University of Nottingham

What you'll study

This PhD is an intensive research degree centred on an original project, supervised by an interdisciplinary team. Most students focus on one major laboratory or computational research theme—examples include genetic circuit design and control, metabolic pathway engineering for chemical production, genome editing and synthetic genomics, high‑throughput screening and optimisation, computational modelling of biological systems, and scale‑up/bioprocess development.

Training is delivered through a combination of research, bespoke postgraduate training modules and professional development activities. Typical elements include:

• Research project: independent, hypothesis‑driven experimental or computational research leading to a thesis and viva voce examination.
• Technical training: advanced molecular biology and genetic engineering techniques (including CRISPR methods), omics technologies, high‑throughput assay design, automation and analytics.
• Computational skills: bioinformatics, statistical analysis, mathematical modelling and software tools used in synthetic biology and systems biology.
• Bioprocess and scale‑up: downstream processing, fermentation and aspects of industrial biotechnology where relevant to the project.
• Responsible research and innovation: biosafety, biosecurity, ethics, regulation and considerations around translation and commercialisation.
• Transferable skills: scientific communication, grant and manuscript writing, project management, intellectual property awareness and entrepreneurship.

Students follow a programme of milestones and progress reviews, attend seminars and group meetings, and are encouraged to present work at national and international conferences. Collaborative projects with industry or clinical partners are common and may include placements or secondments.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to have a good honours degree (first class or upper second class) in a relevant subject such as molecular biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, bioengineering, microbiology, computational biology or a closely related discipline. A relevant master's degree with a substantial research component is advantageous and often required for candidates from different academic backgrounds.

Selection is based on academic performance, research experience (for example, laboratory or computational projects, publications or technical employment), a clear research proposal or fit to advertised supervisors' interests, and strong references. Candidates should demonstrate awareness of the ethical and safety issues associated with synthetic biology.

International applicants must meet the University's English language requirements; candidates whose first language is not English should check the current accepted qualifications and scores. Applicants may be invited for an interview with the supervisory team as part of the assessment process.

Career prospects

Graduates from this PhD typically move into a wide range of roles across academia, industry and the public sector. Typical career paths include:

• Academic research and teaching (postdoctoral positions leading to research group leadership).
• Biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry roles in R&D, strain and pathway engineering, assay development, process development and scale‑up.
• Start‑ups and entrepreneurial roles in synthetic biology, biofoundries and advanced biomanufacturing.
• Regulatory affairs, quality assurance and biosafety roles in organisations that govern or apply biological technology.
• Science policy, technology translation, intellectual property and scientific consulting.
• Data‑driven roles in bioinformatics, computational biology and systems modelling where quantitative skills are required.

The combination of technical expertise and transferable skills provided during the PhD prepares graduates for both research‑intensive careers and roles demanding interdisciplinary problem solving and leadership.

Why study at University of Nottingham

The University of Nottingham offers an interdisciplinary environment for synthetic biology research, bringing together expertise across the Schools of Life Sciences, Pharmacy, Engineering and Computer Science. Students benefit from access to well‑equipped core facilities such as advanced microscopy, mass spectrometry, genomics and high‑throughput screening platforms, as well as computational resources for modelling and bioinformatics.

The University fosters strong links with industry and regional innovation ecosystems, offering opportunities for collaborative projects, secondments and pathways to commercialisation. Research culture emphasises high‑quality supervision, regular skills training and a supportive doctoral community, including seminars, journal clubs and cross‑disciplinary training networks. These strengths make Nottingham a strong place to develop the scientific, technical and professional capabilities needed to translate synthetic biology research into real‑world impact.