Summary:
University College Dublin (UCD) is offering fully funded 4-year PhD positions starting September 2026 in two cutting-edge research areas:
- Statistical Methodologies for Hybrid Control Arms in Clinical Trials at the UCD Clinical Research Centre
- Respiratory Immunometabolism in Severe Asthma at the UCD Conway Institute
These studentships provide tuition fees, tax-free stipends, and research support, offering a unique opportunity to work on impactful projects at the interface of health research, statistics, immunology, and translational medicine.
Fully Funded PhD Opportunities at University College Dublin – Clinical Research & Respiratory Immunometabolism
Designation:
PhD Student / Doctoral Researcher
Research Area:
- Clinical Trials Methodology & Biostatistics
- Immunology, Respiratory Biology & Metabolism
Location:
University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
1️⃣ PhD in Statistical Methodologies for Hybrid Control Arms
Eligibility / Qualification:
- 1st or 2:1 Level 8 degree in Statistics, Computational Science, or Health Sciences with formal statistical training
- Knowledge of clinical trials is an advantage
- Strong quantitative and statistical programming skills
- Interest in applied health research and excellent communication skills
Project Description:
- Develop frameworks to integrate external data into hybrid control arms in clinical trials
- Evaluate statistical methodologies for sample size, demographic mismatches, confounding, misaligned timepoints, and missing data
- Deliver operational tools for trial design and regulatory acceptance
Funding:
- Tuition fees fully covered
- €25,000/year tax-free stipend
- €4,000/year research budget
How to Apply:
Send a cover letter (max 1 page), CV, and academic transcript to Assistant Professor Marie Galligan: marie.galligan@ucd.ie
Application Deadline: 16 June 2026
2️⃣ PhD in Respiratory Immunometabolism – Severe Asthma
Eligibility / Qualification:
- Master’s degree (Merit or above) in Immunology, Biomedical Science, Molecular Biology, or related disciplines
- Strong interest in immunology, metabolism, and respiratory disease
- Excellent communication and teamwork skills
- Desirable: experience in flow cytometry, cell culture, Seahorse assays, cytokine assays, immunohistochemistry, RNA/qPCR, or bioinformatics
Project Description:
- Investigate how itaconate and metabolic pathways regulate immune and structural cell function in severe asthma
- Utilize patient samples, ex vivo airway models, and preclinical models
- Apply single-cell transcriptomics, spatial profiling, metabolic phenotyping, high-dimensional flow cytometry, and functional assays
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Perform lab-based experiments (cytokine assays, flow cytometry, RNA extraction, metabolic assays)
- Culture and characterize primary airway cells
- Analyze data and contribute to experimental design
- Maintain accurate laboratory records and collaborate within the team
How to Apply:
Send CV, a one-page personal statement, and contact details of at least two academic referees to Prof. Adam Byrne: adam.byrne@ucd.ie
Application Deadline: 10 June 2026
