Closing date: 27 April 2026
Funding provider: EPSRC
Subject area: Applied Mathematics, Mathematical Modelling, Mathematical Biology
Project start date: July 2026 **(Please see the note below regarding potential later start dates.)
Supervisors:
Aligned programme of study: PhD in Mathematics
Mode of study: Full-time or part time
Place of study: Swansea University (Bay Campus)
Project description:
Anti-cancer drugs can be classified into small- and large-molecule drugs. One of the more complex types of novel anti-cancer drugs are antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), in which several molecules of a cytotoxic drug are attached to an antibody via chemical linkers. The antibody component binds to the antigen on a tumour cell, after which the cytotoxic drug is released to kill the tumour cell. ADCs are designed to combine the tumour cell-killing effects of cytotoxic drugs with the targeted specificity of antibodies, to provide a more effective therapy. However, ADCs are challenging drugs to develop, because all of the features associated with the small- and large-molecule drug components must be optimised together. Computational mathematical modelling is used to make the optimisation of ADCs more efficient by identification of the critical processes and parameters.
In this project, we aim to develop mathematical and computational models to predict the spatial distribution of concentrations of intact antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and released cytotoxic drugs over time in a tumour after dosing ADC to a patient, and how they relate to the spatial distribution of antigen in the tumour. The effect of the cytotoxic drug to kill tumour cells will be included to simulate the response of the tumour to ADC treatment. Stochastic or agent-based approaches will be used to describe the heterogeneity of antigen expression in the tumour. The models will be calibrated against pre-clinical data and compared to literature models that are based on ordinary differential equation systems without a description of spatial heterogeneity. Simulations and sensitivity analysis of the model will be used to identify optimum dosing schedules or ADC properties that maximise the anti-tumour response.
This project is in collaboration with experts from AstraZeneca.
The Departments of Mathematics is part of the Computational Foundry, a world-class centre for computational research, part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through Welsh Government. The brand-new building of the Computational Foundry provides an ideal environment for doing a PhD.
Duration of studentship: 3 years
For more details please see here: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/scholarships/research/engineering-epsrc-phd-computational-modelling-rs940.php
Scholarship open to UK fee eligible applicants only.
Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA.
Note for international and European applicants: details of how your qualification compares to the published academic entry requirements can be found on our Country Specific Entry Requirements page.
PhD: Applicants for PhD must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level or master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’ (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University).
English Language
IELTS 6.0 Overall (with no individual component below 5.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here.
Funding
This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently £20,780 for 2025/26)
Additional research expenses of up to £1,000 per year will also be available.
To apply, please complete the entire application form
Mathematics, PhD – Full Time, July 2026
Mathematics, PhD – Part time, July 2026
To be considered for this scholarship award the following steps are also required.
1) In section ‘Programme Related Information’ please input the relevant RS Code for the scholarship award i.e. RS940
2) In section ‘Research’ you will see ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’* (Mandatory)
3) In section ‘Funding information’ please choose the option ‘Scholarship Funding’ only. Please ensure no other options are selected.
*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award.
If you’ve previously applied for this programme, the system will display an “Application Submitted” warning and block a new submission. In this case:
1) Apply for the same course with the next available start date (e.g., select January if October is unavailable).
2) Email [email protected] with your student number and the relevant scholarship RS code, requesting the start date be amended to match the advert.
3) Admissions staff will then update your application accordingly.
One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards.
NOTE: Applicants for PhD/EngD/ProfD/EdD - to support our commitment to providing an environment free of discrimination and celebrating diversity at Swansea University you are required to complete an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form in addition to your programme application form.
Please note that completion of the EDI Monitoring Form is mandatory; your application may not progress if this information is not submitted.
As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email):
Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact:
NAME: Professor Gibin Powathil
EMAIL: [email protected]
*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co- funding of a scholarship project is applicable.
**In exceptional circumstances, and subject to the discretion of the University and/or the relevant funding body, a deferral of offer may be granted to the next available enrolment period. Such deferral will typically not exceed a duration of three calendar months from the originally stipulated commencement date. Please note that only one deferral may be considered, and any such deferral is not guaranteed.
Scholarship open to UK fee eligible applicants only.
Discover a range of postgraduate research funding opportunities at Swansea University Now more than ever, we recognise the importance of offering a ...