Dr Tom Piers

Tom is a Lecturer in Neuroscience (Education & Research) and NIHR Exeter BRC Translational Fellow in the Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences. He trained in microglial signalling at UCL Institute of Neurology and developed iPSC-based models of human microglia to study Alzheimer’s disease risk variants. Following postdoctoral work in synaptic plasticity, he joined the Living Systems Institute to investigate early synaptic changes in cortical neurons. His research focuses on modelling microglial cell state transitions using iPSC-derived systems, with the aim of identifying therapeutic targets for Alzheimer’s disease.

Postgraduate Research opportunities: I am open to email enquiries from students with their own funding interested in a PhD or MSc by Research. I am also open to supporting students who would like to apply to the China Scholarship Council, Commonwealth Scholarship, or other PhD funding schemes.