PhD Studentship: Leveraging zebrafish models to investigate neurovascular interaction

The UCL Cancer Institute is the hub for cancer research at University College London, one of the world's leading universities. We bring together a large community of scientists working to translate fundamental discoveries in cancer biology into kinder and more effective therapies for patients. This studentship is part of the UCL-Edinburgh CRUK Glioma Brain Tumour Centre of Excellence, an interdisciplinary research network dedicated to understanding glioma biology and developing new translational approaches for children and young people affected by brain tumours.

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD student to join an exciting Cancer Research UK-funded project investigating how paediatric glioma cells interact with the neurovascular microenvironment during tumour growth, invasion and response to treatment. The project will focus on diffuse midline glioma (DMG), one of the most challenging childhood brain cancers.

Working under the supervision of Professor Simona Parrinello and Dr Ivan Bassi, you will develop and apply zebrafish models to study tumour‑neurovascular interactions in vivo. The project combines advanced live imaging, quantitative image analysis, molecular and cell biology techniques, genetic manipulation, and analysis of single‑cell and spatial transcriptomic datasets to identify mechanisms driving tumour progression and therapy resistance. The successful candidate will contribute to generating new insights into paediatric glioma biology and identifying potential therapeutic vulnerabilities.

You will have, or be expecting to obtain, a UK Master's degree or a First or Upper Second Class Bachelor's degree (or overseas equivalent) in biological sciences, biomedical sciences, neuroscience, cancer biology, developmental biology, or a related discipline. You will possess a strong interest in cancer research, paediatric brain tumours, developmental biology, vascular biology, neuroscience, or related fields.

You should have experience of laboratory‑based research and an understanding of molecular and/or cell biology principles. We are looking for someone with excellent organisational and communication skills, strong attention to detail, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research environment. Experience in areas such as cell culture, fluorescence microscopy, quantitative image analysis, zebrafish models, cancer biology or neuroscience would be advantageous but is not essential.

This is a full time fully funded 4‑year PhD studentship funded by Cancer Research UK; successful candidates will receive a non‑taxable annual stipend of £24,643 covering tuition fees at Home rate and meet UCL PhD admissions criteria.

As London's Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world's talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL's workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people. Our division holds an Athena SWAN Silver award, in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality.

You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here: