About the Project
Background
Applications are invited from both Home students and International students to join a multidisciplinary team of researchers studying the links between behaviour and brain circuit dynamics in animal models of Parkinson's. This studentship is available from the start of academic year 2027/28, is for 4 years, and will be co-supervised by Professor Peter Magill, Professor Andrew Sharott, Dr Juan Gallego and Dr Helen Collins at the Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence in Restorative…
Neural Dynamics.
The Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence in Restorative Neural Dynamics (www.rnd.ac.uk) was launched in November 2025 as a flagship research and innovation enterprise that is focused on harnessing the moment-to-moment interactions between nerve cells ('neural dynamics') to transform medical device-based therapy for brain conditions. The MRC CoRE RND incorporates discovery research and translational research aligned to empirical neuroscience, computational neuroscience, experimental medicine, and biomedical engineering. The MRC CoRE RND is exceptionally collaborative, involving partners in academia, neurotechnology industry, research charities, and clinical services. The MRC CoRE RND champions values supporting a positive research culture.
The complex coordinated activity of large populations of neurons in the brain can be distilled down to low-dimensional 'latent dynamics'. These latent dynamics provide insight into network-level computations in the brain that support motor and cognitive functions. Understanding how latent dynamics emerge in the brain in health and how they are affected in Parkinson's is important for developing new and improved treatments for this condition.
Project Description
The overall goal of this PhD studentship project is to generate new mechanistic insights into how latent dynamics in the basal ganglia and their partner brain circuits encode and shape purposeful movement in health as well as impaired movement in Parkinson's. To achieve this, the project will couple experimental interventions with advanced data analyses to capture and interrogate neural circuit dynamics in the living brain at high spatiotemporal resolution. The project will focus on the use of mouse models with intact or comprised midbrain dopamine systems, the readouts from which straddle multiple levels of neural function.
Training
The project will take place in the Brain Network Dynamics Unit of the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences and in the Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence in Restorative Neural Dynamics (MRC CoRE RND). Students will benefit from the extensive interdisciplinary skills training and personalised career development opportunities available within the Unit and the MRC CoRE RND. Students will receive specialised training in their areas of project research (see below) as well as, for example, in the translation and commercialisation of research, best practice in Open Science, and how to effectively involve and engage patients and the public with research.
Focusing on basal ganglia circuits, studentship holders will use cutting-edge research approaches for monitoring and manipulating neurons in the living brain. As an integral part of this project, you will receive advanced training in the following research techniques; electrophysiology, fibre photometry, neuroanatomy, and mouse behavioural assays, together with advanced data analysis. You will also be trained to use and characterise mouse models that have phenotypes of relevance to human Parkinson's.
Qualifications & Experience
Interested candidates should hold, or expect to receive, a 1st class or upper 2nd class degree (or equivalent) in a related scientific discipline, e.g. biological or physical sciences, medicine, mathematics. Previous experience in neuroscience research is highly desirable.
Contact
Candidates must contact the lead project supervisor before submitting an application. To find out more about this studentship, the research project, and the application process, please contact Professor Peter Magill by email on peter.magill@ndcn.ox.ac.uk.
How to apply
To be considered for this studentship, please submit an application for admission to the D.Phil. in Clinical Neurosciences at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (course code RD_CU1), following the guidance for applications to this course. On the application form, in the section headed 'Departmental Studentship Applications', please indicate that you are applying for a studentship and enter the reference code "27NDCN01MRC" into the funding tab.
The closing date for applications is 12.00 midday UK time on Tuesday 1st December 2026.
Funding Notes
This four-year Ph.D. (D.Phil.) studentship offers three years of full-time tuition fees at the Home rate, and four years of non-taxable stipend at the full-time UKRI rate (including any uplifts announced). Both Home students and International students are eligible to receive this funding package. Please see further details about MRC/UKRI studentships and UKRI guidance regarding Home and International eligibility. Successful offer-holders who have applied by the December deadline may also be considered for other University of Oxford scholarships.