Funded PhD Opportunity in Computational Skin Biology & Microbiome Modelling

BISCI IDLA: Decoding the skin ecosystem: An integrated computational framework for pH-driven skin microbiome competition and barrier homeostasis

About the project

The skin microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining skin health through interactions between microbial communities, the skin barrier, and the immune system. A key determinant of these interactions is skin surface pH, maintained at approximately 5 in healthy skin. In inflammatory skin disease and ageing, this balance is disrupted: skin pH rises, altering microbial dynamics and compromising barrier integrity.

Do you want to use mathematics and dynamical systems modelling to crack one of biology’s most dynamic hidden ecosystems? This fully funded PhD project, delivered through the BiSCI iDLA in partnership with Procter & Gamble (P&G), gives a scientifically curious and mathematically ambitious student the chance to build cutting-edge computational models that decode how pH shapes competition between protective and harmful skin bacteria, and what this means for lifelong skin health.

The challenge

Healthy skin surface pH sits around 5. But pH rises in conditions such as atopic dermatitis (AD) and in ageing skin, favouring Staphylococcus aureus (SA) over protective commensals like Staphylococcus epidermidis. Topical acidification is a promising strategy to restore microbiome balance, but its efficacy has been inconsistent. This may be because pH regulates not only microbial growth but also skin cell turnover and barrier renewal.

Everyday products such as shampoos, cleansers, nappies, and skincare formulations can transiently alter skin surface pH, triggering dynamic changes in microbiome composition and barrier function over hours to days. Yet the mechanistic links between product-induced pH changes, microbial dynamics, and barrier recovery remain poorly understood.

The project

You will develop the first integrated in silico framework linking pH-dependent microbial competition with a mechanistic model of skin barrier homeostasis, building on a published SA-SE-skin model. You will expand the model to include newly identified SA-antagonising microbes, capture how pH governs microbial competition and barrier renewal, and couple both into a single validated framework forecasting how product- and disease-driven pH changes affect skin health over time, generating predictions for microbiome-friendly product design and therapeutic strategies for AD, skin ageing and wound healing, while reducing reliance on animal testing.

Why this project

This rigorous, interdisciplinary project sits at the interface of computational biology, dynamical systems theory, microbiology, immunology, and industrial skin science. Direct engagement with P&G scientists, including potential facility visits, will show you how your mathematics shapes consumer products used by millions every day.

The team

You will be supervised by Professor Reiko Tanaka (computational systems biology, Imperial College London) and Dr Thomas Clarke (microbiology and immunology, Imperial College London), with industrial supervision from Dr Joanna Jaworska and Dr Matt Copeland (Procter & Gamble). Together, the team brings complementary expertise across mathematical modelling, microbiology, and industrial skin science, with a strong track record of doctoral mentorship and inclusive, wellbeing-focused supervision.

Who we're looking for

We are looking for an academically strong, mathematically rigorous, curious-driven individual who gets a real buzz from mathematical modelling for an unresolved biological question. You should hold (or expecting) a strong master’s degree in mathematics, systems biology, physics, engineering, or a related quantitative discipline, with solid grounding in computational modelling and data analysis.

We want confident, clear communicators who can explain complex ideas across audiences and collaborative team players who thrive in group discussions and build respectful working relationships with academic and industrial collaborators. If you enjoy connecting ideas across disciplines and want your work to shape products used by millions, we would love to hear from you.

For more information on this project, please contact either your academic supervisor (Prof Reiko Tanaka, r.tanaka@imperial.ac.uk) or your industrial supervisor (Dr Joanna Jaworska, jaworska@pg.com).

Our PhD program actively encourages applications from individuals of all genders, ethnicities, sexual orientations, ages, disabilities, and cognitive styles. We believe that by embracing diversity, we can cultivate an atmosphere of creativity and collaboration that benefits everyone involved.

In our selection process, we prioritize qualifications, relevant experience, and a genuine enthusiasm for research over personal attributes. This approach aims to dismantle barriers faced by UK minoritized ethnic groups, individuals with caring responsibilities, and those affected by socioeconomic factors. We are committed to providing equal opportunities and support for all applicants, and we are excited to welcome diverse students who will contribute to our vibrant academic community.

How to apply

Candidates wishing to apply for a studentship must apply directly to this E-mail address pgphd.im@pg.com by Monday 23rd November 2026 by sending 4 documents:

• Current CV: [maximum 2 pages] – this needs to include qualifications & two references.

• A personal statement (maximum 500 words).

• A completed Equality & Diversity monitoring form

• A cover note indicating which project within the CTP you are applying for as their first choice and whether interested in any of the other projects.

Name all the documents with your ‘Name and Type of Form’ e.g., Joe Bloggs CV, Joe Bloggs Personal Statement.

For more information, please see the Policies & Procedures for applicants.

In the meantime, if you have any issues or questions, please contact pgphd.im@pg.com.