PhD in Biomedical Sciences & Bio-engineering

The University of Southampton and Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) are Russell Group universities with world leading research programmes and are proud to offer Medical Research Council (MRC) funded studentships in Biomedical Sciences & Bioengineering. Projects focus on Digital Technologies and Informatics for Health, Advanced Therapeutics and Precision Medicine in specific areas that include Infectious Disease and Inflammation, Bioengineering, Regenerative Medicine, Neuro and Cancer Immunology. We are looking for highly motivated and enthusiastic students to start no later than Sept/Oct 2017.

PhD Programme Structure

Successful candidates will join a large and vibrant PhD student community to undertake a 3.5 year funded period of study. In year 1 you will begin your original research project at your chosen partner institution. Our aim is for you to become an active and valued member of a research laboratory led by one of the many expert scientists at Southampton or QMUL. You will be given a choice of projects to review prior to interview, from which you will choose your preferred PhD programme. Some projects have links with industry, including pharmaceutical companies, with potential for an enhancement to your stipend. During your research degree, you will undertake training in Statistical Methods (Southampton or QMUL) and Quantitative Cell Biology, which includes a hands-on introduction to bioinformatics techniques and computational modelling, using large clinically-relevant datasets (taught in Southampton which all students may attend). Students can also choose to attend additional taught modules in Cancer Immunology (Southampton), Immunity and Infection (Southampton) or Cancer Inflammation (QMUL)

Funding

Fully funded studentships, including fees and stipend are available at each university.  Eligible students* will be paid at the standard UK Research Council recommended rate; for 2017/18 this is £14,553 pa.  Students enrolling at QMUL will receive a stipend of £16,553 pa to take account of London’s higher cost of living.  Enhanced student stipends may be available in projects with industrial collaborators. 

Eligible students* are categorised by the MRC.  Further information can be found http://www.mrc.ac.uk/skills-careers/studentships/studentship-guidance/student-eligibility-requirements/)

How to apply

This programme is delivered collaboratively, applications must be made to either Southampton or QMUL.  Please do NOT apply to both partners.

Applicants must hold a 1^stor upper second class honours degree, or merit or distinction at MSc, in a subject within the life-sciences or physical sciences.  For applicants with a background in life-sciences, Maths, Statistics or Computing modules at A Level or undergraduate level are desirable but not essential.  For applicants with a background in Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences modules at undergraduate level are essential.

Informal academic enquiries: For Southampton, please contact Dr Jane Collins, Associate Professor in Molecular Cell Biology at J.E.Collins@soton.ac.uk

For QMUL, please contact Dr Katiuscia Bianchi at K.Bianchi@qmul.ac.uk

Application enquiries:

For Southampton, please contact the Graduate School on 023 8120 6685 or PGRapply.FM@southampton.ac.uk.

For QMUL, please contact Ms Olivia Cooper on 0207 882 2081 or o.cooper@qmul.ac.uk

Closing date

The closing date for applicants wishing to start in October 2017 is 25th June 2017.

Interviews

Interviews will take place in June/early July 2017.  Applicants invited to interview will be asked to give a short presentation as part of the selection process.