MRes - Advanced prediction of Cardiovascular Health: Data-driven discovery of risk biomarkers

Summary

Cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack and stroke, remain the leading global health burden. Early prediction is key to effective prevention. This MRes project offers a unique opportunity to contribute directly to this critical area by joining a major EU-funded initiative spanning seven nations. Your central mission will be to validate identified novel biomarkers – measurable indicators in the body that can predict a person's risk of future cardiovascular events.

You will work at the intersection of clinical data and cutting-edge molecular analysis. The project leverages rich genetic and protein pattern data gathered from dedicated patient cohorts in Northern Ireland, Italy, and Serbia. These datasets have provided the foundation for developing initial predictive risk formula. You will work with the UK Biobank, a world-leading resource containing detailed clinical, molecular, and genetic information for 500,000 UK participants, to validate these findings.

Your work with the UK Biobank will be twofold: firstly you will rigorously validate the potential biomarkers discovered in our separate cohorts, ensuring their robustness. Secondly, you will independently mine the vast UK Biobank dataset to uncover entirely new predictive signals, which can then be cross-validated using our separate cohorts. The ultimate goal is to contribute sensitive predictive tests, enabling better patient prioritization for preventative care and providing metrics to assess lifestyle intervention effectiveness.

This research will equip you with a profound understanding of the biomarker discovery pipeline. You will gain invaluable hands-on experience analysing large-scale, complex biomedical datasets and achieve proficiency using the UK Biobank – a vital skill for modern biomedical research. You will have the opportunity to engage with European collaborators, with potential travel opportunities, and make a tangible contribution to tackling cardiovascular disease.

Specific skills requirements of the applicant: Programming skills in Python or R.  Machine Learning experience is desirable, but not essential.

Important Information: Applications for more than one MRes studentship are welcome, however if you apply for more than one MRes project within Medicine, your first application on the system will be deemed your first-choice preference and further applications will be ordered based on the sequential time of submission. If you are successfully shortlisted, you will be interviewed only on your first-choice application and ranked accordingly. Those ranked highest will be offered a MRes studentship. In the situation where you are ranked highly and your first-choice project is already allocated to someone who was ranked higher than you, you may be offered your 2nd or 3rd choice project depending on the availability of this project.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
• A comprehensive and articulate personal statement
• A demonstrable interest in the research area associated with the studentship

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• First Class Honours (1st) Degree
• Use of personal initiative as evidenced by record of work above that normally expected at career stage.
• Applicants will be shortlisted if they have an average of 75% or greater in a first (honours) degree (or a GPA of 8.75/10). For applicants with a first degree average in the range of 70% to 74% (GPA 3.3): If they are undertaking an Masters, then the average of their first degree marks and their Masters marks will be used for shortlisting.
• Relevant professional qualification and/or a Degree in a Health or Health related area

Equal Opportunities

The University is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community, particularly from those with disabilities.

Appointment will be made on merit.

Funding and eligibility

This opportunity is open to UK/ROI applicants only.

MRes studentships will be available to top ranked candidates to cover tuition fees and a Research Training Support Grant of £900. All applicants will be considered automatically for an MRes studentship. Applicants who do not receive a studentship but meet admission requirements may be offered admission on a self-funded basis.

Applicants who already hold an MRes or a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of an MRes or doctoral degree are NOT eligible to apply for an award. Applicants who hold or who are registered on a taught Master’s degree are eligible to apply.