PhD in mitochondrial biology | Multi-omics of endometrial cells under chronic inflammatory stress

PhD in mitochondrial biology | Multi-omics of endometrial cells under chronic inflammatory stress

Quick Decision

This is a multidisciplinary, basic-to-translational bioscience project on how mitochondrial change relates to endometrial-cell behavior under chronic inflammatory stress. The project description proposes combining genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic evidence; training opportunities include long-read sequencing, metabolomics, systems biology, bioinformatics and high-performance computing. The advert places the researcher at the University of Hull and describes collaboration with Hull York Medical School, Sheffield and York. The named methods are project and training scope, but the public materials do not establish that the student will use every method or how work will be divided across sites.

The project fits applicants who can connect molecular biology with data interpretation and are open to interdisciplinary training. It is not a clinical trial or a promised biomarker-development project. Longer-term therapeutic and biomarker implications are aspirations, not guaranteed outputs. Hull’s official YBDTP 2027 catalogue lists the project with Dr Barbara Guinn as primary supervisor; detailed project aims are in the linked public project description (YBDTP 2027 projects).

Funding is competitive through the BBSRC Yorkshire Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership (YBDTP). Its official guidance describes four-year awards with UKRI-minimum stipend, research costs and Home-rate tuition; not every listed project receives a funded place. A limited number of international bursaries may cover full studentships at Hull, but competition is described as very high and visa, NHS surcharge, travel insurance and travel costs are excluded. The project details give a 6 January 2027, 17:00 UK-time deadline. As of the 7 November 2026 review, YBDTP’s 2027 intake was listed as open; confirm the project-specific deadline in the application form (funding and eligibility).

Research Problem and Doctoral Work

What Is Unsolved and Why It Matters

The project asks how mitochondrial genetic and functional change may alter cellular behavior and contribute to disease processes. Its project-specific focus is endometrial cells responding to chronic inflammatory stress. The research description proposes integration across genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic layers to build a broader account of mitochondrial dysfunction. It does not specify a particular causal mechanism, the exact cell source or which omics layers are already available.

Work, Methods, and Potential Outputs

Advertised work includes studying links between mitochondrial genetics, gene-expression patterns and metabolism in the stated cellular context, then integrating the resulting evidence. Long-read sequencing and metabolomics are named as training opportunities alongside systems biology, bioinformatics and high-performance computing; these should be treated as training areas, not as a guaranteed sequence of experiments. The project also promises cross-site interaction and training in translational women’s health. Public information does not say how often the student will work at each site, which team owns each data stream or how work will be split between discovery and analysis.

Potential longer-term value could include biomarkers or therapeutic targets, as the project description suggests. These remain aspirations. No clinical diagnostic claim, validated biomarker or treatment output is promised.

School, Programme and Field Context

The advertised host is the University of Hull, with the candidate based there and collaboration across Hull, Sheffield and York. The project description also references Hull York Medical School and a PhD in Medical or Human Sciences. The partnership institutions’ involvement does not by itself establish which university will register the student or award the degree. Confirm the registration school, award-granting institution and any cross-institution attendance requirement before accepting.

YBDTP is a regional BBSRC doctoral-training partnership. Its 2027 information describes interdisciplinary training, professional/data-analysis skills and a four-year completion period. The DTP page sets broad eligibility at a 2:1 or equivalent and welcomes biological, chemical, physical-science or mathematics backgrounds. The University of Hull and HYMS provide separate research-degree and fee guidance; the project-specific registration and any research training support charge are not confirmed (HYMS fees and expenses).

The University of Hull’s 2024 annual report records a joint 516th place in the 2025 QS World University Rankings (overall, not subject-specific) and reports 82% of research as world-leading or internationally excellent in REF 2021. Hull York Medical School was placed third in the UK for Medicine in the Guardian University Guide 2026; that is a subject/teaching league-table result, not a rating of this project’s research or proof of the degree-registration route. Hull’s 2027 guide-level “Career on Track” result is a broad graduate metric, not a PhD-specific employment outcome. The cross-disciplinary YBDTP network is the stronger project-relevant environment signal; exact facilities and access remain unknown (Hull annual report; HYMS Medicine ranking; Hull graduate metrics).

Supervisor and Lab Assessment

Supervisor Research Directions

Dr Barbara Guinn’s Hull profile describes biomedical research on chronic-disease biomarkers, especially endometriosis. Dr Paul McKeegan’s Hull page identifies him as a Human Physiology lecturer in Hull York Medical School, but his staff profile gives limited detail about his research. Prof Heather Mortiboys’ Sheffield profile focuses on mitochondrial function in neurodegenerative disease. This provides a plausible cross-disciplinary supervisory mix, but their precise roles and meeting structure in this project are not public (Guinn; McKeegan; Mortiboys).

