DPhil in Structural Biology
Course Code | 003910
Programme Director
Professor David Stuart
Deputy-Director
Professor Mark Sansom
This programme is intended to provide training in Structural Biology and related biochemical, genetic and cell biological approaches to understanding molecular and cellular function. Students spend the first year learning a range of structural biology techniques by undertaking two five-month projects in different laboratories and by following taught courses. These elements are intended to expose students to possible thesis advisers and prepare them for their doctoral work. Students can then make an informed choice of their main thesis research project for the subsequent three years. Projects cover a wide range of topics and techniques in structural biology, including:
- NMR
- X-ray crystallography
- electron microscopy
- a wide range of biophysical, genetic and cell biological techniques; bioinformatics and molecular simulations
DPhil in Infection, Immunology and Translational Medicine
Course Code | 003920
Programme Director
Professor Keith Gull
Deputy Director
Professor Fiona Powrie
This programme delivers novel integrated graduate training in infection and immunology within a translational medicine context. It provides opportunities for research in the basic biomedical sciences of infectious diseases caused by bacteria, viruses and parasites plus the innate and acquired immune system together with the development and use of therapeutic drugs and vaccines. The course is integrated around three themes:
- Immunology
- Infection
- Translational Medicine
In the first year students undergo three-week laboratory rotations and a series of taught courses within the areas of infection, immunology and translational medicine. Students will be advised on their choice of courses and laboratory rotation to help tailor an individual student package.
In the second year students will initiate their DPhil project from the large number of projects available; a list of participating supervisors is available on the MSDTC website. This choice will be aided by the student’s exposure to potential DPhil supervisors and scientific areas during the first year.
Students will have the opportunity to spend a period working in a laboratory abroad as a Research Study Abroad Period.
DPhil in Chromosome and Developmental Biology
Course Code | 003940
Co-directors
Professor Kim Nasmyth, Professor Liz Robertson
This programme is intended to provide training in a wide range of biochemical, genetic and cell biological approaches specifically tailored for research into chromosome and developmental biology. Students will have the opportunity to study:
- How changes in the state of chromosomal proteins or RNAs specify changes in cell behaviour
- How these changes arise and are propagated
- How gametes are produced from germ cells
- How the genome is propagated and maintained in the germline and in somatic cells
- How chromosomes are recombined during meiosis
- What factors determine whether chromosomes inherit the privilege of entering the germ line
- Patterns of cell division during embryogenesis
- Whether different principles govern the duplication and segregation of prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes
Students spend the first year learning a range of biochemical, genetic and cell biological techniques by undertaking short projects in different laboratories and by following taught courses. These elements are intended to expose students to possible thesis advisers and prepare them for their doctoral work. Students can then make an informed choice of their main thesis research project for the subsequent three years.
DPhil in Genomic Medicine and Statistics
Course Code | 003930
Co-directors
Professor Jonathan Flint, Professor Gil McVean, Professor Richard Mott, Professor Chris Holmes
This programme trains students to undertake research in the molecular-genetic basis of complex disease. To do so, it is necessary to master the underlying biology and genetics, the high-throughput experimental techniques used to gather relevant data, and the statistical and computational methods required to analyse the data and draw conclusions.
The programme aims to produce research scientists educated across this range of skills. The programme is integrated with projects already in place at the University of Oxford’s Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics.
The general types of research question the programme addresses include:
- How and why populations differ in their spectrum of disease-variants
- How these variants interact with environmental causes
- How information about DNA sequence variants, gene expression and protein content relates to disease phenotype
- How we can use new molecular information to improve our understanding of disease
Students can be accepted with either a biological or computational background. The importance of both areas is emphasised and the lab-based students must be able to develop the statistical skills necessary to succeed in this subject.
The programme starts with a one-year modular course, including formal teaching in statistics and bioinformatics and two 10-week research projects (one computational and one wet-lab). This is followed by a three-year doctoral research project, which can take place in any of the participating Departments at the University.
DPhil in Ion Channels and Disease
OXION: Ion Channels and Disease Initiative
Course Code | 003915
Programme Director
Professor Frances Ashcroft FRS
Director of Training
Dr Stephen Tucker
The OXION programme trains students in a range of multidisciplinary approaches, from the molecular level to the whole organism, from genes to clinic. The programme embraces all aspects of ion channel research including protein structure, genetics, cell physiology, systems and organism physiology, animal behaviour, and human and animal disease.
The first year is devoted to taught courses and mini-projects in different laboratories, introducing the student to a wide range of techniques. This is followed by a Three-Year research project involving two OXION groups.
DPhil in Biomedical and Clinical Sciences
Course Code | 003985
Programme Director
Professor Rajesh Thakker
Deputy-Director
Professor Paul Klenerman
The programme is funded by the Wellcome Trust Clinician Training Fellowship Scheme to train academic clinicians in basic science. The principal aim is to provide high-quality research training in basic and applied molecular science which is tailored specifically to the needs of talented clinicians who aspire to a career in academic medicine.
The fellowships are structured around existing research programmes which already provide first-class research environments for clinician scientists, and which provide a framework for research and training in the combined fields of basic science and clinical medicine. The components of the programme have in common that they use molecular genetic, molecular biological and cellular approaches to important medical problems. The projects for the fellowships are grouped around five main themes:
- Cardiovascular medicine
- Haematology and haematopoiesis
- Infection and immunity
- Metabolic medicine
- Neurosciences
These themes also encompass high-quality basic science
expertise in:
- Biochemistry
- Structural biology
- Developmental biology
- Genetics
- Immunology
- Gene therapy
- Transcriptional regulation
- Cell biology
- Molecular physiology
- Pharmacology
Moreover, each training fellowship has been designed to form a partnership between basic scientists and clinician scientists.
DPhil in Cardiovascular Science
Course Code | 001775
This
4-year DPhil programme, funded by the British Heart Foundation,
provides students with a co-ordinated programme of postgraduate teaching
in their first year and the possibility of experiencing research in
more than one laboratory, followed by a three-year research project
under the guidance of a named supervisor.
Students selected for
the DPhil programme have their University and college fees paid in full,
and receive a generous stipend to cover their living costs.
This
programme is aimed at basic science graduates who wish to undertake
advanced research into cardiovascular disease; clinicians should apply
to the Cardiovascular Medicine DPhil programme.
Twenty-seven
research groups, based in five departments and seven research centres,
contribute to the Cardiovascular Science programme. Their research spans
very diverse areas and covers the translational research spectrum from
basic to clinical cardiovascular research.
Research themes include:
- Cardiac imaging
- Cell signalling and cardiovascular pharmacology
- Clinical trials and human genetics
- Developmental biology and regenerative medicine
- Myocardial biology and integrated physiology
- Vascular biology in health and disease
How to ApplyThe deadline for the DPhil courses offered by the Medical Sciences DTC is 4 January 2013. The standard set of materials you should send
with any application to a research course comprises: The research proposal for applicants to DPhil programmes offered by the Medical Sciences DTC should
normally be two pages in length, covering areas such as
the background to the
research, methodology, expected results and the contribution to the
field of learning. Applicants for the DPhil in Biomedical and Clinical Sciences are also expected to submit a Wellcome Trust Project Application form, which is available on the DTC website, along with their University application form. Please follow the detailed
instructions in the Application
Guide, and
consult the Medical Sciences DTC website
for any additional guidance. |
