The Life Sciences Department at Brunel is a vibrant, multidisciplinary community of scholars addressing key issues and global challenges for humankind. The Department brings together academics in Biosciences, Environmental Sciences, Psychology, and Sport, Health & Exercise Sciences, working together to carry out world-leading research with the potential to improve human health and well-being. We are making discoveries in a wide range of areas including: mechanisms of disease and novel therapeutic approaches; fundamental and applied research into brain function; how environmental toxins impact health; how genes and chromosomes behave; analysis of “Big Data” to explore determinants of health and disease; how our immune system works to protect us, or causes harm; determinants of human physical performance and rehabilitation; how culture and evolution shape our psychology and how to support welfare, health and wellbeing in our societies. Together, we work towards integrating academic and scientific rigour with the needs of health care providers, governments, industry, and the not-for-profit sector, aiming to deliver creative solutions to global challenges and, thereby, bring health, economic, social, and cultural benefits to societies. Research opportunities for students Research students are welcomed to Brunel as valued members of our thriving, research-intensive community. Browse PhD opportunities below and find out about the funding available for students. Doctoral research information How to apply for a PhD View list of PhDs in this area Research in Life Sciences Find people, projects, groups and publications in Life Sciences and read more about related research to this area. Meet our experts Browse academics in Biosciences, Environmental Sciences, Psychology, and Sport, Health & Exercise Sciences Life Sciences Research Archive Browse our collection of research outputs including PhD theses Independent assessment of our research quality (REF 2021) View REF 2021 details for Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy (UoA 03) Helping policymakers stub out smoking REF 2021 Research groups and centres Antimicrobial Innovations Centre The central aim of the Antimicrobial Innovations Centre (AMIC), is to address key challenges related to antimicrobial resistance, through focused interdisciplinary collaboration and cutting-edge research, positioning it at the forefront of addressing global health and planetary challenges. Applied Respiratory Research Group Applied respiratory research meeting the needs of respiratory-related healthcare Arts Health and Social Change This Research Group is dedicated to fostering art-based initiatives that drive social change towards inclusivity and equality in healthcare. Brunel Partners Academic Centre for Health Sciences Focusing on allied health, nursing, social care and medicine, the centre supports ambitious plans to educate the health and care workforce, supporting the delivery of radically transformed integrated physical and mental health and care provision. Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research Group Understanding the biological, social, physiological aspects of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and producing knowledge to improve cardiovascular and metabolic health. Culture and Evolution Evolution and culture are the two most fundamental and powerful influences on human behaviour, and their effects are what we study at the Centre for Culture and Evolution. Embodiment in Academic and Professional Practice Development of an enhanced awareness of bodies as sensors of crucial information about ourselves and our reality; Enhancing our performance as human beings, practitioners, researchers and educators. Experimental Techniques Centre A highly regarded cross-disciplinary characterisation facility, with specialist staff that have expertise from various scientific disciplines, e.g. biology, metallurgy, geology and engineering. Genome Engineering and Maintenance Diverse research network focused on molecular, cellular, organismal and computational aspects of genome biology. Health and Wellbeing Across the Lifecourse Inequalities in health and wellbeing in the UK and internationally; welfare, health and wellbeing; ageing studies; health economics. Health Behaviour Change Development and evaluation of theory- and evidence-based health behaviour change interventions, across communicable and non-communicable diseases; evidence synthesis of behaviour change interventions. Health Effects of Radiological and Chemical Agents The generation, promotion and integration of new, multi-disciplinary research that is particular to the British nuclear test veteran community, their genomic health and the impact of uncertainty on health more broadly. Inflammation Research and Translational Medicine Driving scientific innovation and discovery for diagnosis, treatment, and management of cardiovascular disease, inflammatory and immune disorders, microbial resistance, and cancer. Institute of Communities and Society The Institute focuses on the social, community, and cultural aspects of pressing contemporary issues including migration and movement, social unrest, intersectional inequalities, and institutionalised poverty. Institute of Health, Medicine and Environments Our challenge-led work in health and wellbeing focuses on understanding the relationships between biological, social, natural, and built environments and health and wellbeing outcomes. LEAP-Lab: Learning, Expertise, Action, Perception Three innovative spaces, which collectively support a thriving research culture in which staff and students work collaboratively to produce high-quality research on the topics of Learning, Expertise, Action, and Perception. Organ-on-a-Chip The group’s main research focus is on women’s health and developing four main organ-on-a-chip (OOC) models: the breast, vagina, ovary, and placenta. Physical Activity in Health and Disease The centre conducts interdisciplinary research to improve human health and performance through regular physical activity and exercise, and by limiting sedentary behaviour. Pollution Research and Policy Predictive approaches in toxicology, including combined chemical exposures and development of new frameworks for non-animal approaches for predicting toxicity; Endocrine disruptor research with an emphasis on mechanisms of disease and test method development; Pollution monitoring, clean-up technologies and chemical analytics. Smart Technology Advancements in Health and Rehabilitation Data science/wearable technology and Rehabilitation; Haptic feedback, multi-sensory interfacing and Robotics in Health; Immersion and Engagement in Virtual Rehabilitation; TeleHealth/TeleRehab; Data: using AI and Machine learning to improve health. Browse our research projects View all View all Xcell: Studying cells and tissue biochemistry in simulated microgravity HiLIGHT: