Postgraduate research in medicine
Discover why so many postgraduate students choose to study at St Andrews, from the strength of our reputation through to the support the University offers all students. All PhD students become part of St Leonards college on joining the University. See more about St Leonards college and student life.
The scale of the University allows us to compete successfully for private and public funding for our path-breaking research while being small enough to provide individual attention to everyone who chooses to study here. See the current prospectus for PhD study.
The School also welcomes applications from suitable self-funded candidates to undertake a one-year Master of Science by Research degree (MSc (Res)) to engage in a full-time research project and write a dissertation. It is an excellent opportunity to spend a shorter time in a research environment either for a standalone degree or as preparation for a PhD.
Postgraduate visiting days
There are plenty of opportunities to visit the University of St Andrews. We hold visiting days throughout the year to offer prospective postgraduate students a chance to experience the University’s unique atmosphere and see for themselves the quality of the teaching on offer.
See upcoming postgraduate visiting days.
PhD and Postgraduate research opportunities
Contact
Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 3508
Email: pgmed@st-andrews.ac.uk
Nina MacKenzie
Nina MacKenzie is a psychiatry registrar and clinical research fellow on a four-year fellowship with sponsorship from the Wellcome Trust Multimorbidity PhD Programme. Supervised by Professor
“Throughout medical training I have observed the common co-occurrence of chronic physical and mental health conditions, which can have a profound impact on patients’ quality of life. This propelled me
to pursue a career in research, focusing on a topic I feel passionately about. Joining the School of Medicine has enabled collaboration with renowned researchers and offers a wealth of opportunities for professional, personal and career support and training. I have enjoyed the opportunity to engage with researchers from a variety of backgrounds in a friendly and supportive environment, in such a beautiful setting.”
PhD student biographies
Richard Edel
Richard Edel is the recipient of a four-year PhD studentship funded by the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) through the EastBio doctoral training partnership for an interdisciplinary project between the School of Medicine and the School of Physics and Astronomy. Jointly supervised by Dr Samantha Pitt and Dr Paolo Annibale, he will unravel the functional oligomerization of a novel calcium channel and its role in heart failure using advanced fluorescence spectroscopy.
“My PhD project is on the interface between fluorescence microscopy techniques and understanding cardiac pathologies, both of which I have become very passionate about. The research environment and support from both of my supervisors has helped me to overcome many personal and professional challenges during my PhD. This has not only helped me to develop as an academic but also gave me the opportunity to meet many great people in my research cohort and make friends for life. The homely feel of St Andrews gave me the opportunity to not only get to know other PhD student, but also most of the PIs in the School of Medicine too.”
Benedict Paulukiewicz
Ben Paulukiewicz is the recipient of a three-year PhD funded by the St Leonards World-Leading Scholarship. He is jointly supervised by Dr Robert Hammond (School of Medicine) and Professor Ifor Samuel (School of Physics and Astronomy).
“My PhD research focuses on the treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers and utilising Photodynamic Therapy to address the complex infections that hinder their healing. I have been involved in designing and developing two Photodynamic Therapy treatment devices, as well as implementing upgrades to the Scattered Light Integrating Collector (SLIC). I am grateful for the support provided by St Andrews during my PhD, which has enabled me to travel internationally to collaborate with colleagues and establish new connections. The School of Medicine offers many opportunities for collaboration, and I find it engaging to learn about the research being conducted by other PhD students within the department.”
Sepideh Benvari
Sepideh Benvari is the recipient of a three-and-a-half-year PhD funded by the World-Leading Scholarship. She is supervised by Professor Matthew Holden and Dr Katherine Keenan.
“I came to St Andrews without knowing much about the town and with no prior experience of studying or working abroad. What brought me here was the opportunity to work on a project related to the biological and social factors behind antibacterial resistance—an area that closely aligned with my academic background and research interests.
I was particularly drawn to the supervisory team. Professor Holden, an expert in bacterial genomics and public health, and Dr Keenan from the School of Geography and Sustainable Development, with her interdisciplinary background in the determinants of population health, offered an ideal balance of expertise to support my work. Their guidance has been both inspiring and instrumental to my progress.
My project is part of the HATUA consortium, which has conducted impactful research across three countries in East Africa and collected a uniquely rich dataset. Being part of this team has allowed me to learn from experienced researchers, including Dr Alison Sandeman, whose project management and support have been incredibly valuable.
Throughout my PhD, I’ve had the freedom to develop my skills independently in ways I felt were most important. At the same time, I’ve benefited from structured learning opportunities provided by CEED, which have helped me grow both academically and professionally.
St Andrews is also a beautiful and peaceful town, and as someone with a passion for photography, I’ve found endless inspiration here. The friendly and supportive university community has made a big difference in adjusting to life abroad, helping me feel both welcome and motivated throughout this journey.”
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Hazem Abdullah
Hazem Abdullah is the recipient of a 3 year PhD funded by the St Andrews Sanctuary Scholarship. He is supervised by Professor David Harrison, Dr Mustafa Elshani, Dr Alison Dickson and Dr Tim Kendall.
"As a medical graduate, I was always keen on pursuing postgraduate studies to combine both clinical and research aspects to achieve the best patient outcome. My current research focuses on a relevantly new tissue culture methodology called organoids which reflects a better picture of cancer progression and treatment. With access to one of the most advanced facilities in the UK, I have been learning new skills every day. The school of medicine provides a very friendly environment to help reach your goals and with the help of the fellow researchers, you will never feel alone."
Current PhD and PGR Opportunities
Click here to see any current posts available in the School of Medicine for research degrees