Interdisciplinary Bioscience

DPhil in Interdisciplinary Bioscience (Doctoral Training Partnership)

Course Code | 002455

The Interdisciplinary Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) programme is a 4-year DPhil programme that aims to arm a new generation of bioscience researchers with the skills and knowledge needed to tackle the most important challenges in bioscience research at scales ranging from molecules and cells to agricultural landscapes.

The DTP enables students to develop core skills in disciplines such as molecular, chemical, cellular and structural biology, and in the application of multidisciplinary and systems approaches to the study of plants, animals and microorganisms. 

Current research priorities in the programme include:

• Food security
• Bioenergy and industrial biotechnology
• Basic bioscience underpinning health

The DTP provides a flexible, individually-tailored training programme that includes taught courses and the opportunity for students to undertake two twelve-week research projects with prospective supervisors in their first year before choosing their main DPhil research project. Students are initially based at the Doctoral Training Centre and transfer into their chosen research group and department after selecting their main DPhil project.

The DTP's training programme draws on expertise from a wide range of departments across the University. It is also linked to the Plants of the 21st Century Institute and the Oxford Martin Institute on the Future of Food.

Students are initially based at the Doctoral Training Centre in the Rex Richards Building, which provides a dedicated teaching space that includes seminar and meeting rooms, an independent library and computer facilities.

The Centre is shared by four interdisciplinary training programmes - Life Science Interface, Systems Biology, Systems Approaches in Biomedical Sciences and Interdisciplinary Bioscience - which provide extensive opportunities for students to interact with students from diverse academic backgrounds. 

Students undertake their short projects and DPhil research in host departments across the University, including Biochemistry, Chemistry, Plant Sciences and Zoology, all of which have world class facilities for carrying out a wide range of experimental research.

Information on academic staff profiles

The Interdisciplinary Bioscience DTP programme aims to produce internationally competitive graduates possessing key skills desired by all employers.

Students graduating from the DTP will have the skills needed to succeed in a wide range of scientific careers, including multi-disciplinary bioscience research in both academic and industrial settings. 

• DPhil in Biochemistry
• DPhil in Plant Sciences
• DPhil in Zoology
• DPhil in Organic Chemistry
• DPhil in Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics
• DPhil in Pathology