Oxford Interdisciplinary Bioscience DTP (DPhil/PhD)
Institution(s): University of Oxford, Oxford Brookes University, Diamond Light Source, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, STFC Central Laser Facility, Research Complex at Harwell, Rosalind Franklin Institute, The Pirbright Institute, Novo Nordisk Research Centre Oxford, INEOS Oxford Institute
Website: www.biodtp.ox.ac.uk & https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/courses/interdisciplinary-bioscience
Contact e-mail: dtpenquiries@biodtp.ox.ac.uk
Course duration: 4 years
Course start date (2022): 26/09/2022
Number of students admitted to course per annum and number/proportion studying plant health or crop science: 40+ with 15-25% studying plant health, crop science or plant science
Application deadline(s): (please also note any deadline for applications for funding if different from the deadline for course entry): January 7th 2022
Admissions criteria: Applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the equivalent of the following UK qualifications: a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in a relevant academic subject (e.g. biochemistry, biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics, computer science). However, entrance is very competitive and most successful applicants obtain a first-class degree or the equivalent and/or a master’s degree. Substantive relevant work experience is also taken into account. Applicants are invited to provide information on their socio-economic background and personal circumstances during the application process, and this information may be used as contextual information in decision-making.
Type of funding available: 4-year fully-funded studentships and scholarships.
Course description: We provide an innovative training programme for students who wish to conduct leading-edge bioscience research. Research areas relevant to plant health include plant pathology, plant biology, molecular and cellular biology, crop science, synthetic biology, structural biology, microbiology and industrial biotechnology. The majority of projects involve one or more transformative technologies, including advanced imaging and data analysis techniques, new technologies, mathematical modelling and ‘omic and systems biology approaches. To support students in developing their skills and in gaining confidence in exploring interdisciplinary approaches, all students benefit from an intensive training programme covering topics such as programming, mathematics, statistics, data science and bioinformatics, as well as ongoing professional development courses. Students who join the main programme undertake two rotation projects before deciding on their main research topic. We also recruit students to specific projects supported by industrial or partner organisations. All students undertake a 12-week internship (main programme) or a 12-week-18 month placement (iCASE studentships) in a non-academic setting.
Potential Supervisors: Gail Preston Renier van der Hoorn Paul Jarvis John MacKay Ronelle Roth Francesco Licausi Philip Poole Emily Flashman Christopher Schofield James McCullagh Verena Kriechbaumer Andrew Jones Geraldine Wright Kayla King Michael Bonsall Timothy Barraclough Roberto Salguero-Gomez Daniel Wilson Frank von Delft Peijun Zhang Eamonn Gaffney Azim Ansari Sonia Antoranz Contera David Sauer Alison Woollard
Examples of career paths followed by graduates from this course: Postdoctoral researcher/research fellow, entrepreneur, industrial R&D, data analyst, science communication.
