Introduction to our PhD Programme
Understanding how neuronal activity supports brain function and redressing aberrant dynamics when the brain goes awry in diseases requires a trans-disciplinary and cross-species approach, integrating experimental and clinical investigations with engineering and computational frameworks. Our PhD programme at the Medical Research Council Brain Network Dynamics Unit (MRC BNDU) trains a future generation of neuroscientists to combine these diverse techniques in innovative research projects serving both foundational, theoretical and translational neuroscience. Ours is a vibrant community of scientists and students drawn from around the world.
PhD students at the MRC BNDU can choose among diverse yet complementary research projects that leverage from a substantial array of research techniques. They benefit from the guidance of two supervisors and the feedback from the outstanding research community, locally in the Unit and in the wider intellectual environment of the University of Oxford. Students also have opportunities to further their knowledge and skills through seminars, including our Unit “Methods meetings” and practical tutorials.
Techniques
Students apply for one or more of the research projects made available each year. Projects involve the intensive use of a focussed set of trans-disciplinary methods but students also become familiar with the full range of approaches taken within the Unit. These include:
- Behavioural experiment paradigms with rodents and humans
- Advanced signals analysis, including statistical analytical techniques, mathematical modelling and machine learning.
- Cell type-specific monitoring including electron microscopy, optogenetics and fast-scan cyclic voltammetry.
- Computational modelling.
- System and cell type specific brain stimulation using closed-loop approaches and magnetic, electrical, pharmacological and optogenetic stimulation.
In addition, to the above we actively develop novel research tools for neuroscience discovery, and better disease treatments.
ArchT-GFP–expressing neurons in the pyramidal cell layer of mouse hippocampus. From: Recoding a cocaine-place memory engram to a neutral engram in the hippocampus. Trouche S. et al. Nat Neurosci. 2016 Apr;19(4):564-7.
The Unit has provided three key ingredients to kickstart my scientific career: a constant source of inspiration, the freedom to explore my ideas, and frequent opportunities for feedback.”
Ben and Flavie demonstrate how electricity in the muscles of the arm can be detected and used to control a robot claw, during a presentation to primary school children.
Career Development
Career Development is central to the Unit’s ethos. Every student at the Unit benefits from all the resources the MRC BNDU offers, as well as those offered by our host department, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, the Medical Sciences Division, and the student’s own college. Within the MRC BNDU the Training, Career Development and Capacity Building Strategy Committee meets regularly to oversee training for our students and early career post-docs. Regular events in the Unit include the biannual science day, which offers a chance for the whole unit to come together and share new and exciting results in a collegiate atmosphere. We run an annual training day which is open to all and focusses on different aspects of career development for academic and non-academic careers. Recent sessions have included developing a patient and public involvement strategy, combining a career with caring responsibilities and a workshop on delivering grant pitches. Previous students at the Unit have all gone on to careers in Academia, Medicine, or Industry.
Previous students who completed their PhD in the Unit have gone on to successful careers in a wide range of job roles. The challenging yet rewarding research in the Unit is a great start to your career and I would definitely recommend working here!”
Projects
Project
Enhancing memory using Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation and Targeted Memory Reactivation
Enhancing memory processing with brain stimulation has wide therapeutic potential in neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions. Non-invasive brain stimulation using devices has not yet been effectively leveraged to modulate memory in the human brain. A key limitation of non-invasive brain stimulation is that devices have, until recently, been limited to targeting superficial brain regions. However, Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation (TUS) can now be used to precisely and non-invasively manipulate deep-lying neural circuits, including those in the hippocampus that are important for memory. State-of-the-art TUS provides a unique opportunity to establish a cost effective, non-invasive protocol to enhance memory in humans.
The overall goal of this PhD studentship is to design and implement a new TUS protocol to enhance memory. To achieve this, we will draw inspiration from well characterised endogenous neural activity dynamics in the hippocampus that support memory processing. We will combine TUS delivery with Targeted Memory Reactivation (TMR), which involves pairing new learning with specific auditory cues that are then played again during periods of rest or sleep. Together, the new TUS protocol will facilitate endogenous dynamics in the hippocampus, while the TMR will constrain the content of memory reactivation within these endogenous dynamics, to bias the brain to strengthen specific memories relevant for learning. After validating the new TUS/TMR protocol using behavioural measures, we will use ultra-high field Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to establish the neural consequences of this protocol. We will use machine learning to quantify the effect of hippocampal TUS/TMR on hippocampal memory reactivation (an index for memory ‘replay’). We will further use a next-generation TUS device to directly combine TUS/TMR with MRI.
