that automated experimental work and discovery. Potential project extensions include applying these skills to sub-disciplines of Engineering Biology such as directed evolution, protein engineering, or biomedical and environmental applications with a particular focus on scale-up.
The project will enable candidates to build a broad skillset in the design, engineering, and application of new biotechnologies, providing an ideal foundation for future careers in academia, the bioscience industry, or entrepreneurship/start-ups. The studentship will integrate with work across the EPSRC Programme Grant “EEBio: Efficient engineering and control of predictable and reliable biotechnologies”; as such the candidate will be supported by a multidisciplinary team of academic and industrial experts with experience in related areas of biotechnology and have opportunities to collaborate with industrial and academic partners nationally and internationally.
Eligibility
This studentship is open to UK students (full award – home fees plus stipend).
There may be flexibility to support international students. If you are an international student and want to apply for this studentship please contact the supervisor to see whether the flexibility might be available for you.
Award Value
Course fees are covered at the level set for UK students (at least £10940 p.a.). The stipend (tax-free maintenance grant) is at least c. £21805 p.a. for the first year, and at least this amount for a further two and a half years.
Candidate Requirements
Prospective candidates will be judged according to how well they meet the following criteria:
- A first class (or strong 2:1) degree in any of Engineering, Materials Science, Computer Science, Physics, Biology/Biotechnology, Chemistry/Biochemistry or Mathematics.
- Excellent English written and spoken communication skills.
It is desirable that candidates possess expertise in some (but not all, or even most) of the following areas:
- Microbiology, Bacteriology, Synthetic Biology
- Applied Mathematics, Computer Science/AI, or Control Engineering
- Biological laboratory skills
- Programming / Software Engineering
- Electrical Engineering and robotics prototyping
Application Procedure
Informal enquiries are encouraged and should be addressed to Prof Harrison Steel and Prof Antonis Papachristodoulou (harrison.steel@eng.ox.ac.uk, antonis@eng.ox.ac.uk).
Candidates must submit a graduate application form and are expected to meet the graduate admissions criteria. Details are available on the course page of the University website.
Please quote 27ENGCO_HS in all correspondence and in your graduate application.
Application deadline: noon on Tuesday 2nd December 2026 (In line with the December admissions deadline, set by the University)
Start date: October 2027
Funding Notes
This studentship is open to UK students (full award – home fees plus stipend).
There may be flexibility to support international students. If you are an international student and want to apply for this studentship please contact the supervisor to see whether the flexibility might be available for you.
Award Value
Course fees are covered at the level set for UK students (at least £10940 p.a.). The stipend (tax-free maintenance grant) is at least c. £21805 p.a. for the first year, and at least this amount for a further two and a half years.
References
https://eng.ox.ac.uk/study/research-studentships/research-studentship-in-control-and-engineering-biology
