Applied Mathematics: Fully Funded PhD Studentship in Agent-Based Infection Modelling for HIV Treatment Optimization (RS840)

  • DeadlineDeadline: 23 June 2025
  • WalesWales

Description

Closing date: 23 June 2025

Open to: UK applicants only

Funding providers: EPSRC CASE Conversion with GSK 

Subject areas: Applied Mathematics, Mathematical Modelling, Mathematical Biology 

Project start dates: 

  • 1 October 2025  
  • 1 January 2026 

Supervisors: 

  • Primary Supervisor: Professor Gibin Powathil 
  • Secondary Supervisor: Professor Mark Jones    
  • Additional Supervisor: Dr James Yates, Director GSK 

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Mathematics 

Mode of study: Full-Time. 

Project description: 
HIV remains one of the most persistent and challenging infections to cure due to its ability to lie dormant in reservoirs within the body: T-cells that are infected but no actively replicating virus. This allows the virus to evade standard treatment approaches. Despite years of antiretroviral therapy (ART), complete eradication of the virus is hindered by the presence of these reservoirs, which require continuous lifetime treatment. Recent efforts to cure HIV infection have focused on developing latency reversing agents as a first step to eradicate the latent reservoir and animal models are being studied to understand these dynamics. 

This project proposes a novel pipeline of ideas to generate tools and techniques to simulate HIV infection dynamics using a multiscale agent-based modelling technique (cells, viruses, drugs, antibodies, human lymph system, seconds, days, years). 

This project is in collaboration with GSK and we will work closely with experts from GSK. 

The Departments of Mathematics is part of the Computational Foundry, a world-class centre for computational research, part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through Welsh Government. The brand-new building of the Computational Foundry provides an ideal environment for doing a PhD. 

Funding duration – 4 years

For more details please see here: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/scholarships/research/mathematics-epsrc-gsk-phd-rs840.php

Entry Requirements

Scholarship available to UK fee eligable students only 

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA.

PhD: Applicants for PhD must hold an undergraduate degree with First Class level or master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’ (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University).  

Additional information
Knowledge in cancer biology is not essential, but the candidate will be required to learn appropriate biological and clinical knowledge in order to develop mathematical and computational models. The candidate is expected to have a strong applied mathematical or related subject background Strong Mathematical modelling skills in one or more programming languages such as Matlab, Python and C/C++ are preferred. Strong interpersonal skills and the capacity to work and learn independently will be required. 

English Language 
IELTS 6.0 Overall (with no individual component below 5.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here. 

Funding

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently £20,780 for 2025/26). 

Additional research expenses of up to £1,000 per year will also be available. 

How To Apply

To apply, please complete the entire application form:

In order to be considered for this scholarship award the following steps are also required. 

1) In section ‘Programme Related Information’ please input the relevant RS Code for the scholarship award i.e. RS840 

2) In section ‘Research’ you will see ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’* (Mandatory) 

  • In ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’ please input:
  • the RS Code, RS840
  • the scholarship title
  • Please leave Proposed Supervisor field blank 
  • Please leave Research Project (if applicable) blank 
  • In ‘Do you have a proposal to upload?*’(Mandatory) Please select Yes 
  • Then upload copy of advert (you can save the advert by clicking print, and then print to pdf) 

3) In section ‘Funding information’ please choose the option ‘Scholarship Funding’ only. Please ensure no other options are selected. 

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award. 

One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards. 

NOTE: Applicants for PhD/EngD/ProfD/EdD - to support our commitment to providing an environment free of discrimination and celebrating diversity at Swansea University you are required to complete an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form in addition to your programme application form.    

Please note that completion of the EDI Monitoring Form is mandatory; your application may not progress if this information is not submitted. 

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email): 

  • CV 
  • Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient) 
  • A cover letter including a ‘Supplementary Personal Statement’ to explain why the position particularly matches your skills and experience and how you choose to develop the project. 
  • One reference (academic or previous employer) on headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form. Please note that we are not able to accept references received citing private email accounts, e.g. Hotmail. Referees should cite their employment email address for verification of reference. 
  • Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable). 
  • Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable) 
  • Confirmation of EDI form submission 

Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact Professor Gibin Powathil g.g.powathil@swansea.ac.uk   

*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co- funding of a scholarship project is applicable. 

Who is eligible to apply?

Open to: UK applicants only

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