Black Leaders in Cancer & Convergence PhD Studentships 2026
We are pleased to invite applications for the 2026 PhD intake, offered through a joint recruitment call between the Black Leaders in Cancer Studentship and the Convergence PhD Programme.
Two funded studentships are available:
- 1 Black Leaders in Cancer Studentship
(ring-fenced for Home applicants from a Black heritage background) - 1 Convergence PhD Studentship
(open to all Home applicants)
Applicants may select up to three preferred projects when applying. Although four PhD project opportunities are advertised, only two funded studentships will be awarded for October 2026 entry.
About the two funding schemes
The Black Leaders in Cancer PhD Scholarship Programme runs in collaboration with Black in Cancer and the Windsor Fellowship. This programme provides a unique opportunity for students from Black heritage backgrounds to pursue a fully funded four-year PhD in cancer research. In addition to the Centre’s bespoke training programme, students also benefit from a comprehensive programme of mentoring, networking opportunities led by the Black in Cancer and the Windsor Fellowship.
Eligibility:
This programme is open to applicants who self-identify as being from a Black heritage background, including mixed backgrounds (e.g., Black African, Black Caribbean, Black Other, Mixed background including Black heritage).
Applicants must:
- Hold UK Home tuition fee status
- Submit an initial application to the Windsor Fellowship
- Apply via the ICR Recruitment Portal
- Meet the PhD academic entry criteria
This studentship supports interdisciplinary PhD training across engineering, physics, cancer biology and data science. The CRUK Convergence Science Centre will fund a four-year PhD studentship, offering a broad range of convergence-science projects addressing cancer-related research questions.
Eligibility:
Applicants must:
- Hold Home tuition fee status
- Meet academic entry requirements
- Apply via the ICR Recruitment Portal
What do the Studentships Cover?
Funding is available only for candidates with UK Home tuition fee status. For details on Home fee eligibility, visit the UKCISA website.
What do the Studentships Cover?
Funding is available only for candidates with UK Home tuition fee status. For details on Home fee eligibility, visit the UKCISA website.
- A first or upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent international qualification)
- A Master’s degree and/or relevant work experience in an appropriate discipline (desirable)
- Appropriate English language proficiency
Funding available
- a generous tax-free fixed stipend of £24,219 per year (for 3 years), subject to 1.75% indexation per year
- PhD registration fees at the CRUK UK rate (£4,662 with 1.75% indexation per year)
- research running costs
- Access to our Centre's bespoke training programme.
How to Apply
All applicants:
- Apply via the ICR Recruitment Portal
- Indicate up to three preferred projects
- Upload all required documents (transcripts, personal statement, etc.)
Additional step for Black Leaders in Cancer applicants:
- Submit an application to the Windsor Fellowship by the deadline
Only one application to the ICR portal is required, even if applying to both schemes.
Students may express interest in up to three projects, but only two of the four projects will ultimately receive funding.
Application timeline
1. Application Deadline — 26 January 2026
- Submit through the ICR Recruitment Portal
- Submit Windsor Fellowship application (if eligible)
2. Supervisor Shortlisting — January to March 2026
- Eligible applicants are forwarded to supervisors
- Supervisors may conduct interviews
- Each project nominates one top candidate.
3. Panel Interviews — 20 March 2026
- Top candidate from each project (4 total) is interviewed by the CSC Training Committee
- The Committee selects:
- 1 Black Leaders in Cancer awardee
- 1 Convergence awardee
4. Offers & Start Date
Successful candidates receive offers shortly after the interview.
PhD programmes commence October 2026.
Available PhD Project Opportunities
(Applicants may select up to 3 preferences)
We are advertising the following four PhD projects for this call:
"Mechanistic integration of replication origin control and chromatin remodelling at centromeres: implications for chromosomal instability in colorectal cancer"
Supervisory team: Professor Christian Speck and Professor Jessica Downs
"Development and validation of “digital twin” models as explanatory and predictive tools in people with brain tumours"
Supervisory team: Dr Matt Williams, Dr Fernando Carceller, Dr Pedro Mediano and Dr Gregory Scott
"Digital Twins for biologically adaptive MR-guided radiotherapy"
Supervisory team: Dr Andreas Wetscherek, Professor Wayne Luk, Dr Katharine Aitken and Dr Shaista Hafeez
"Durable T cell reprogramming in anti-PD1 therapy: single-cell mechanisms and biomarkers of response"