About
UBC’s School of Biomedical Engineering (SBME) and The University of Exeter’s Living Systems Institute (LSI) are pleased to announce a new PhD Student Research Visit Program. This collaboration offers PhD students from both institutions a unique opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary research, access cutting-edge facilities, and build international networks. PhD students at either institution may request subsistence costs during travel to host institution for up to 8 weeks.
Quick Facts
Value:
- $8,500 CAD for subsistence costs for UBC SBME students traveling to Exeter LSI
- £5,000 GBP for subsistence costs for Exeter LSI students traveling to UBC SBME
Term: Up to 8 weeks between January 1, 2027 and July 31, 2027
Number of Opportunities: Max 6 students per year (3 per institution)
Key Benefits:
- Interdisciplinary training
- Research visits in world-class facilities
- Networking and professional development
About the Institutions
School of Biomedical Engineering (SBME), University of British Columbia
Canada’s living laboratory for convergent research and education at the intersection of engineering, medicine, and biology. SBME aims to transform health and healthcare through innovation.
Living Systems Institute (LSI), University of Exeter
An interdisciplinary research hub tackling complex biological problems through biology, physics, and mathematics. Facilities include cryo-electron microscopy and advanced computational resources.
Eligibility
- The UBC SBME – Exeter LSI PhD Student Research Visit Program is open to PhD students currently enrolled at UBC SBME or at the University of Exeter and supervised by an LSI PI.
- Students must meet any additional eligibility requirements specific to the research project.
- Students must be in good standing with home institution and eligible to travel to the host institution from the start date for the duration of the program.
Key Dates
September 28, 2026 – Call for applications issued
November 27, 2026 – Full application deadline
Late December, 2026 – Anticipated notice of funding decision
First week of January 2027 – Earliest project start date
July 31, 2027 – Latest project end date
1 month after return – Final report submission deadline
Application Process
Applicants must submit a full application via the online portal by the deadline, November 27, 2026 11:59PM local time. A complete application includes:
- Application form
- Research proposal (max 1000 words)
- Budget form
- Home and host supervisor approvals
More information about the program and application process can be found below:
More Info
Making Contact
If you are interested in making an application for the Exeter LSI – UBC SBME PhD Student Research Visit Program, but you require support in contacting potential supervisors at the Host Institution, Exeter Students should please contact infolsi@exeter.ac.uk and UBC students should please contact melody.salehzadeh@ubc.ca for advice.
Please consult the list of faculty members who have expressed interest in participating in the program. This list is not exhaustive; it is acceptable to reach out and contact other SBME/LSI faculty members not listed.
Meet 2025-2026 Students Program Participants
Megha Srinivas
PhD Candidate, School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia
Deconvolving Tumor–Immune Active Dynamics through Intracellular Cytokine Profiling Using Whispering Gallery Mode Microresonators
This project aims to develop bead-based microlasers as intracellular sensors to enable real-time profiling of cytokine signalling within immune cells in the tumour microenvironment. By integrating optical microresonator technology with cellular engineering approaches, this work enables single-cell–level analysis of tumour–immune interactions. The outcomes are expected to advance understanding of immune dynamics and support the development of more effective, personalized cancer immunotherapies. Part of this work was conducted with Dr. Frank Vollmer at the LSI at the University of Exeter part of the LSI-SBME PhD Research Exchange Program in July/August 2026.
Bio
Megha Srinivas is a fourth-year PhD candidate in the School of Biomedical Engineering at UBC, working with Dr. Govind Kaigala. She holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Science with a major in Biology from the Indian Institute of Science. Her research sits at the intersection of biomedical engineering, immunology, and cancer biology, with a focus on engineering approaches to deconvolve spatiotemporal tumour–immune cellular interactions. Her work aims to better understand how spatial organization and cell–cell communication influence immune responses in cancer, with the goal of informing the development of improved immunotherapies and patient outcomes.
Yeganeh Dorri Nokoorani
PhD Candidate, School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia
Feeder-Free Expansion of Naïve Human Pluripotent Stem Cells in a PBS Vertical-Wheel Bioreactor System
Naïve human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), which correspond to the pre-implantation epiblast in the blastocyst, are a promising cell source for regenerative medicine due to their improved single-cell adaptability and rapid growth compared with primed hPSCs. In addition, culturing primed hPSCs requires costly growth factors that are not required for naïve PSCs, making naïve hPSC culture more cost-efficient. However, current naïve hPSC culture methods primarily rely on adherent feeder-based systems, which are difficult to scale for therapeutic bioprocessing applications. This project aims to develop feeder-free suspension culture conditions for the large-scale expansion of naïve hPSCs in a PBS Vertical-Wheel bioreactor system while maintaining naïve pluripotency.
Bio
Yeganeh is a PhD student in Dr. Nika Shakiba’s lab at UBC. Her main focus is on the genetic stability of human pluripotent stem cells in suspension culture systems and during their large-scale expansion. For this project, she will collaborate with Dr. Austin Smith’s lab at the University of Exeter in September 2026 to optimize culture conditions for the robust expansion of naïve hPSCs in a PBS Vertical-Wheel bioreactor system.
Conditions for Funding Holders
- Must remain registered as a full-time student.
- Funds must be used by July 31, 2027.
- Final report required within 1 month of return.
Contact Information
More information about the program and application process can be found in our Program Guide
Exeter: Stuart Westhead, Global Partnerships Regional Head, North America & Europe – S.westhead@exeter.ac.uk; Global Partnerships – GP-Funding@exeter.ac.uk
UBC SBME: Melody Salehzadeh, Research Manager – melody.salehzadeh@ubc.ca
UBC Go Global: https://goglobal.ubc.ca/contact