DPhil in Paediatrics

Infectious diseases are a leading cause of hospitalisation and death among young children living in resource-poor communities in sub-Saharan Africa. In the same communities, micronutrient deficiencies (MDs) are highly prevalent. Particularly concerning is that micronutrient deficiencies are estimated to cause 745,000 deaths annually and have been associated with a range of life-threatening infections. The intersection between widespread MDs and infectious disease risk is a substantial opportunity for public health policy. However, causal links between MDs and life-threatening infections are difficult to establish since observational studies may be biased by unmeasured confounders, such as socioeconomic status, or reverse causality since infection itself alters micronutrient status. Several randomised controlled trials (RCT) evidence impacts of certain micronutrient supplements on a range of infections, but findings are inconsistent. Moreover, many RCTs have focused on mild disease, had variable duration, dosage, or timing of supplementation, and biological mechanisms are largely unknown. Extremely large RCTs required for studying rare outcomes are often not feasible or scalable. The PhD candidate will conduct genome wide-association studies in 3,000 children from around Kilifi and in stored samples from across Africa to identify genetic variants that alter blood levels of micronutrients in young children living in Africa. The PhD will then assess the causal impact of specific micronutrient deficiencies on severe infections in young children using Mendelian randomization analyses in very large datasets from children with severe malaria, bacteraemia, TB, and a range of other life-threatening infections. Further work will include recall by genotype studies to elucidate putative biological mechanisms underlying causal associations between specific micronutrient deficiencies and specific severe infections.

The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the planning and set up of a study of 3,000 infants in Kilifi County, Kenya. The study will collect child health, and blood samples for biomarkers of micronutrients and genetic studies. GWAS studies will be used to identify genetic variants associated with these micronutrient levels in young children. Based on literature review and genetic variants identified from GWAS studies, the candidate will subsequently apply a Mendelian Randomization approach to investigate the causal effects of specific micronutrients on severe life-threatening infections in young children.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a major and growing global health burden, increasingly complicated by rising antimicrobial resistance, particularly in uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), the leading cause of recurrent UTI (rUTI). While extensive research has improved understanding of UPEC pathogenesis, including microbial reservoirs, nutrient use, biofilm formation, and bacterial virulence regulation, immune correlates of protection in UTI remain poorly understood. 

This project focuses on the development of a UPEC Human Infection Challenge model (in which participants are deliberately infected with live pathogens) as a controlled and safe approach to study early bladder colonisation and host–pathogen interactions. The model will provide a platform to address a wide range of research questions including identifying correlates of protection against persistent and recurrent UPEC infections, informing the design of vaccine targets and immunotherapies, studying microbiome dynamics, and testing interventions for treatments and prevention strategies.

This project is part of the Artificial Intelligence (CoI-AI) programme, which integrates human-pathogen challenge models, microbiology, advanced immunology and AI-enabled data science to drive discovery in host–pathogen interactions and immune protection.

DPhil (PhD) projects can be adapted to your interests and strengths while aligning with the programme’s scientific priorities, which include:

• Set-up of a safe and effective first-in-human model to mimic human-pathogen interactions in UPEC infection. This will include addressing ethical, clinical and practical challenges associated with the study and E. Coli strain selection process.
• Using the controlled human infection model to characterise the systemic and mucosal immune response to UPEC and their interaction by using immune phenotyping and multi-OMIC analyses and potentially identify protective signatures beyond the limited markers used historically
• In depth study of gut and urinary microbiome dynamics that affect host-pathogen interaction in UPEC infection
• Identification of targets for vaccines and immunotherapies with opportunity to test them using the controlled human challenge model
• Biomarker development opportunity to distinguish asymptomatic bacteria vs active UTI

For this project, you will have either a scientific or clinical background and be interested in the interface between experimental medicine and bioinformatics.

