MSc in Global Plant Health, The Sainsbury Laboratory/University of East Anglia
Institution(s): The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich. Degree registration with the University of East Anglia
Website: http://www.tsl.ac.uk/opportunities-overview/post-graduate-research/msc-global-plant-health/
Contact e-mail: msc@tsl.ac.uk
Course duration: 12 months
Course start date (2022): 26/09/2022
Number of students admitted to course per annum and number/proportion studying plant health or crop science: 20/20
Application deadline(s): (please also note any deadline for applications for funding if different from the deadline for course entry): Rolling deadlines until all places are filled up to 31 July 2022 at the latest
Admissions criteria: Minimum of upper second class Bachelor’s degree in a Biological Science that covers plant and/or microbial sciences. Students for whom English is a foreign language will require evidence of proficiency in English. Offers are made on a competitive basis based on the application form and an interview assessing the level of knowledge and experience of: plant pathology, plant biology, microbiology, data science such as bioinformatics and computational biology, leadership/management/entrepreneurship, laboratory/research skills, self-directed/independent study and teamwork.
Type of funding available: We offer a limited number of full David Sainsbury Scholarships for applicants from low-income countries on a competitive basis. They cover tuition fees, stipend and some travel expenses. No additional application is necessary. http://www.tsl.ac.uk/opportunities-overview/post-graduate-research/david-sainsbury-international-msc-scholarship/
Course description: This one-year taught MSc in Global Plant Health prepares you for a career devoted to minimising crop losses. By enrolling for this MSc, you will understand what makes plant pathogens virulent, the basis of plant immunity, how the next discoveries are made through experimental and computational approaches, what makes global response strategies successful and how to lead such a response. Rooted in scientific research excellence in molecular plant-microbe interactions, this course develops the skills most sought after by employers. These include complex problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, coordination with others, and judgment and decision making. This course is run by The Sainsbury Laboratory. It is an independent research institute dedicated to making fundamental discoveries and applying the new knowledge to tackle a wide range of global diseases of crops. Students register for their degree with the neighbouring School of Biological Sciences at the University of East Anglia.
Potential Supervisors: A key and innovative element of the course is a ~five-month research project. This interdisciplinary scenario-based project involves work in small groups to address a global plant disease outbreak. It is rooted in the analysis of a genome of an emerging pathogen. This will provide invaluable experience for the next stage in your career by gaining familiarity with how to handle the response to an emerging plant pathogen – from diagnosis, understanding virulence mechanisms and developing novel control strategies, through to project management. The projects will be supervised by The Sainsbury Laboratory’s Group Leaders. http://www.tsl.ac.uk/scientific-and-support-groups/
Examples of career paths followed by graduates from this course: This is a new course. Potential career paths include: research and/or teaching at a university, institute, non-profit or company; registered Plant Health Professional; plant health government policy making; government Animal and Plant Health Agency; and plant health non-governmental organisation (e.g. United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation).
