MSc by Research, Biology / Evolution and Ecology / Microbiology
Institution(s): University of Lincoln
Website: https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/lifesciences/postgraduateprogrammes/
Contact e-mail: Postgraduate Research Leads: Dr Teresa Romero (tromero@lincoln.ac.uk) and Dr Tom Pike (tpike@lincoln.ac.uk)
Course duration: 1 year (Full Time)
Course start date (2022): 10/01/2022
Number of students admitted to course per annum and number/proportion studying plant health or crop science: ~15 / ~1
Application deadline(s): (please also note any deadline for applications for funding if different from the deadline for course entry): New students are encouraged to enrol in October or January. In addition to meeting peers across the University who are starting their research programme at the same time, there is access to a central training programme designed around the first three months of study, and targeted support aligned to each stage of the postgraduate research journey. However, applications are welcome at any point throughout the year, and enrolment can also take place at any relevant point. Alternative enrolment dates should be agreed with your supervisors on an individual basis.
Admissions criteria: First or Upper Second Class honours degree in a relevant subject. Overseas students will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each element.
Type of funding available: None. However, potential supervisors would be happy to support prospective student’s applications for funding or supervise self-funded students. For eligible students wishing to undertake a Master’s course, you can apply for a loan as a contribution towards the course and living costs. Loans are also available to those who wish to undertake doctoral study. The University offers a number of scholarships and funded studentships for those interested in postgraduate study. Learn how Master’s and PhD loans, scholarships, and studentships can help you fund your studies on our Postgraduate Fees and Funding pages: https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studywithus/postgraduatestudy/feesandfunding/
Course description: This programme relies on independent study and research, supervised by an advisory panel of academic staff. The nature of this research will be specific to the subject area, but is expected to investigate a novel question and provide a novel contribution to science. Students will also have the opportunity to attend talks and seminars, and to engage with other research-related activities throughout their degree. There is access to a central training programme designed around the first three months of study, and targeted support aligned to each stage of the postgraduate research journey including problem solving, writing grants and publications, oral presentation skills, as well as a seminar series open to the whole School. Research areas are within Evolution and Ecology (working to understand the evolution and ecology of populations, species, and communities, across all levels of biological organisation, from genes through to ecosystems), and Microbiology and Biotechnology (working to answer fundamental questions relating to the characterisation, evaluation, and testing of micro-organisms and viruses).
Potential Supervisors: Dr Shaun Coutts Dr Stefan Millson Dr Carl Soulsbury Dr Ramana Sundara Dr Ravi Valluru Dr Sandra Varga
Examples of career paths followed by graduates from this course: Doctoral student, postdoctoral researcher, advisor, consultancy, plant breeding and crop trial industry, government agencies, in particular those which oversee bio-security (e.g. Defra and Fera).