The project will take place in the Brain Network Dynamics Unit of the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences and in the Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence in Restorative Neural Dynamics (MRC CoRE RND). Students will benefit from the extensive interdisciplinary skills training and personalised career development opportunities available within the Unit and the MRC CoRE RND. Students will receive specialised training in their areas of project research (see below) as well as, for example, in the translation and commercialisation of research, best practice in Open Science, and how to effectively involve and engage patients and the public with research.
The studentship holder will be trained and develop expertise in cutting-edge methods in humans, including application of TUS, TMR, and ultra-high field MRI, including functional MRI and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. You will use Python/Matlab for data analysis with advanced statistical methods, including application of machine learning.
This four-year Ph.D. (D.Phil.) studentship offers three years of full-time tuition fees at the Home rate, and four years of non-taxable stipend at the full-time UKRI rate (including any uplifts announced). Both Home students and International students are eligible to receive this funding package. Please see further details about MRC/UKRI studentships and updated guidance regarding Home and International eligibility. Successful offer-holders who have applied by the December deadline may also be considered for other University of Oxford scholarships.
Interested candidates should possess, or expect to receive, a 1st class or upper 2nd class degree (or equivalent) in a related scientific discipline, e.g. biological or physical sciences, medicine, computer science, engineering, mathematics. Previous experience in neuroscience research is highly desirable.
Candidates must contact the lead project supervisor before submitting an application. To find out more about this studentship, the research project, and the application process, please contact Associate Professor Helen Barron by email on helen.barron@ndcn.ox.ac.uk.
To be considered for this studentship, please submit an application for admission to the D.Phil. in Clinical Neurosciences at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (course code RD_CU1), following the guidance for applications to this course. On the application form, in the section headed ‘Departmental Studentship Applications’, please indicate that you are applying for a studentship and enter the reference code “26NDCN01MRC” into the funding tab.
The closing date for applications is 12.00 midday UK time on Tuesday 2nd December 2025.
Opening in November 2025, the MRC CoRE RND is an exciting team science enterprise that is focused on harnessing the moment-to-moment interactions between nerve cells (‘neural dynamics’) to transform medical device-based therapy for brain conditions. The MRC CoRE RND incorporates discovery research and translational research aligned to empirical neuroscience, computational neuroscience, experimental medicine, and biomedical engineering. The MRC CoRE RND is exceptionally collaborative, involving partners in academia, neurotechnology industry, research charities, and clinical services. It will champion values supporting a positive research culture.
Supervisors
Applications are invited from both Home students and International students to join a multidisciplinary team of researchers studying how cells and circuits in the brain work together to perform computations that support memory, and how perturbations to these computations may explain core symptoms reported in people with neuropsychiatric conditions. This studentship is available from the start of academic year 2026/27, is for 4 years, and will be co-supervised by Associate Professor Helen Barron, Professor Charlotte Stagg and Dr Ashwini Oswal at the MRC Centre of Research Excellence in Restorative Neural Dynamics.
Project
Enhancing memory using cross-species closed-loop Targeted Memory Reactivation
Enhancing memory processing has wide therapeutic potential in brain conditions including neuropsychiatric disorders. Yet, medical devices have not been effectively leveraged to modulate memory in the human brain. Targeted Memory Reactivation (TMR) is a non-invasive approach that is delivered with devices and holds promise for enhancing memory. TMR involves pairing new learning with specific auditory cues. These same auditory cues are then played again during periods of sleep, to bias the brain to reactivate and strengthen memory for the paired experience.
The overall goal of this PhD studentship is to investigate the underlying mechanisms by which TMR enhances memory and then leverage this knowledge to develop and optimise a TMR protocol suitable for translational use in humans. To achieve this, we will use a cross-species approach to implement a closed-loop TMR protocol. This closed-loop TMR protocol will involve delivering auditory stimulation during sleep when we detect hippocampal neuronal oscillations critical for memory strengthening. Using multi-channel electrophysiology in the hippocampus and related brain circuits in mice, we will then define the circuit mechanisms of closed-loop TMR to further optimise the approach and technology. The final two years of the project will involve translating research discoveries into humans by implementing the closed-loop TMR protocol on a custom-made headband allowing electroencephalography (EEG). Using this approach, we aim to demonstrate effective ‘at-home’ delivery of closed-loop TMR to enhance memory.
