Postgraduate Research Opportunities
Current PhD opportunities
PhD in Clinical Pharmacy
| Supervisors | Dr Kieran Dalton, Dr Aoife Fleming, Dr J.J. Keating, and Dr Suzanne McCarthy |
| Funding type | Fixed Term Whole-Time |
| Application deadline | 25 July 2025 |
| Position Summary | An exciting PhD opportunity is available in the School of Pharmacy, University College Cork. We are looking for an exceptionally enthusiastic, creative, and driven PhD candidate with a passion for clinical pharmacy and pharmacy practice and a desire to apply their unique talents to investigate the expansion and advancement of the role of the pharmacist and pharmacy services. The overall aim is to investigate opportunities to advance the role of the pharmacist and pharmacy services to optimise patient access to and quality of care. In the context of enhanced pharmacist roles in person-centred care, this research is timely and necessary. Patient and public involvement to inform the research will be key to this PhD. The research will contribute to improvements in pharmacy practice and patient outcomes. The study will employ a mixed-methods approach, with qualitative and quantitative research inquiry and consider the current landscape of pharmacy practice in Ireland and internationally. |
| Requirements | Candidates with a Master’s or Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy are highly encouraged to apply. Candidates should have a first-class or upper-second-class honours degree or equivalent. Further details on requirements to apply are available here. Candidates should have strong interpersonal skills and excellent oral/written communication skills. Experience in one or more of the following areas will be beneficial: community or hospital pharmacy practice. The ability to contribute to the development of the research design is desirable. PhD registration will be in Autumn 2025. Funding is available for four years of PhD fees and stipend. About the research team: Drs Dalton, Fleming, Keating, and McCarthy are pharmacists with extensive experience in pharmacy practice, research, and education. They have postgraduate supervisory experience and expertise in a range of research methodologies. Links to their research profiles are available here: https://www.ucc.ie/en/pharmacy/people/ |
| Applications | Interested candidates can make informal enquiries, and applicants should send their CV, including contact details with at least two referees, proof of proficiency in English if it is not your first language, and a cover letter via email to a.fleming@ucc.ie and jj.keating@ucc.ie on or before the closing date of 25th July 2025. Please include “PhD in Clinical Pharmacy” in the subject line of your email. |
PhD studentship in use of AI and Machine Learning to accelerate formulation and delivery of medicines
| Supervisors | Prof Brendan Griffin, Dr Harriet Bennett Lenane and Dr Patrick O'Dwyer |
| Funding type | 36-month fully funded PhD Studentship |
| Application deadline | 21 July 2025 |
| Position Summary | Researchers from the School of Pharmacy are seeking qualified candidates to pursue a 36-month fully funded PhD Studentship in University College Cork (UCC), Ireland. Successful candidates will be part of a highly motivated team that will use modern computational methods to develop critical medicines for improving global health and equality. For low-income populations in developing countries access to life-saving medicines is often fraught with obstacles. These include a lack of financial incentive for major pharmaceutical companies to develop such medicines, as well as lack of technical expertise and resources of local manufacturers to navigate the rigorous process of bringing these drugs to market. To address this issue a team from the School of Pharmacy, UCC, led by the Professor of Pharmaceutics, Brendan Griffin is aiming to develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning tools that can accelerate the creation of medicines for conditions that disproportionately affect those in developing countries, such as malaria and other tropical diseases. These tools will be made freely accessible via an open-source, web-based platform, ensuring that this technology can be leveraged worldwide. This ambitious project aligns to the UCC Futures thematic areas of Future Medicines and AI & Data Analytics. Successful candidates will gain experience developing computational tools to support a rational and science-based approach to selecting formulations for critical medicines in developing countries. Key tasks in the PhD Studentship include: Investigation of stability requirements and chemical space of critical drug molecules which address global health inequalities. Salary/Stipend: €25,000 (plus fees). |
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| Applications | To apply, search 'Research Vacancies' on the UCC People & Culture website. |
| Email enquiry | Prof Brendan Griffin - brendan.griffin@ucc.ie |
Open PhD studentship positions (Self-funding candidates or candidates eligible for external funding/sponsorships)
Staff in the School of Pharmacy have a number of PhD positions available. Applications are considered all year around. Prospective candidates who are interested in pursuing a PhD are encouraged to contact an academic supervisor in School of Pharmacy to discuss these opportunities.
These projects are ideally suited to candidates that are self-funding or candidates eligible for external funding/sponsorship. However, in some cases funding may become available with the support of the academic staff member e.g. IRCSET applications.
| Title | PhD in the impact of Microbiome effects on drug pharmacokinetics |
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| Supervisor | Dr Brendan Griffin |
| Funding type | None currently available. Self-funding candidates or candidates eligible for external funding/sponsorships considered |
| Application deadline |
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| Specific eligibility/funding requirements |
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| Email enquiry | Dr Brendan Griffin - brendan.griffin@ucc.ie |
| Title | PhDs in (i) Processing and Formulation of Biological Medicines, (ii) Microneedle Devices |
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| Supervisors | Prof Abina Crean, Dr Sonja Vucen, Dr Katie Ryan |
| Funding type | Funded and self-funded PhD positions available |
| Application deadline | Applications accepted all year round |
| Specific eligibility/funding requirements |
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| Email enquiry | Dr Sonja Vucen - svucen@ucc.ie |