Subject areas:
Biomedical Engineering, Neuroscience, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, and/or equivalent training.
Funding type:
Bench Fees / Research Training & Support Grant.
Stipend.
Tuition fee.
Awarding body:
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Fully funded EPSRC DLA PhD studentship in the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences to start 1 October 2025.
Award details
Epilepsy affects approximately 50 million people globally, with one-third experiencing medication-resistant seizures. While surgical resection and deep brain stimulation (DBS) option can be effective, they are invasive, and suitable only for select patients. Epilepsy is increasingly seen as a network disorder where changes in excitability across brain regions influence seizure generation. There is a critical need for safer, non-invasive alternatives that can target the distributed epileptic network. Temporal Interference Stimulation (TIS) is an emerging technology capable of delivering focused stimulation to deep brain areas non-invasively. TIS could be used both as a therapeutic approach on its own; and as an adjustable, reversible tool to probe stimulation effects on different epileptic network targets, informing DBS strategies. This translational project explores the potential clinical application of TIS in epilepsy by developing stimulation protocols, validating their effects on brain networks, and characterising their impact on seizure-related activity through advanced imaging and electrophysiological methods.
Award value
Each studentship is fully funded for 3.5 years. This includes tuition fees, stipend and generous project consumables.
- Stipend: Students will receive a tax-free stipend at the UKRI rate of £22,780 (AY 2025/26) per year as a living allowance.
- Research Training Support Grant (RTSG): A generous project allowance will be provided for research consumables and for attending UK and international conferences.
- Tuition fees: Home
Eligibility criteria
School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences
Postgraduate research
Bachelor's degree with 2:1 honours in Biomedical Engineering, Applied Mathematics / Mathematics, Neuroscience, Biochemistry, Biology, or another engineering-related discipline, Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Science, Medicine, Physics.
A 2:2 degree may be considered only where applicants also offer a Master's degree with Merit or above.
Preference will be given to candidates with a background conducive to multidisciplinary research and preferably programming skills.
We welcome eligible applicants from any personal background, who are pleased to join diverse and friendly research groups.
For information on our English language requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.
Award conditions
Candidates who meet the eligibility requirements for Home Fee status will be eligible to apply for this project. To be classed as a Home student, candidates must meet the following criteria:
- be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or
- have settled status, or
- have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
- have indefinite leave to remain or enter.
For exceptionally strong and competitive applications there is a possibility of support for international tuition fees.
Students must submit within the funding period (3.5 years) and must participate in training and cohort activities relevant to their PhD.
Application process
Please submit an application for the Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Science Research MPhil/PhD (Full-time) programme using the King’s Apply system. Please include the following with your application:
- A PDF copy of your CV should be uploaded to the Employment History section.
- A 500-word personal statement outlining your motivation for undertaking postgraduate research should be uploaded to the Supporting statement section.
- Funding information: Please choose Option 5 “I am applying for a funding award or scholarship administered by King’s College London” and under “Award Scheme Code or Name” enter DLA-IV. Failing to include this code might result in you not being considered for this funding.
Contact:
Please email: ines.violante@kcl.ac.uk.
Selection process
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a formal interview.