Recent Important Publications

• Mortiboys’ official profile lists Kentros et al. (2025, Brain Research) on regulation of LRRK2 activity under metabolic stress and heavy-metal exposure. It shows recent mitochondrial-related work but is not an endometrial-cell study.
• The same profile lists Harvey et al. (2024, Heliyon) on genetic determinants of mitochondrial function in ALS. It illustrates genetics/mitochondrial-disease expertise, not a result transferable to this project’s cellular context.
• Payne et al. (2023, Brain) on multimodal assessment of mitochondrial function in Parkinson’s disease shows clinical and functional breadth in the supervisor’s research environment. It does not validate the proposed project’s measures or expected outcomes.
• Guinn’s official project page lists recent endometriosis-related diagnostic research. This is adjacent expertise and should not be confused with the proposed mitochondrial-stress question (Guinn’s research context).

Lab, Resources, and Collaboration Environment

The project description names collaboration across University of Hull, University of Sheffield and University of York, with the candidate based at Hull. Hull’s health-research pages show links with Hull York Medical School and local hospital partners. The YBDTP gives a regional training network. Confirm what “access and support from all three sites” means in practice: co-supervision, shared datasets, visits, facilities or scheduled training.

Funding, Application, and Living Cost

YBDTP awards are competitive, last four years and include a tax-free UKRI-minimum stipend, research costs and Home-rate fees. The general YBDTP application page still shows £20,780 for 2025/26; UKRI lists £21,805 as its minimum for 2026/27. Neither figure confirms the 2027/28 rate for this project. UKRI funding covers fees at the Home rate; Hull has a very limited number of full-award bursaries for international applicants, so the international fee gap is not guaranteed. Visa, NHS surcharge, travel insurance and travel to the UK are excluded from UKRI funding. The project advert gives 6 January 2027 at 17:00 UK time; verify this in the final application portal (UKRI stipend guidance, YBDTP funding and application guidance).

Hull’s research-fee pages provide general context, while HYMS warns that some research projects may incur an additional research training support charge. The project’s actual registration route and any charge are unknown. Hull advertises its affordability, but a PhD-specific monthly budget for Hull has not been confirmed. Build a personal budget from local housing, food, transport and visa costs rather than treating the city’s promotional affordability claim as a stipend guarantee (Hull research fees; HYMS costs).

Applicant Fit and Preparation

Required Background and Skills

YBDTP’s 2027 guidance accepts at least a UK 2:1 or equivalent and welcomes biological, chemical, physical-science and mathematical backgrounds. International applicants may apply to Hull but compete for a very small number of full bursaries; host-university English-language and country requirements also apply. Selection is competitive and not every project will be funded.

Preferred Experience and Suggested Preparation

The project description points to interest in mitochondrial biology, multi-omics, computational analysis and translational women’s health. Prior experience across every listed discipline is not stated as mandatory. Applicants can strengthen their case by showing one example of integrating biological evidence with quantitative analysis and by explaining why the endometrial/inflammation context interests them. These are preparation suggestions, not extra formal criteria.

Next Actions and Questions to Verify

Before Applying

• Confirm the live deadline, 17:00 UK time, application form and how many projects may be ranked.
• Ask whether this project has a funded YBDTP place and whether an international full-award bursary could cover the fee gap.
• Confirm the degree-registering institution, school, English-language requirements and any research-support charge.

At Interview

• Ask which data streams are already available, which are planned for the student and how supervisory responsibilities are divided across Hull, Sheffield and York.
• Clarify the balance between biological interpretation, data integration and each training opportunity.

Before Accepting an Offer

• Obtain written confirmation of award duration, 2027/28 stipend, Home/International fee coverage, research costs, visa-related exclusions, registration arrangements and expected site attendance.

Evidence and Sources

Project, Application and Programme

• YBDTP 2027 project catalogue
• YBDTP funding, eligibility and application guidance
• YBDTP partnership overview

Funding, Fees and Costs

• UKRI minimum stipend rates
• HYMS research-degree fees and expenses
• Hull postgraduate research fees and funding

Supervisors and Related Research

• Dr Barbara Guinn, University of Hull
• Dr Paul McKeegan, University of Hull
• Prof Heather Mortiboys, University of Sheffield
• Guinn-led endometriosis research context

Hull Research Environment

• Hull health-research environment