Applications Closed – PhD opportunity (#1) in Cancer Dynamics group

Update 7th April – Applications are now closed

"Dissecting Tumour Evolution in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma"

We are pleased to announce this exciting postgraduate opportunity within the Cancer Dynamics research group for intake in October 2026!

We welcome applications from enthusiastic and ambitious candidates with a strong academic track record to our PhD programme. Applicants should hold or expect to graduate with a First or minimum upper-second class undergraduate honours degree (or equivalent from a non-UK university) in a relevant subject and Masters-level and/or other laboratory research experience in cancer. Laboratory research experience as part of, or outside of, a university degree course or a Master-level degree in a relevant subject is advantageous but is not a conditional requirement in making an application.

Applications close on 6 April 2026 at 17:00 hrs BST

How to submit a PhD studentship application
Photograph of Professor Samra Turajlić
Representative MIF images of TRACERx Renal tumor samples with high wGII

PhD project details

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is one of the best cancer models for studying tumour evolution. Its progression follows remarkably structured and constrained genomic routes, making it uniquely suited to dissect how recurrent genetic alterations drive tumour initiation, metastasis, and immune evasion.
This PhD project will exploit ccRCC as a model system to investigate fundamental questions in cancer biology.

Find out more

Samra Turajlić

Samra is the Director of Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, a Consultant Medical Oncologist at the Christie and also leads the Cancer Dynamics research group. They apply evolutionary principles to predict the trajectory of individual cancers by studying the forces that shape cancer evolution with the aim of using this knowledge to improve patient outcomes.

Samra Turajlić

Cancer Dynamics

Cancer Dynamics are a multi-disciplinary group of cancer geneticists, computational biologists and clinician scientists who use methods from evolutionary biology to understand the variable natural history of individual cancers, and most critically the emergence of metastases and drug resistance.

They focus on two cancers, renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which is the most common type of kidney tumour, and melanoma, the most aggressive type of skin cancer.

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Here at the CRUK Manchester Institute, our postgraduate students enjoy a supportive environment, while having the opportunity to sink their teeth into a challenging project alongside receiving tailored training in transferable and generic skills.
This vital combination of training and support helps our students develop as independent scientists with excellent career prospects.

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PhD project details
Samra Turajlić
Cancer Dynamics
Being a student at the CRUK Manchester Institute

Key objectives

1. Why are specific genetic alterations repeatedly selected?
2. How do specific alterations rewire tumour–immune interactions?
3. Can evolutionary trajectories reveal therapeutic vulnerabilities?

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Why choose Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute?

The Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, an Institute of The University of Manchester, is a world-leading centre for excellence in cancer research. The Institute is core funded by Cancer Research UK (www.cancerresearchuk.org),
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We are partnered with The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, one of the largest cancer treatment centres in Europe, which is located adjacent to the CRUK MI Manchester Institute in South Manchester. These factors combine to provide an exceptional environment in which to pursue basic, translational and clinical research programmes.

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