Skip to main content
What types of page to search?

Popular pages: Undergraduate Postgraduate PhD Accommodation Research International students

Alternatively use our A-Z index.

MRC NW-DMS DLA programme: From variant to phenotype: decoding calmodulin dysfunction in cardiac arrhythmia

Funding
Funded
Study mode
Full-time
Apply by
Start date
Subject area
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
How to apply
Change country or region

We’re currently showing entry requirements and other information for applicants with qualifications from United Kingdom.

Please select from our list of commonly chosen countries below or choose your own.

If your country or region isn’t listed here, please contact us with any questions about studying with us.

Overview

How can a change in a single protein disrupt the electrical rhythm of the heart and cause life-threatening arrhythmia?

About this opportunity

Calmodulin (CaM) is a highly conserved calcium sensing protein that controls key ion channels responsible for cardiac electrical activity and calcium homeostasis. Genetic variants in the three genes encoding CaM (CALM1, CALM2 and CALM3) can cause severe inherited arrhythmias, including long QT syndrome and catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. Yet for many variants identified through genetic testing, we do not understand their functional consequences or the mechanisms linking molecular changes to disease.

This interdisciplinary PhD will investigate how disease-associated CaM variants perturb cardiac function across biological scales. You will uncover how selected variants alter Ca2+ sensing and protein structure, and determine how these molecular changes disrupt interactions with key cardiac ion channels, including Cav1.2, Kv7.1 and RyR2. You will then establish how altered molecular recognition affects ion channel regulation, intracellular calcium handling and ultimately the electrical behaviour of heart cells. The project combines cutting-edge protein biophysics with structural biology, fluorescence imaging and cardiac electrophysiology. You will gain hands-on experience in recombinant protein production, calcium binding assays, circular dichroism, isothermal titration calorimetry and structural approaches including NMR. At the cellular level, you will use calcium imaging and patch-clamp electrophysiology in engineered cell systems and native ventricular cardiomyocytes. By connecting genetic variation to molecular dysfunction and cardiac phenotype, this project will reveal fundamental mechanisms underlying inherited arrhythmia and develop a framework for understanding newly identified calmodulin variants.

Back to top

Who is this for?

Applicants must have obtained or be about to obtain a minimum Upper Second class UK honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in a relevant subject area.

International applicants

We are only able to offer a limited number of full studentships to applicants outside the UK. Therefore, full studentships will only be awarded to exceptional quality international candidates due to the competitive nature of this scheme.

International applicants must ensure they meet the academic eligibility criteria (including English language) before applying. Visit our English Language requirements page to find out more.

Back to top

How to apply

  1. 1. Contact supervisors

    Supervisory team:

    Before you Apply

    Browse our MRC NW-DMS DLA projects and discover one you’re passionate about that matches your interests, ambitions and goals.

    Applicants must make direct contact with preferred supervisors before applying. It is your responsibility to make arrangements to meet with potential supervisors, prior to submitting a formal online application.

  2. 2. Prepare your application documents

    All applications to University of Liverpool projects should be submitted via the Microsoft Forms link:

    MRC NW-DMS DLA candidate application form 2027/28 entry – University of Liverpool – Fill in form

    You may apply for up to two projects from the programme at University of Liverpool via this scheme. To do so, submit a single online application form selecting both project titles you wish to apply to.

    Following your online form submission, you should then email with the following supporting documents:

    • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
    • Supporting Statement
    • Academic Certificates and Transcripts
    • English Language certificates where required
    • Passport photo page copy

    Please use the email subject line: MRC NW-DMS DLA application [insert your full name] so we can match your email submission to your online form submission. Please ensure you use exactly the same first name and surname on this form and on your email. You must submit both your online form and the required supporting documents by the deadline.

    If applying for two University of Liverpool projects, you only need to submit the supporting documents once.

    Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

    Applications should not be made through the University of Liverpool’s application portal.

    Once you have completed your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email.

    Deadline: Friday 27th November 2026, midnight UK time

    Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

    If you need help with this stage of the process, or have any queries regarding your eligibility (such as if you achieved unexpectedly low degree results due to extenuating circumstances), please contact the Liverpool NW-DMS team for advice at

    Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

    Equality, diversity and inclusion is fundamental to the success of The University of Liverpool, and is at the heart of all of our activities. The full equality, diversity and inclusion statement can be found on our website.

  3. 3. Apply

    Finally, register and apply online. You'll receive an email acknowledgment once you've submitted your application. We'll be in touch with further details about what happens next.

Back to top

Funding your PhD

These studentships are available to UK and international applicants, and provide funding for tuition fees and stipend at the UKRI rate, subject to eligibility, for four years. This does not include any costs associated with relocation. This scheme is open to both UK and international applicants.

Back to top

Contact us

Have a question about this research opportunity or studying a PhD with us? Please get in touch with us, using the contact details below, and we’ll be happy to assist you.

Liverpool NW-DMS team
Back to top