Funded by Medical Research Scotland, with additional support from Charles River, an industry-linked, 4-year, PhD Studentship is available from October 2026. The studentship is fully collaborative with Charles River Laboratories in Saffron Walden, Essex, UK, and it is expected that the location of the studentship research will be split approximately 50:50 between the Company and the University laboratories. A senior scientist from Charles River will co-supervise along with Professor Kerr, providing robust and comprehensive mentorship for the individual PhD researcher.

The studentship will explore the area of targeted therapy within drug discovery. Specifically, the project will develop novel antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), an innovative type of targeted therapeutic modality that has shown highly selective delivery of cytotoxic drugs to disease cells. Whilst antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology has reached the clinic in oncology, currently, there is limited insight that exists for employing ADCs in other therapeutic areas.  

The student will become an expert in the ADC field and obtain broad experience in chemical synthesis, alongside key medicinal chemistry skills and knowledge.  Exposure to the biological elements of the project will further elevate the expertise of the individual.