The project will take place in the Brain Network Dynamics Unit of the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences and in the Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence in Restorative Neural Dynamics (MRC CoRE RND). Students will benefit from the extensive interdisciplinary skills training and personalised career development opportunities available within the Unit and the MRC CoRE RND. Students will receive specialised training in their areas of project research (see below) as well as, for example, in the translation and commercialisation of research, best practice in Open Science, and how to effectively involve and engage patients and the public with research.
The studentship holder will be trained in the use of cutting-edge methods across mice and humans. You will gain expertise in multi-unit electrophysiology, optogenetic manipulations, and behavioural testing in mice. You will gain expertise in EEG and behavioural quantification in humans. You will also gain experience in using Python/Matlab for cross-species data analysis with advanced statistical methods, including application of machine learning.
This four-year Ph.D. (D.Phil.) studentship offers three years of full-time tuition fees at the Home rate, and four years of non-taxable stipend at the full-time UKRI rate (including any uplifts announced). Both Home students and International students are eligible to receive this funding package. Please see further details about MRC/UKRI studentships and updated guidance regarding Home and International eligibility. Successful offer-holders who have applied by the December deadline may also be considered for other University of Oxford scholarships.
Interested candidates should possess, or expect to receive, a 1st class or upper 2nd class degree (or equivalent) in a related scientific discipline, e.g. biological or physical sciences, medicine, computer science, engineering, mathematics. Previous experience in neuroscience research is highly desirable.
Candidates must contact the lead project supervisor before submitting an application. To find out more about this studentship, the research project, and the application process, please contact Associate Professor Helen Barron by email on helen.barron@ndcn.ox.ac.uk.
To be considered for this studentship, please submit an application for admission to the D.Phil. in Clinical Neurosciences at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (course code RD_CU1), following the guidance for applications to this course. On the application form, in the section headed ‘Departmental Studentship Applications’, please indicate that you are applying for a studentship and enter the reference code “26NDCN01MRC” into the funding tab.
The closing date for applications is 12.00 midday UK time on Tuesday 2nd December 2025.
Opening in November 2025, the MRC CoRE RND is an exciting team science enterprise that is focused on harnessing the moment-to-moment interactions between nerve cells (‘neural dynamics’) to transform medical device-based therapy for brain conditions. The MRC CoRE RND incorporates discovery research and translational research aligned to empirical neuroscience, computational neuroscience, experimental medicine, and biomedical engineering. The MRC CoRE RND is exceptionally collaborative, involving partners in academia, neurotechnology industry, research charities, and clinical services. It will champion values supporting a positive research culture.
Supervisors
Applications are invited from both Home students and International students to join a multidisciplinary team of researchers studying how cells and circuits in the brain work together to perform computations that support memory. This studentship is available from the start of academic year 2026/27, is for 4 years, and will be co-supervised by Associate Professor Helen Barron, Professor Andrew Sharott and Professor Penny Lewis at the MRC Centre of Research Excellence in Restorative Neural Dynamics.
Project
Neurophysiological biomarkers for optimising adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s
Although Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is an established therapy for Parkinson’s disease, its potential for personalised symptom control remains underexploited. Recent advances in DBS technology now enable simultaneous neural sensing and responsive, tailored stimulation. These developments create new opportunities to identify neurophysiological biomarkers that could be targeted to alleviate specific symptoms, including tremor, gait disturbance, and cognitive impairment.
The goal of this PhD studentship is to advance our understanding of how activity within cortico-basal ganglia circuits contributes to specific motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s. These insights will inform the development of novel DBS strategies designed to normalise circuit dysfunction underlying individual symptoms. To achieve this, we will collect clinical and neurophysiological data from patients implanted with sensing-enabled DBS devices. Cortical activity, sleep, movement, and gait will be monitored using electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), and wearable sensors. Advanced signal processing and machine learning methods will then be applied to identify biomarkers and to design targeted stimulation paradigms, which will be tested with patients.
The project will take place in the Brain Network Dynamics Unit of the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences and in the Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence in Restorative Neural Dynamics (MRC CoRE RND). Students will benefit from the extensive interdisciplinary skills training and personalised career development opportunities available within the Unit and the MRC CoRE RND. Students will receive specialised training in their areas of project research (see below) as well as, for example, in the translation and commercialisation of research, best practice in Open Science, and how to effectively involve and engage patients and the public with research.