Analysis of the human antibody response to malaria vaccination

Traditionally the analysis of human antibody responses following vaccination has involved global approaches, with assays measuring the total polyclonal serum antibody response in terms of titre, concentration, subtype response or avidity. Although such measures remain useful readouts, the development of highly effective vaccines against difficult and complex pathogens, such as the Plasmodium parasites that cause human malaria, requires a much greater understanding of the fine specificity of the vaccine-induced antibody response. In recent years, significant advances have been made in terms of ability to analyse the human antibody repertoire generated in response to vaccination, and to assess the identification of key functional epitopes.

The Draper Group' research seeks to analyse the human antibody response induced by novel candidate malaria vaccines in Phase 1/2 clinical trials undertaken in Oxford and East or West Africa. This will build upon on-going research in the Draper Group to develop vaccines against essential antigens used by the parasite and to better understand their biology and the critical antibody functions that inhibit parasite growth. A variety of techniques will be used to isolate antigen-specific B cell subsets from vaccinated adults or children using different vaccine delivery regimens. The isolated B cells will be used to analyse the human antibody response via sequencing and cloning of the B cell receptor gene repertoire. Key analyses will include variable region gene usage, mutation, and clonality of the response over time post-immunisation. Identified sequences will be used to generate human monoclonal antibodies (hu-mAbs) which will be assessed for functional anti-parasitic activity, affinity and epitopes mapped on the antigens using structural, biophysical and immunological approaches. The outputs of this work should identify key epitopes recognised following human vaccination with novel vaccines. Next steps could include rational design of improved next-generation vaccine immunogens for onward clinical development, or immunological experiments to understand how antibodies mediate anti-parasitic function. The project will be benefit from the group’s extensive experience of clinical immunology, B cell immuno-monitoring, protein engineering and parasitology, as well as from strong collaborations with other leading labs globally. More information on the Draper Lab is on their website.

The F1000 Group: The “whole child” approach to promote and rescue early brain growth, health and development during the first 1000 days of life.

The first 1000 (F1000) days of life, from conception to age 2, are foundational to brain development. During this period, the developing brain is highly sensitive to environmental influences, both positive and adverse, with multi-system and enduring effects through the lifecourse. Approximately one in five children under five globally are at risk of developmental delay. Owing to a lack of screening resources, many do not receive the interventions they require within this golden window of brain development because they are only identified at school age or later.

The F1000 group’s work is focussed on developing novel “whole child” strategies to promote and rescue early child development during the F1000 days of life. Our work involves the pillars of early identification, intervention and impact, towards making a positive difference to the most vulnerable children, internationally, at risk of developmental delay. The research of this group seeks to (i) detail mechanistic understanding of the pathways underpinning typical and atypical early child development globally; (ii) construct & disseminate novel and scalable tools to rapidly and sensitively identify infants and young children with developmental delay at key points of contact with healthcare services and (iii) develop and validate novel whole-child interventions to promote brain development among young children internationally by leveraging as much of the F1000 day window as possible. The group combines neuroscience, epidemiological, data science and global maternal and child health approaches and has longstanding collaborations with 26 institutions across 23 countries in the UK, Europe, South East Asia, the Middle East, Sub Saharan Africa, and North, Central and South America. The group has pioneered the construction of three novel early child development assessments and the first international standards of early child development. An important theme that is integrated in all aspects of the group’s work is promoting community and stakeholder engagement at local and regional level to build and sustain capacity in the “whole child” approach to early brain growth, heath and development during the F1000 days.

The group places great importance on translating its research outputs into clinical practice and policy. The group can offer DPhil students opportunities to undertake mechanistic research, methodology development (neuropsychometric tools, population-based surveillance methods and data-science based clinical risk estimators), intervention research (both high-risk and community strategies) or a combination of these. It also provides opportunities to focus on implementation science projects to integrate research outputs into current clinical and population health pathways globally. 

