The University of Oxford is offering a 3.5-year DPhil studentship in Control and Engineering Biology, focusing on synthetic biology, artificial intelligence, control engineering, and robotics. The research aims to develop reliable biological systems and scalable biotechnology applications. The scholarship provides an annual tax-free stipend of at least £21,805 and tuition fee support. UK students are eligible for full funding, while international applicants may be considered subject to funding availability and supervisor confirmation.
Important Dates / Deadline
- Application Deadline: December 2, 2026, at 12:00 noon
- Expected Start Date: October 2027
- Studentship Duration: 3.5 years
- Study Mode: Full-time or part-time listed
- Reference Number: 27ENGCO_HS
Organization
University: University of Oxford
Research Project: Synthetic Biology for Fundamental Science and Application Scale-Up
Supervisors:
- Professor Harrison Steel
- Professor Antonis Papachristodoulou
The studentship is associated with the EPSRC Programme Grant, EEBio: Efficient Engineering and Control of Predictable and Reliable Biotechnologies.
Location / Study Destination
Oxford, England, United Kingdom.
Who Can Apply
Country Eligibility: UK Applicants Fully Eligible; International Applicants Conditionally Eligible.
The studentship is primarily funded for UK Home students. International applicants, including those from EU and non-EU countries, may also be considered if additional funding flexibility is available.
International candidates should contact the supervisors before applying to confirm whether financial support can be provided.
Applicants should hold:
- A First-Class or strong Upper Second-Class (2:1) degree in a relevant discipline.
- A degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Computer Science, Physics, Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Mathematics.
- Excellent written and spoken English communication skills.
Candidates from different academic backgrounds are encouraged to consider the opportunity, as the specific research direction can be adapted to their expertise and interests.
Key Benefits / Funding
The studentship provides financial and research support for 3.5 years.
- Annual Stipend: At least £21,805, tax-free.
- Stipend Duration: 3.5 years.
- Tuition Fee Coverage: At the UK Home fee rate, stated as at least £10,940 per year.
- Full Award Eligibility: UK Home students.
- International Funding: Potential support subject to available funding flexibility.
- Research Collaboration: Opportunities to work with multidisciplinary academic and industrial partners.
- Research Training: Experience in synthetic biology, AI, robotics, control systems, and biotechnology development.
The stipend is guaranteed at a minimum of the advertised amount for the first year and at least the same amount for the remaining 2.5 years.
International applicants should confirm whether any difference between Home and international tuition fees would be covered.
Main Requirements
Applicants should demonstrate strong academic preparation and an interest in interdisciplinary engineering biology research.
The project may involve several research directions:
- Synthetic Biology: Genetically engineer microorganisms to modify their form, function, and behavior.
- AI and Control Engineering: Develop mathematical models, artificial intelligence methods, and control strategies for reliable engineered biological systems.
- Robotics and Automation: Design robotic platforms for automated biological experiments, measurement, and control.
- Biotechnology Scale-Up: Investigate methods for translating engineered biological systems into practical and scalable applications.
- Advanced Engineering Biology: Explore applications in directed evolution, protein engineering, biomedical technologies, or environmental biotechnology.
Desirable Skills
Experience in one or more of the following areas is advantageous:
- Microbiology, bacteriology, or synthetic biology.
- Applied mathematics, computer science, artificial intelligence, or control engineering.
- Biological laboratory techniques.
- Programming or software engineering.
- Electrical engineering or robotics prototyping.
Applicants are not expected to possess expertise in every area. The project can be tailored to the successful candidate’s skills and research interests.
How to Apply
Applicants must submit a formal graduate application to the University of Oxford.
Supervisor 1: Professor Harrison Steel
Email: harrison.steel@eng.ox.ac.uk
Supervisor 2: Professor Antonis Papachristodoulou
Email: antonis@eng.ox.ac.uk
Application steps:
- Review the project description and confirm that your academic background meets the eligibility criteria.
- Contact the supervisors for informal inquiries, particularly if you are an international applicant seeking funding confirmation.
- Prepare the required graduate application materials according to the university’s admissions requirements.
- Submit the University of Oxford graduate application form.
- Include 27ENGCO_HS in the application and all related correspondence.
- Complete the application by 12:00 noon on December 2, 2026.
Applicants must also meet the university’s standard graduate admissions requirements.
Important Notes
- Country Eligibility: UK students are eligible for the full award. International applicants may be considered, but funding is conditional and should be confirmed with the supervisors.
- International Tuition Fees: The advertised award covers tuition fees at the UK Home rate. Full international fee coverage is not guaranteed.
- Flexible Research Direction: The project can emphasize experimental biology, computational methods, AI, robotics, or biotechnology scale-up depending on the candidate’s background.
- Interdisciplinary Training: Students will work across engineering, biology, computation, and automation.
- Industry Collaboration: The project is linked to the EPSRC-funded EEBio program and provides opportunities for collaboration with academic and industrial partners.
- Application Reference: Quote 27ENGCO_HS in all correspondence and application documents.
- Study Mode: The advertisement lists full-time and part-time options, but the funding terms are described for a 3.5-year studentship. Part-time funding arrangements should be confirmed with the university.
- Deadline Verification: The advertisement specifies December 2, 2026, as the deadline but calls it Tuesday. December 2, 2026, falls on a Wednesday. Applicants should confirm the deadline details with the university.