PhD Studentship: Research Studentship in Control & Engineering Biology Project: Learning and controlling cellular dynamics

University of Oxford; Oxford; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Oxford invites applications for a 3.5-year D.Phil. studentship in Control and Engineering Biology. The project focuses on learning and controlling cellular dynamics, with supervisors including Prof Jean-Baptiste Lugagne.

The fellowship combines engineering, biology, control theory and machine learning to address fundamental questions in cellular behaviour. Eligible UK students receive full home-fee coverage plus a tax-free stipend.

Qualifications

• First class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in Engineering, Physics, Biology, or a relevant discipline.
• Clear interest in understanding or engineering biological systems and motivation to learn beyond their existing discipline.
• Excellent English written and spoken communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop mathematical and computational models of cellular behaviour.
• Design feedback control strategies for cellular systems.
• Build experimental tools using microfluidics, automated microscopy and light-controlled gene expression.
• Study bacterial physiology and improve reliability of biological manufacturing.

Skills

Programming

Data analysis

Mathematical modelling

Control theory

Machine learning

English skills

Education

Undergrad degree (Eng/Phys/Bio)

Job description

Research Studentship in Control and Engineering Biology

3.5-year D.Phil. studentship

Project: Learning and controlling cellular dynamics

Supervisors: Prof Jean-Baptiste Lugagne

This DPhil studentship will explore questions at the intersection of engineering, biology, control theory, and machine learning.

Possible directions include developing mathematical and computational models of cellular behaviour, designing feedback control strategies, or building experimental tools using microfluidics, automated microscopy and light-controlled gene expression. Applications include understanding bacterial physiology and improving the reliability and productivity of biological manufacturing.

The specific research questions and balance of experimental, computational and theoretical work will be developed with the successful candidate.

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 Home students. The stipend (tax-free maintenance grant) is provided at c. £21,805 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 upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent) in Engineering, Physics, Biology, or in a relevant discipline.
• A clear interest in understanding or engineering biological systems, and motivation to learn beyond their existing discipline.
• Excellent English written and spoken communication skills.

The following skills are desirable but not essential:

• Programming, data analysis, mathematical modelling, control theory or machine learning.
• Molecular biology, microbiology, synthetic biology or bioprocess engineering.
• Microscopy, microfluidics, instrumentation or experimental automation.

Application Procedure

Informal enquiries are encouraged and should be addressed to Professor Lugagne ([e-mail]).

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_JL in all correspondence and in your graduate application.

Application deadline: noon on 2 December 2026 (In line with the University admissions deadline set by the University)

Start date: October 2027