PhD opportunity in Systems Oncology

We welcome applications to our PhD Programme – apply before the deadline on 6th November 2026 1700 GMT

Defining regulators of early-stage PDAC tumour development

We are pleased to announce this exciting postgraduate opportunity within the Systems Oncology research group for intake in October 2027!

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 6th November 2026 at 17:00 GMT.

How to submit a PhD studentship application
Gloved hands writing on a bottle of media
Claus Jørgensen Senior Group Leader
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

PhD project details

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a dismal disease with limited treatment options. ~80% of patients with PDAC are diagnosed with incurable locally advanced or metastatic disease and are offered palliative systemic chemotherapy treatment. Even in the cases where surgery with curative intent is offered (~20% of newly diagnosed patients), more than 2/3rds return with local or metastatic disease within months. A characteristic feature of PDAC is the conscripted and pathologically remodelled tumour microenvironment (TME), which takes up more than 80% of the tumour volume on average. Here, host cells such as fibroblasts and immune cells are co-opted by tumour cell-derived signals to permit tumour growth and immune escape. Moreover, a remodelled extracellular matrix alters tissue biophysics resulting in a stiff, poorly perfused, nutrient depleted environment. This project will expand our understanding of how tumour cells are functionally regulated by signals from the microenvironment in disease progression.

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Claus Jørgensen

Prof Claus Jørgensen is a Senior Group Leader at the CRUK Manchester Institute. He heads the Systems Oncology group, which focuses on the complex interactions between malignant and normal cells, with a particular interest in pancreatic cancer.

Claus joined the CRUK Manchester Institute in early 2014; in 2017, he was awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant and in 2022, became Professor of Cancer Biology at the University of Manchester.

Claus Jørgensen

Systems Oncology

The group focus on identifying and delineating the regulatory mechanisms whereby tumour cells co-opt stromal cells and how the ‘activated’ stromal cells affect tumour cell behaviour (malignant progression, drug sensitivity and metastasis), using Mass Cytometry (CyTOF), CRISPR editing/screening, sequencing and quantitative mass spectrometry to systematically measure signalling on a global level.

Through data-integrative and single cell approaches, they aim to describe how signals are processed in a cell-specific manner, alongside creating new models of pancreatic cancer in the laboratory, using synthetic scaffolds to artificially alter the stiffness of the tumour.

Systems Oncology

Being a student at the CRUK Manchester Institute

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.rnrnThis vital combination of training and support helps our students develop as independent scientists with excellent career prospects.

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PhD project details
Claus Jørgensen
Systems Oncology
Being a student at the CRUK Manchester Institute

Key objectives

In this project you will aim to identify and mechanistically interrogate signals from the tumour microenvironment that regulate early stages of malignant tumour cell progression. You will use human patient samples and our recently developed fully synthetic organoid model in combination with CRISPR engineering, Mass Spectrometry based protein analysis and in vivo modelling to unpick the tumour cell response to the host cell signals that drive early tumour progression. (See Tape et al Cell 2016, Lee et al Nat Comm 2021, Below et al Nat Materials 2022, Hutton et al Cancer Cell 2022.) You will benefit from established models, expertise, clinical and computational collaborations as well as access to state-of-the-art infrastructure.

Ready to apply?

To apply for this studentship please complete the online application through our secure PhD Student Recruitment portal, which you can access by clicking the “Apply Now” button. All applications will be considered equally irrespective of ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender, religion/belief, age and nationality. To help the CRUK Manchester Institute monitor equality, diversity and inclusion, you will be asked to complete and submit an EDI monitoring form during the application process. Equal opportunities information will not be shared and will not form any part of the selection process or divulged to members of the selecting, recruiting or interview panels.

Please ensure you submit your application before 1700 GMT hrs on the closing date of 6th November 2026.

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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),
the largest independent cancer research organisation in the world.

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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