Studentships in Pain Mechanisms at Oxford
Investigating the role of hormonal and circadian mechanisms in pain
Pain is an essential protective signal that alerts us to actual or potential tissue damage. When pain persists or becomes dysregulated, it can drive chronic pain disorders with major personal and societal burden. Many pain conditions also fluctuate across the day and differ by sex, suggesting that timing and biological state are integral to the mechanisms that generate pain.
This studentship will combine multidisciplinary approaches to understand the role of biological rhythms in pain using advanced in vitro human pain models. Your work will be aligned to the new MRC complex in vitro models initiative. You will be based at the world leading Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery and part of the Sir Jules Thorne Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (SCNi).
This work will allow identification of new cellular targets for the development of future treatment strategies in pain which take into account sex and time-of-day dependent effects. You will learn advanced cell culture, functional assay and omics.
To be considered for this studentship, please submit an application to the DPhil in Clinical Neurosciences by 29th April 2026.
On the application form, in the section headed ‘Departmental Studentship Applications’, you must indicate that you are applying for a studentship and enter the reference code for this studentship '26NDCN03'.
Please note that this studentship covers UK home fees only and UKRI matched stipend, and an offer of a place is dependent on a college place being available.
If you have any questions in relationship to this studentship, please contact zameel.cader@ndcn.ox.ac.uk