805 for 2026/27).

Additional research expenses of up to £1,000 per year will also be available.