Focusing on the cortico-basal ganglia circuit in Parkinson’s, this studentship offers the opportunity to work with cutting-edge techniques including wireless neural activity streaming from implanted DBS devices, high density EEG, EMG, and wearable sensor recordings. You will gain advanced training in patient facing research and in state-of-the-art analytical approaches spanning signal processing, computational modelling, and machine learning.
This four-year Ph.D. (D.Phil.) studentship offers three years of full-time tuition fees at the Home rate, and four years of non-taxable stipend at the full-time UKRI rate (including any uplifts announced). Both Home students and International students are eligible to receive this funding package. Please see further details about MRC/UKRI studentships and updated guidance regarding Home and International eligibility. Successful offer-holders who have applied by the December deadline may also be considered for other University of Oxford scholarships.
Interested candidates should possess, or expect to receive, a 1st class or upper 2nd class degree (or equivalent) in a related scientific discipline, e.g. biological or physical sciences, medicine, computer science, engineering, mathematics. Previous experience in neuroscience research is highly desirable.
Candidates must contact the lead project supervisor before submitting an application. To find out more about this studentship, the research project, and the application process, please contact Dr Ashwini Oswal by email on ashwini.oswal@ndcn.ox.ac.uk.
To be considered for this studentship, please submit an application for admission to the D.Phil. in Clinical Neurosciences at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (course code RD_CU1), following the guidance for applications to this course. On the application form, in the section headed ‘Departmental Studentship Applications’, please indicate that you are applying for a studentship and enter the reference code “26NDCN01MRC” into the funding tab.
The closing date for applications is 12.00 midday UK time on Tuesday 2nd December 2025.
Opening in November 2025, the MRC CoRE RND is an exciting team science enterprise that is focused on harnessing the moment-to-moment interactions between nerve cells (‘neural dynamics’) to transform medical device-based therapy for brain conditions. The MRC CoRE RND incorporates discovery research and translational research aligned to empirical neuroscience, computational neuroscience, experimental medicine, and biomedical engineering. The MRC CoRE RND is exceptionally collaborative, involving partners in academia, neurotechnology industry, research charities, and clinical services. It will champion values supporting a positive research culture.
Supervisors
Applications are invited from both Home students and International students to join a multidisciplinary team of researchers studying neurophysiological biomarkers to improve adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s. This studentship is available from the start of academic year 2026/27, is for 4 years, and will be co-supervised by Dr Ashwini Oswal, Professor Huiling Tan, Professor Hayriye Cagnan and Professor Andrew Sharott at the MRC Centre of Research Excellence in Restorative Neural Dynamics. The studentship project will also benefit from the expertise of Professor Alex Green at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences.
Project
Interacting with memory dynamics in the human brain
Studies in rodents have uncovered how neural oscillations shape memory, revealing causal links between brain rhythms and behaviour. In contrast, studying memory in humans presents unique challenges. Researchers often face limited access to detailed brain recordings, fewer opportunities to apply advanced analytical techniques, and only emerging use of real-time methods to influence brain activity during memory tasks. These factors make it more difficult to explore the underlying network dynamics as precisely as in animal models.
The aim of this PhD studentship is to uncover the mechanisms by which oscillatory brain dynamics support memory in humans. The project will integrate high-density intracranial recordings, closed-loop stimulation, and multivariate analytical frameworks to monitor and manipulate hippocampal and connected neural circuits with high spatiotemporal precision. By leveraging these innovative techniques in human participants, the research will explore how medial temporal lobe oscillations reorganise during memory processes and develop targeted interventions to enhance memory and treat related disorders.
The project will take place in the Brain Network Dynamics Unit of the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences and in the Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence in Restorative Neural Dynamics (MRC CoRE RND). Students will benefit from the extensive interdisciplinary skills training and personalised career development opportunities available within the Unit and the MRC CoRE RND. Students will receive specialised training in their areas of project research (see below) as well as, for example, in the translation and commercialisation of research, best practice in Open Science, and how to effectively involve and engage patients and the public with research.