DPhil Opportunities in Tissue Immunology, Computational Biology and Vaccine Research

The body’s tissues — including the respiratory, gastrointestinal and genitourinary mucosa, together with the skin — form the primary interface between humans and the external environment. Immune responses at these barrier sites determine whether pathogens are eliminated, establish infection, or are transmitted.
Our research aims to understand how tissue immune responses are generated, maintained and altered throughout life, and how this knowledge can be harnessed to develop next-generation vaccines.

The group combines experimental medicine studies such as Human Challenge Models, advanced tissue sampling, and cutting-edge immunology and computational biology to investigate host–pathogen interactions and immune protection

Research Areas

Projects focus on pathogens including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, influenza virus, and RSV, addressing questions such as:

•    How do systemic and tissue immune responses interact?
•    How is tissue-resident immune memory generated and maintained?
•    How do ageing and co-infections reshape immunity?
•    How do pathogens manipulate local immune environments?

Artificial Intelligence (CoI-AI) programme, which integrates human-pathogen challenge models, microbiology, advanced immunology and AI-enabled data science to drive discovery in host–pathogen interactions and immune protection (Daniela Ferreira, Andrew Pollard). Fully funded DPhil studentships are available within the CoI-AI programme.

Research Approaches

Projects integrate:

•    Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
•    High-dimensional cellular immunology
•    Systems biology and AI-driven analysis of complex immune datasets

Students interested in computational biology, bioinformatics, systems immunology, machine learning, and large-scale biological data analysis are particularly encouraged to apply.

As a DPhil student, you will gain experience in both experimental and computational research, work with unique human clinical datasets, and join a highly collaborative and international research environment at the Oxford Vaccine Group.

Using human genetics to understand the wider health consequences of infection in childhood.

We commonly think of the health consequences of childhood infections in terms of their immediate impacts, for instance death or disability.  However, infection in childhood is ubiquitous, and while most episodes of childhood infection result in apparent recovery, we have a limited understanding of how repeated episodes of infection in childhood shape long-term health. There is growing evidence that infection burden across the life course is likely to be modifying the long-term risk of a range of non-communicable diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular disease. 

This group uses human genetic tools to better understand these relationships, collaborating closely with researchers at the KEMRI-Wellcome Research Programme (Kilifi, Kenya) and MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit (Entebbe, Uganda). The work makes use of samples and data from well-characterised cohort studies of children and adults living in high infection burden settings as well as controlled human infection challenge models. With those samples we perform:

•    Genome-wide association studies to identify children at risk of invasive infection.
•    DNA methylation and expression quantitative trait locus mapping to define the epigenetic effects of infection on immune cells and their functional consequences.
•    Mendelian Randomisation to link risk of infection to long-term non-communicable disease risk in adulthood.

There is a wealth of important research questions we can explore within this framework, and potential DPhil projects could include how different infections, e.g. malaria and respiratory viral infections, shape immune function and ageing, and how an individual’s infection history shapes risk of subsequent infection in the short and long term.

It is becoming increasingly clear that immune sex differences have a substantial impact on outcome from infectious disease and vaccines. The group's own studies of children who became infected with HIV in utero show that these immune sex differences start before birth and have substantial impact before birth. Female fetuses born to mothers who themselves become infected with HIV during pregnancy are 2-3x more susceptible to infection than male fetuses. The reason, the group believes, is that the female fetus shares with her mother a strong dependence on the innate immune response, and specifically type I interferon (IFN-I) production in response to viruses such as HIV, to protect against infection. Thus, the virus that evades this defence in the mother is highly IFN-I-resistant, and this same highly IFN-I-resistant virus evades the same innate response in the female fetus, but not male fetuses, who are more susceptible to IFN-I-sensitive viruses with high replicative capacity (Adland et al Nature Communications, 2020).