Revolutionising medical imaging with advanced laser technologies Understanding laminopathies: Diseases of the cell nucleus Investigating therapeutic effect of antioxidants in Friedreich’s Ataxia (FRDA) Cellular senescence and its impact on organismal ageing Investigating variations in two genes that increase the risk of bowel cancer How the Schistosoma mansoni parasite manipulates its hosts' genomes Chromosome behaviour and dynamics after exposure to simulated microgravity Using creative engagement to support healthcare workers Improving health in older adults by reducing sitting time How do cells divide? Investigating thrombo-inflammation associated with cardiovascular diseases Promoting inflammation resolution in sickle cell disease Pharmacological strategies for resolution of inflammation Understanding and manipulating our immune system to protect against ageing A new cell and gene therapy approach for Friedreich's ataxia Host-pathogen interactions in tuberculosis Human endogenous factors in the control of mycobacterial infection Spirits and Sources: How spiritual seekers embrace belief and build community Physical activity and sedentary behaviour in Fabry disease Parenting across cultures in contemporary England Governing immersive biomedical tech, health and human rights in the Metaverse Innovate photonic devices for digital histopathology Understanding the role of temperature on muscle function in older adults Post-Covid lifestyle and mental wellbeing Modelling internal bone marrow dose from Radium-223 Evaluation of oligonucleotides for therapy of Friedreich ataxia Identifying the most potent and effective treatment of Friedreich ataxia Faith, difference and diversity in Muslim male prisoner rehabilitation Rapid evidence scoping review: Creativity and Pathways to Subjective Wellbeing LIVEND: Live music inclusion at venues and events for neurodivergent people Can SmartSocks™ help deliver care to people with dementia living in care homes? Side effects of gene therapy vectors Evolution of religious and secular medical treatments Cancer and physical activity The maintenance of genome integrity The role of CDCA2 molecule in neuroblastoma Genetic and cytogenetic family trio study Physical activity and McArdle disease Towards a therapy for Friedreich’s Ataxia Investigating the role of bioactive sphingolipids in Friedreich’s ataxia Elucidation of the metabolic signature of Friedreich's ataxia Metabolic reprogramming for improved BCG vaccine efficacy Early growth protein molecules and preventing autoimmune disease and cancer When reading misfires: the case for letter confusability Vagina-on-a-Chip Predicting online radicalisation Low-cost portable molecular diagnostic platform Innovative techniques for precise, atraumatic placement of cochlear implant Analysis of the nature of loneliness using natural language programming Modelling infant leukaemia using gene editing technology COVID-19 and relationships study Protect mental health COVID-19 study Using mindfulness to reduce schizophrenia vulnerability Air pollution, brain health and wellbeing in India Recovering sense of smell and taste Childhood maltreatment: emotional consequences and potential intervention The effects of sonification on motor imagery ability Road cycling behaviour of young adults Mitigating plastic waste in Indonesia Risk factors for cognitive decline in LGBT+ older people Assessment of injury risk factors and mechanisms in elite netball Understanding the causes of atheism in Mauritius Muscle response to exercise in cerebral palsy Reactivation of herpesviruses in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Physiology of singing and implications for singing for lung health Common genetic variants that increase the risk of cancer Does CRISPR-Cas9 treatment cause DNA damage in cancer cells? Modelling adenoid cystic carcinoma in a mouse Oncoprotein MYB in the head and neck cancer adenoid cystic carcinoma Visual and emotional processing in early Parkinson's disease Radiation exposure and heritable genetic effects Culture, sport and wellbeing evidence review Culture, sport and wellbeing: social diversity and context matters Cell signalling aimed at regulating cell proliferation Multifactorial impacts on early breast carcinogenesis Use of liquid biopsies as cancer biomarkers Factors influencing pain and physical activity in children Aberrant genome organisation in female cancers Making the beautiful game fair play Stealth marketing and physical activity Social movement approach to physical activity in Southall Evaluation of a complex community sport intervention Sport, culture, communities and wellbeing Diabetes UK: Understanding physical activity Community sport and inequalities Physical activity in the workplace Hidden curriculum of Occupational Therapy practice education Reducing sitting behaviour in people with Type 2 diabetes Investigating cerebral microvasculature dysfunction in stroke Creating digital stories to understand living with multimorbidity Respiratory physiology, human performance and health Virtual reality for NHS staff wellbeing Muscle heat shock proteins with passive heating Acute cardiovascular responses to slow and deep breathing Addressing educational inequities through co-production of inclusive learning Explaining the causes of atheism and non-belief Gender differences in multitasking A psychophysiology study of sensory processing in meditators See Less: How to help a billion breakups Effects of dehydration and hyperthermia on brain and muscle blood flow Arts interventions to prevent young people becoming involved in crime Anticipation in soccer The impact of task complexity, cognitive load and anxiety on driving Exploring the effectiveness of anti-doping interventions Innate immunity in bovine tuberculosis Gestalt grouping and perceptual averaging to boost memory capacity Big Tissue and Society Decision making in Gaelic football Pause Courses Ageing Studies PhD Biomedical Engineering PhD Biosciences PhD Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience PhD Environment and Health PhD Human Performance, Exercise and Rehabilitation PhD Psychology PhD Public Health and Health Promotion PhD Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences PhD Synthetic Biology PhD Welfare, Health and Wellbeing PhD View all courses Fully-funded studentships Creative wellbeing for South Asian Muslim children and their families in Bradford: exploring the role of performing arts - ESRC Grand Union DTP CDA 2025 ESRC Funded Studentships in Health & Wellbeing at Brunel University London via the Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership. Our funded studentships become available at different times of the year. Please keep checking our page regularly to see the latest funded opportunities. We also advertise all our funded studentships as soon as they become available on the @BrunelResearch twitter account. View all studentships