The project will build on a collaboration with neurologists and neurosurgeons at the University Hospital of Toulouse, France, where the Dupret laboratory is collaborating with Dr. Leila Reddy to conduct brain-wide intracranial tetrode recordings in human participants engaged in memory and inferential reasoning tasks. The studentship holder will harness cutting-edge methods for identifying, monitoring, and manipulating network oscillations and neuronal ensembles. You will receive advanced training in several of the following techniques: brain network electrophysiology, closed-loop systems, behavioural assays, and advanced data analysis.
This four-year Ph.D. (D.Phil.) studentship offers three years of full-time tuition fees at the Home rate, and four years of non-taxable stipend at the full-time UKRI rate (including any uplifts announced). Both Home students and International students are eligible to receive this funding package. Please see further details about MRC/UKRI studentships and updated guidance regarding Home and International eligibility. Successful offer-holders who have applied by the December deadline may also be considered for other University of Oxford scholarships.
Interested candidates should possess, or expect to receive, a 1st class or upper 2nd class degree (or equivalent) in a related scientific discipline such as biological or physical sciences, engineering, mathematics, medicine, or computer science. Previous experience in neuroscience research is desirable. The ability to interact in French with human participants is also highly valuable, given the collaborative nature of the project with clinical teams in France.
Candidates must contact the lead project supervisor before submitting an application. To find out more about this studentship, the research project, and the application process, please contact Professor David Dupret by email on david.dupret@bndu.ox.ac.uk.
To be considered for this studentship, please submit an application for admission to the D.Phil. in Clinical Neurosciences at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (course code RD_CU1), following the guidance for applications to this course. On the application form, in the section headed ‘Departmental Studentship Applications’, please indicate that you are applying for a studentship and enter the reference code “26NDCN01MRC” into the funding tab.
The closing date for applications is 12.00 midday UK time on Tuesday 2nd December 2025.
Opening in November 2025, the MRC CoRE RND is an exciting team science enterprise that is focused on harnessing the moment-to-moment interactions between nerve cells (‘neural dynamics’) to transform medical device-based therapy for brain conditions. The MRC CoRE RND incorporates discovery research and translational research aligned to empirical neuroscience, computational neuroscience, experimental medicine, and biomedical engineering. The MRC CoRE RND is exceptionally collaborative, involving partners in academia, neurotechnology industry, research charities, and clinical services. It will champion values supporting a positive research culture.
Supervisors
Applications are invited from both Home students and International students to join a multidisciplinary team of researchers studying the brain network electrophysiology of memory processes. This studentship is available from the start of academic year 2026/27, is for 4 years, and will be co-supervised by Professor David Dupret and Professor Tim Denison at the MRC Centre of Research Excellence in Restorative Neural Dynamics.
Project
Phase-locked stimulation for modulating brain rhythms during wakefulness and sleep in Parkinson’s
In Parkinson’s disease, abnormal brain rhythms - such as elevated beta waves and disrupted slow waves - contribute to movement and sleep problems. Phase-locked Deep Brain Stimulation holds promise for correcting these brain activity patterns by timing stimulation to specific phases of rhythms. This studentship project will explore how phase-locked Deep Brain Stimulation can improve motor function and sleep in people with Parkinson’s, moving toward personalised brain stimulation therapies.
The aim of this PhD project is to determine how modulating abnormal brain rhythms with phase-locked Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) can improve movement and sleep symptoms in people with Parkinson’s. The research will combine real-time brain signal processing with closed-loop stimulation to target beta rhythms during wakefulness and slow-wave activity during sleep. The studentship holder will work with people with Parkinson’s who have already received DBS, develop stimulation protocols using a computer-in-the-loop system, and help build software interfaces for implantable devices. Through collaboration with clinical and engineering teams, the project seeks to advance understanding of how brain rhythms relate to behaviour and how neuromodulation therapies can be better personalised.
The project will take place in the Brain Network Dynamics Unit of the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences and in the Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence in Restorative Neural Dynamics (MRC CoRE RND). Students will benefit from the extensive interdisciplinary skills training and personalised career development opportunities available within the Unit and the MRC CoRE RND. Students will receive specialised training in their areas of project research (see below) as well as, for example, in the translation and commercialisation of research, best practice in Open Science, and how to effectively involve and engage patients and the public with research.
You will receive advanced training in human neurophysiology, including recording and real-time processing of signals from within and outside the brain. You will gain hands-on experience with closed-loop brain stimulation systems and work directly with people with Parkinson’s, learning clinical research methods, behavioural testing, and sleep quantification. You will also be given opportunities to build skills in time-series analysis, machine learning, and software development for neurotechnology, including designing software interfaces for implantable devices.
