Degree in Chemistry, Physics or in any Biological Science and interested in doing a PhD within The Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology?
Are you looking for a challenge? Are you looking for an opportunity to undertake world-class science that spans the traditional disciplinary boundaries? We are seeking excellent students to join a number of prestigious Doctoral and Masters Degree programmes within this buoyant and dynamic research centre.
Opportunities to study for a PhD or Masters degrees in the Astbury Centre exist for high quality students. The Astbury Centre comprises around 50 academic research staff working in interdisciplinary research areas and with access to purpose-built research laboratories and state-of-the-art facilities.
What research degrees are available?
PhD and Masters level programmes are available to work in all areas of research associated with
the Astbury Centre.
- PhD degrees - funded through a variety of schemes (see Funding below)
- Masters degrees - follow the link to the Masters pages
What funding is available for PhD places?
Funding is available from a number of sources.
We hold a prestigious Wellcome Trust-funded
4-year PhD programme entitled
"The Molecular Basis of Biological
Mechanisms". Studentships
are available on this prestigious programme for five highly motivated
students with at least a 2.1 degree in any area of the life or physical sciences, including
Biochemistry, Chemistry,
Physics and related disciplines.
We also hold a BBSRC-funded Doctoral Training Grant (DTG) to fund students for 3- or 4-year PhDs. These places are available for candidates with at least a 2.1 degree in any Biological Science, Chemistry, Physics or Related Disciplines.
We are now seeking applications for Entry in October 2011.
The closing date for applications for the various schemes for entry in 2011 is 5th January 2011.
CASE awards
CASE (industrial) awards with the possibility of spending part of the PhD working
in industry are also available. Specific CASE funded projects are
advertised here, but other projects may be available - contact potential
supervisors for details.
How to Apply
Closing dates and applications procedures may vary slightly for the various funding streams.
Please follow the How to Apply link under each scheme.
Overseas students
Applications from high quality EU and International Students are welcomed on a number of our programmes
(eg. The Wellcome Trust 4 year scheme) and a limited number of other places are also
available ( http://www.leeds.ac.uk/students/schol.htm)
Graduate Training Programme
The Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology's (ACSMB) strategy is based on its mission statement:
"The Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology will promote interdisciplinary research of the highest standard on the
structure and function of biological molecules, biomolecular assemblies and complexes using physico-chemical, molecular biological
and computational approaches." and is built on more than 70 years' history of cutting edge research at the
interface between the physical and life sciences at the University. ACSMB brings together, and exploits, the
knowledge and skill base of outstanding individuals in our parent disciplines in a dynamic research environment, so that
together, key questions in biology can be addressed and quantified using novel methods of experiment, modelling and analysis.
We aim to recruit outstanding research students in areas of strategic and fundamental importance and to guide and train them
to internationally competitive standards. We also provide specific and generic training that helps students to continually
develop a wide range of transferrable skills for use in research or the broader job market. Students are encouraged to attend
and participate in national and international meetings relevant to their research and to become part of the international
scientific community.
Training provided
Specific courses provide training in research techniques (making use of our excellent, dedicated core staff in physics,
chemistry and biological sciences), experimental design and data assessment, scientific writing, reference management,
the research environment and use of IT, as well as safety and statutory regulations. All students also take part in a programme
of generic skills training either locally or via the University's Staff and Departmental Developmental Unit (SDDU).
This training is divided into the following headings: Information Skills, Research Methodology, Ethics, Communication and
Writing Skills, Interpersonal Skills and Personal Effectiveness. Students are encouraged to attend other specific courses in
thesis preparation, and speaking skills for research as well as the UKGrad School and the researchers in residence scheme. In
addition, courses on IPR and Patents, Marketing and The Market, and SME and related issues provide opportunities for interested
students to develop interests in the commercial sector.
Student Support & Mentoring
Monitoring of student progression and assessment of student performance is rigorously undertaken to ensure smooth and steady progress
to the final degree. Many of our projects are interdisciplinary and students therefore have both a main supervisor and a co-supervisor
to advise and guide their studies. In all cases, each student also has an academic staff member as an advisor, whose role is to
oversee the student's well-being while not being involved on a day-to-day basis in the research. A postgraduate representative sits on the
Faculty of Biological Sciences Graduate School committee to express student opinion on important matters. The University and the Student's
Union have excellent support facilities in case of problems.