Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology (AZ funded PhD Studentship)
Applications are invited for a 4-year PhD studentship based in the Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge and the new AstraZeneca Discovery Centre at Cambridge. The student will be working on a collaborative project jointly supervised by Prof David Spring (Cambridge) and Dr Nicholas Darton (AstraZeneca) and will work have opportunity to work across the two sites. The project, entitled "Improving the Stability of ADCs and their Formulations by Mitigating Degradation Pathways" is in the field of Synthetic Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology.
The project will involve Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). ADCs have revolutionized targeted cancer therapy by delivering cytotoxic drugs to cancer cells with reduced systemic toxicity. However, their long-term stability is often compromised by aggregation and photooxidative degradation. The project will involve introducing both photostabilising and hydrophilic functionalities into ADCs. This strategy offers a novel route to enhance formulation stability and could provide general insights for improving the stability of a wide range of ADCs. The project will involve both organic synthesis and chemical biology skills.
Candidate
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual capable of thinking and working independently. Applicants should have or shortly expect to obtain a first or upper second-class degree from a UK university, or an equivalent standard from an overseas university, in a relevant subject such as Chemistry. Ideally, the candidate will have a strong background in organic chemistry. Practical experience of synthetic organic chemistry and chemical biology in a research environment would be beneficial. These positions are open to UK citizens or overseas students who meet the UK residency requirements (home fees) or are able to augment the funds to cover the extra costs associated with international student fees through scholarships or funding schemes. Full details of the University's entrance requirements and scholarships are specified on the following link: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/
Funding
Full funding covering maintenance fees at £21,500 per annum and the University Composition Fee is provided for the studentship, with effect from 1 October 2026.
Application Process
To apply, please submit an application for the course "PhD in Chemistry", naming Prof. David Spring as potential supervisor, through the University Applicant Portal: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/pcchpdpch
Deadline
2nd December 2025. Interviews are likely to be mid December or early January.
Student support and training
As a graduate student at Cambridge, you will have access to a wide range of training opportunities and benefit from close supervision provided by a primary and secondary PhD supervisor as well as a personal mentor.
During their PhD, there is no taught or examined coursework, but students are encouraged to attend the wide variety of lectures and training courses available to them across the Institute and wider University. This includes a centrally run Statistics course and the University Core Skills Training Programme, which includes sessions on Time Management, Presentation and Performance and Scientific Writing. Students at the Institute will be members of the University’s Postgraduate School of Life Sciences (PSLS) who offer a wide variety of core skills and professional development training. Visit the Researcher Development page on the PSLS website for more information. In addition, the student can also take advantage of training courses and seminars in therapeutic sciences offered by Cambridge Academy of Therapeutic Sciences.
All students are expected to attend internal and external seminars held within the Dept of Chemistry. Students will also be encouraged to attend and present at the annual AstraZeneca students symposium.
Diversity and Inclusion
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. We place major emphasis on the importance of teamwork and an enjoyable work environment as a foundation for performing internationally leading research. This will allow the student to acquire cutting edge research methodologies in a supportive environment, where they can focus on making the best possible scientific progress.
Contact
For any queries about this studentship, please contact Prof. David Spring by email at spring@ch.cam.ac.uk.