This four-year Ph.D. (D.Phil.) studentship offers three years of full-time tuition fees at the Home rate, and four years of non-taxable stipend at the full-time UKRI rate (including any uplifts announced). Both Home students and International students are eligible to receive this funding package. Please see further details about MRC/UKRI studentships and updated guidance regarding Home and International eligibility. Successful offer-holders who have applied by the December deadline may also be considered for other University of Oxford scholarships.
Interested candidates should possess, or expect to receive, a 1st class or upper 2nd class degree (or equivalent) in a related scientific discipline, e.g. physical sciences, medicine, computer science, engineering or mathematics. Previous experience in neuroscience research is highly desirable.
Candidates must contact the lead project supervisor before submitting an application. To find out more about this studentship, the research project, and the application process, please contact Professor Huiling Tan by email on huiling.tan@ndcn.ox.ac.uk.
To be considered for this studentship, please submit an application for admission to the D.Phil. in Clinical Neurosciences at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (course code RD_CU1), following the guidance for applications to this course. On the application form, in the section headed ‘Departmental Studentship Applications’, please indicate that you are applying for a studentship and enter the reference code “26NDCN01MRC” into the funding tab.
The closing date for applications is 12.00 midday UK time on Tuesday 2nd December 2025.
Opening in November 2025, the MRC CoRE RND is an exciting team science enterprise that is focused on harnessing the moment-to-moment interactions between nerve cells (‘neural dynamics’) to transform medical device-based therapy for brain conditions. The MRC CoRE RND incorporates discovery research and translational research aligned to empirical neuroscience, computational neuroscience, experimental medicine, and biomedical engineering. The MRC CoRE RND is exceptionally collaborative, involving partners in academia, neurotechnology industry, research charities, and clinical services. It will champion values supporting a positive research culture.
Supervisors
Applications are invited from both Home students and International students to join a multidisciplinary team of researchers studying how phase-locked Deep Brain Stimulation can be used to modulate pathological brain rhythms during wakefulness and sleep in Parkinson’s disease. This studentship is available from the start of academic year 2026/27, is for 4 years, and will be co-supervised by Professor Huiling Tan, Dr Shenghong He, and Professor Tim Denison at the MRC Centre of Research Excellence in Restorative Neural Dynamics.
Project
State-dependent control of hippocampal oscillations for enhancing memory
Hippocampal neurons support memory through temporally precise coactivity patterns that enable the rapid encoding, consolidation, and retrieval of behaviourally relevant information. This process is facilitated by several prominent network oscillations, which coordinate the timing of neuronal population activity in the hippocampus and its associated neuronal circuits. In rodent models of Alzheimer’s disease, the core properties of theta and gamma oscillations are disrupted, interfering with memory encoding and retrieval processes. Additionally, sharp-wave ripples become weaker, impairing memory reactivation. Restoring these oscillatory activities to their normative state using closed-loop brain stimulation holds promise for alleviating the memory deficits associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Achieving this will require the development of approaches that can reliably modulate memory-related oscillations using approaches that can be implemented on human brain stimulation devices.
The overarching goal of this PhD studentship is to develop, optimise, and implement closed-loop stimulation strategies that can enhance the oscillatory neural activities underpinning memory processing. We can already amplify specific oscillatory patterns by delivering stimulation based on their instantaneous power and phase. However, to fully exploit these approaches, they should be applied during the specific behavioural states (e.g., exploration, rest, sleep) associated with each oscillatory activity. For translation into therapeutic applications, this state-dependent control must be fully automated and resilient to artefacts introduced by the stimulation itself. Where phase-targeted stimulation is used, the optimal phase for achieving a specific outcome parameter will also need to be determined automatically. The student project will focus on integrating these approaches into a unified framework and testing them in behaving rodents, in collaboration with other members of the research team.
The project will take place in the Brain Network Dynamics Unit of the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences and in the Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence in Restorative Neural Dynamics (MRC CoRE RND). Students will benefit from the extensive interdisciplinary skills training and personalised career development opportunities available within the Unit and the MRC CoRE RND. Students will receive specialised training in their areas of project research (see below) as well as, for example, in the translation and commercialisation of research, best practice in Open Science, and how to effectively involve and engage patients and the public with research.
