The selection process will take place over two rounds. In the first round, potential project supervisors interview candidates (November 2025) who will be shortlisted to take forward to the second round. In the second round, shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by the Loke CTR Board of Managers and Directors (early January 2026) to award funding to selected candidate(s). Appointments may be made in partnership with one or more Cambridge colleges.
| Application opens | 4 October 2025 |
| Application closes | 4 Nov 2025 |
|
First round interviews: Zoom interview(s) with potential PhD supervisors |
Nov/Dec 2025 |
| Candidate shortlisting announced | Dec 2025 |
| Deadline to submit English test results | Jan 2026 |
|
Second round interviews: Zoom interview with Loke CTR Board of Managers and Directors |
Early Jan 2026 |
| Funding decision | Jan/Feb 2026 |
How to find a supervisor
We strongly encourage all applicants to make initial informal inquiries to Project Supervisors regarding projects available for the 2025/26 application cycle (projects will be listed 4 October 2025).
If you have any queries regarding the selection process, please refer to the procedure list below or email phd.lokectr@pdn.cam.ac.uk.
Please keep in mind that Principal Investigators (PIs) can only accept a Loke CTR-funded PhD student once every four years, so they might not be advertising projects this year. However, all Loke CTR supervisors would welcome your interest in research in their lab, whether funded by the Loke CTR or alternative PhD funding sources. Please reach out to supervisors directly to enquire about funding opportunities and current projects in their lab.
Application procedure
Once you have identified a potential supervisor(s) and project(s), you should make a formal application by submitting the following application materials to phd.lokectr@pdn.cam.ac.uk by 4 November 2025:
1. A completed application form with the following information:
- List of up to 3 possible PhD supervisors ranked in order of preference.
- Personal statement (up to 500 words) outlining your motivation for pursuing PhD research at the Loke CTR and your choice of one or more PhD supervisors from the "Current Projects on offer" section.
- List of any relevant research experience, lab-based courses, or other relevant activities.
- The names and contact details of two academic or research project references.
Please direct your references to complete a reference request and submit the completed form to our online portal by 4 November 2025: https://www.trophoblast.cam.ac.uk/academic-reference-submission-portal
2. Curriculum-vitae (up to four pages). Please do not include a headshot with your CV.
3. Transcript of your undergraduate results
4. Evidence of competence in English (if required – you can check using the University tool). If possible, please submit test results with your application. Otherwise, please inform us of the status of your English test using this form.
5. (Optional) Contextual data form: We ask applicants to provide additional contextual information about their undergraduate study. The information you provide in the contextual form will allow us to better understand the circumstances of your undergraduate study and achievement. You can access the contextual data form at cambridge.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2c5KAA0bZmQTbrE. Please follow the link to complete the online form, download a PDF copy of your answers, and include this in your application. For more information about the use of contextual data by the University of Cambridge, please visit Contextual data | Postgraduate Study.
Please note that Loke CTR Studentship applications are made to existing projects, and do not require the student to write a project proposal.