PhD position - Salt-dependent regulation of aldosterone secretion by ACTH and angiotensin II  (DC 4)

PhD Research Fellow in Mapping rhythms of health: Salt-dependent regulation of aldosterone secretion by ACTH and angiotensin II (DC4)

About the pThere is a vacancy for a PhD Research Fellow in Mapping rhythms of health: Salt-dependent regulation of aldosterone secretion by ACTH and angiotensin II (DC4) at the University of Bristol, UK. The position is funded by the European Commission through the MSCA Doctoral Network Endotrain (Grant No: 101227148) and coordinated by the University of Bergen, Norway.

Supervisors: Professor Stafford Lightman, Dr Thomas Upton 

Location: University of Bristol, U.K.

Duration: 3 years

Start date: August 2026 at latest

This position is part of 19 PhD Fellowships available in Digital Endocrinology in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network (ENDOTRAIN).

Join Europe’s first doctoral network in digital endocrinology – integrating AI, sensor technology, omics, and clinical medicine to transform diagnosis and treatment of adrenal diseases. 

Digital medicine is entering a new era where human “digital twins” and sensor-based monitoring allow personalised diagnosis and treatment. ENDOTRAIN will train a new generation of interdisciplinary experts who merge clinical endocrinology, AI, data science, engineering, ethics and law into an integrated field of digital endocrinology. The programme focuses on adrenal disorders as a case study for advancing digital health in Europeosition.

Host Institution

The University of Bristol has been named the 51st best university in the QS World University Rankings 2026, continuing the institution’s steady rise from 61st in 2022.

This also means that Bristol has ranked eighth best university in the UK – a rise of one place from the previous rankings. 

University of Bristol welcomes students from around the world. Bristol is a vibrant, creative and exciting city. For more information about the University and being a student in the city visit https://visitbristol.co.uk/ and https://www.bristol.ac.uk/international/.  

Before applying, please review our admissions statement, which includes our entry requirements and list of the documents needed for an application.  

We are keen to support applicants from minority and under-represented backgrounds (based on protected characteristics) and those who have experienced other challenges or disadvantages. We encourage you to use your motivation letter to ensure we can take these factors into account. 

About the project/work tasks:

Key Responsibilities: 

• Design and conduct a clinical study with healthy volunteers.
• Utilise 24-hour dynamic hormone profiling technology 
• Integrate and analyse multi-modal data (hormones, wearables, questionnaires).
• Collaborate with mathematical modellers to interpret findings.
• Disseminate results through publications and international conferences. 

Research Fields: 

Endocrinology, Digital Health, Medical Sensors, Systems Physiology, Internal Medicine, Personalised medicine, Data Analysis, Human Health, Hypertension, Metabolism 

Secondments:

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München under the supervision of Professor Martin Reincke and Dr Nicole Reisch

About the PhD position:

This project is part of Work Package 1: Hormone Dynamics within the ENDOTRAIN network. The ENDOTRAIN project, funded by the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, is seeking a doctoral candidate (DC4) to investigate the salt-dependent regulation of aldosterone secretion in healthy persons. 

This project sits at the exciting intersection of clinical endocrinology and data science. High blood pressure is one of the leading causing of morbidity and mortality in the world. One under-recognised contributor is the hormone aldosterone. Aldosterone is a complex, dynamic hormone that we need to understand more about. In this project, you will use innovative 24-hour dynamic hormone profiling (U-RHYTHM technology) alongside wearable sensors and patient questionnaires to map how aldosterone rhythms are influenced by sodium intake and daily activities. Your work will involve conducting a study with healthy volunteers and analysing complex hormonal and physiological datasets. You will work with collaborators across the training network including a secondment to a specialist primary aldosteronism centre in Munich. 

The ultimate goal is to build a foundational understanding of healthy hormone rhythms to better diagnose and treat disorders like primary aldosteronism. 

Qualifications and personal qualities:

• Mobility Rule: You must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the UK for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date.
• A Master’s degree or equivalent in Medicine, Biomedicine, Physiology, Biotechnology, or a closely related field. We welcome applications from clinically trained individuals (possessing an MBChB or equivalent)
• A strong interest in endocrinology, physiology, and data analysis.
• Excellent communication skills in English and the ability to work in a team.

Prior experience with clinical research or data science is an advantage.

We can offer:

• A 3-year full-time employment contract covering tuition fees, training support, travel and secondments.
• A comprehensive training programme including workshops, schools, and international secondments. 
• An opportunity to be part of a leading EU-wide research network including a secondment to Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München under the supervision of Professor Martin Reincke and Dr Nicole Reisch

Your application must include:

Application ProcedureAll applications must be submitted via the Jobbnorge portal 

Your application must include the mandatory attachments from the ENDOTRAIN webpages - including "1. Application form" - "2. CV" - "3. Mobility declaration" - "4. Motivation Letter"

Eligibility (MSCA Doctoral Network rules)

• Applicants can be of any nationality. 
• Must not have resided or carried out a main activity in the host country for more than 12 months in the past 36 months before start of the PhD.
• Must hold a master’s degree (or equivalent) enabling doctoral studies.
• Must not already hold a doctoral degree.
• English proficiency required - transcripts of diplomas in English must be uploaded in Jobbnorge. 

In the "Jobbnorge-CV": Only fill in the basics of your 1) personal details, 2) short information about your degrees (in the field "Education / academic qualifications") - in order to minimise repetition with the CV attachment.

It is a condition of employment that the master's degree has been awarded (documentation must be provided). If you have not yet completed your master's degree, you can apply provided completion of the final master exam before the position start date. Please submit a statement from your institution confirming the expected date of award of your master's degree. 

For HR related questions contact the host institutions for the position you are applying (see link for the specific position)

General information:

Contact:

For questions about the project, please contact the primary supervisor Stafford Lightman (stafford.lightman@bristol.ac.uk). 

For questions about the programme, please contact Programme Manager Elizabeth Farmer (elizabeth.farmer@uib.no) 

For more information regarding technical matters connected to the application process, please contact HR Adviser Selina Sia Hausberg 

Diversity and Inclusion

MSCA -Endotrain has a gender equality plan where gender balance among employees is therefore a goal. We encourage women to apply. If multiple applicants have approximately equivalent qualifications, the rules pertaining to moderate gender quotas shall apply. It is also a goal to recruit people with immigrant backgrounds. People with immigrant backgrounds and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply for the position. 

Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met. 

About MSCA Doctoral Networks 

The MSCA Doctoral Networks aim to train creative, entrepreneurial, innovative and resilient doctoral candidates, able to face current and future challenges and to convert knowledge and ideas into products and services for economic and social benefit. The MSCA Doctoral Networks raise the attractiveness and excellence of doctoral training in Europe. Read More about the MSCA Doctoral Networks.