The studentship holder will receive training in the development and validation of closed-loop algorithms, and their implementation across a range of hardware platforms (e.g. FPGA, embedded processors). You will gain extensive skills in analysing neural data from behaving animals and will have the opportunity to develop expertise in performing high-density recordings in rodents performing cognitive tasks during electrical and/or optogenetic stimulation. As part of the wider team, you will also gain valuable insight into the development of neuromodulation approaches for clinical applications.
This four-year Ph.D. (D.Phil.) studentship offers three years of full-time tuition fees at the Home rate, and four years of non-taxable stipend at the full-time UKRI rate (including any uplifts announced). Both Home students and International students are eligible to receive this funding package. Please see further details about MRC/UKRI studentships and updated guidance regarding Home and International eligibility. Successful offer-holders who have applied by the December deadline may also be considered for other University of Oxford scholarships.
Interested candidates should possess, or expect to receive, a 1st class or upper 2nd class degree (or equivalent) in computer science, engineering or mathematics. Candidates with equivalent qualifications in biological/physical sciences or medicine and who can also demonstrate considerable programming experience will also be considered. Previous experience in neuroscience research is desirable.
Candidates must contact the lead project supervisor before submitting an application. To find out more about this studentship, the research project, and the application process, please contact Professor Andrew Sharott by email on andrew.sharott@ndcn.ox.ac.uk.
To be considered for this studentship, please submit an application for admission to the D.Phil. in Clinical Neurosciences at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (course code RD_CU1), following the guidance for applications to this course. On the application form, in the section headed ‘Departmental Studentship Applications’, please indicate that you are applying for a studentship and enter the reference code “26NDCN01MRC” into the funding tab.
The closing date for applications is 12.00 midday UK time on Tuesday 2nd December 2025.
Opening in November 2025, the MRC CoRE RND is an exciting team science enterprise that is focused on harnessing the moment-to-moment interactions between nerve cells (‘neural dynamics’) to transform medical device-based therapy for brain conditions. The MRC CoRE RND incorporates discovery research and translational research aligned to empirical neuroscience, computational neuroscience, experimental medicine, and biomedical engineering. The MRC CoRE RND is exceptionally collaborative, involving partners in academia, neurotechnology industry, research charities, and clinical services. It will champion values supporting a positive research culture.
Supervisors
Applications are invited from both Home students and International students to join a multidisciplinary team of researchers studying the state-dependent control of brain oscillations for enhancing memory. This studentship is available from the start of academic year 2026/27, is for 4 years, and will be co-supervised by Professor Andrew Sharott, Professor David Dupret and Professor Hayriye Cagnan at the MRC Centre of Research Excellence in Restorative Neural Dynamics.
Local field potential signal recorded from a patient with a deep brain stimulation electrode, showing a burst of beta-frequency oscillatory activity (top) and adaptive deep brain stimulation being triggered and reducing the length of another beta burst (bottom).
Applications & Funding
Applications & Funding
The MRC BNDU has its own MRC-funded Ph.D. (D.Phil.) studentships. Applicants to these MRC-funded studentships can also be considered for University scholarships. The Unit will also consider hosting PhD students funded by Departmental scholarships and other doctoral training programmes at Oxford. In addition, the Unit sometimes recruits for iCASE studentships in collaboration with industry. Information about University funding is available and an A-Z of Oxford scholarships. Students with their own independent funding will also be considered.
The MRC BNDU is one of the six divisions of the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, and as such we benefit from the excellent student services and streamlined application process provided by the Department. The Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences provides general information for prospective students, advice on entry requirements, and information about potential costs. There is also specific advice for prospective Home and International students.
Students considering applying for one or more of the PhD studentship projects available in the MRC BNDU should first contact the supervisor(s) named in the project description using the email provided in the project summary. You are encouraged to contact the supervisor(s) as soon as possible to find out more about the project and the application process. We look forward to hearing from you.
To be considered for a MRC-funded studentship following contact with the supervisor(s) of your proposed project, please submit an application following the online guidance for the D.Phil. in Clinical Neurosciences. 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 a MRC BNDU studentship.
In the special instance of an iCASE studentship, please contact the named supervisor(s) directly for advice on the application process.
Hippocampal theta oscillations (white) with associated faster rhythms (rainbow colours). From: Lopes-Dos-Santos V. et eal. Parsing Hippocampal Theta Oscillations by Nested Spectral Components during Spatial Exploration and Memory-Guided Behavior. 2018. Neuron, 100(4):940–952.