The Goulder Group Research theme focuses on two related goals: the first being to define the mechanisms and impact of immune sex differences in early life; and the second being to define the immune responses in early life that maximise the potential for achieve cure in HIV-infected children. HIV provides an ideal tool to help understand the immune sex differences that are present in early life and their impact. A cohort of 250 HIV-infected mother child pairs in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, followed from the infant’s birth, form the focus of much of this work in the Peter Medawar Building in Oxford. The exposure of sex-discordant twins to other infections (CMV) and to vaccines provide an additional unique means of evaluating early-life immune sex differences. This group’s work is focused on the South African HIV epidemic. Although the group is based in Oxford, they have over the past 20 years developed strong collaborations in Durban and Kimberley, South Africa.

This project's research focuses on the development of next-generation delivery systems for gene editing and RNA therapeutics, with a particular emphasis on overcoming biological barriers to extrahepatic delivery. Central to the project is an understanding of delivery biology — including tissue targeting, cellular uptake, intracellular trafficking, and cargo release — together with the engineering of programmable therapeutic systems for precise and safe gene modulation.

Of particular interest are extracellular vesicle (EV)- and lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-based platforms for the targeted delivery of CRISPR systems, mRNA, and RNA therapeutics to difficult-to-reach tissues such as the brain, heart, and inflamed tissues. These approaches aim to enable clinically translatable therapies for neurological, inflammatory, and rare genetic diseases.

The PhD project will encompass:

•    engineering and characterisation of EV- and LNP-based delivery systems for nucleic acid therapeutics;
•    development of targeted delivery strategies using peptides, nanobodies, and synthetic ligands;
•    investigation of cellular uptake, biodistribution, and intracellular trafficking mechanisms;
•    delivery and evaluation of CRISPR-Cas systems, mRNA, and RNA therapeutics in vitro and in vivo;
•    application of multi-omics and receptor discovery approaches to identify tissue-specific targeting opportunities; and
•    assessment of therapeutic efficacy using advanced human iPSC-derived models, organoids, and preclinical disease models.

One in 13 babies are born prematurely; understanding and mitigating the long-term impact of premature birth is important to improve the lives of these children. Apnoea - the cessation of breathing - is a common pathology associated with prematurity. These potentially life-threatening events can result in reduced cerebral oxygenation and frequent apnoeas have been associated with long-term effects including reduced childhood cognitive ability. The focus of the research group is to understand the interaction between apnoea and brain development in premature infants, and to investigate how physiology is altered by pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. The group is part of a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, nurses, mathematicians, engineers and scientists. The group's work focuses on the collection and use of EEG (electroencephalography) and vital signs (heart rate, respiratory rate etc) data, and the group develops signal processing techniques and uses machine learning to derive tools with the aim to ultimately improve outcomes for prematurely-born children.

Controlled human infection model to accelerate Neisseria gonorrhoeae vaccine development

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in gonorrhoea poses a significant global threat, with resistance seen to all antimicrobial classes recommended for treatment. As a result, Neisseria gonorrhoeae is designated a global “priority pathogen” by WHO and an urgent threat to public health by the US Centers for Disease Control and the UK Health Security Agency. An efficacious vaccine is urgently required as a global public health intervention, particularly in LMIC settings where diagnostics and surveillance are limited. The finding that Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B vaccination demonstrates modest effectiveness against N. gonorrhoeae has reinvigorated gonorrhoea vaccine development, however potential correlates of protection and antigenic targets remain unclear.

A urogenital controlled human infection model (CHIM) of N. gonorrhoeae infection in men has been established in North America for more than 30 years. However, this model has not been used to comprehensively study the immune response to infection to date.  Our group is undertaking a multicentre, urogenital N. gonorrhoeae CHIM study in UK men, involving repeated infections, to identify potential correlates of natural immunity. This study is part of the Artificial Intelligence (CoI-AI) programme which integrates human-pathogen challenge models, microbiology, advanced immunology and AI-enabled data science to drive discovery in host-pathogen interactions and immune protection.

We have the opportunity to host motivated DPhil candidates within the N. gonorrhoeae CHIM programme. DPhil projects can be shaped according to individuals’ interests while aligning with the project’s broader scientific mission. We welcome candidates with interest in experimental medicine, immunology, microbiology, systems biology and related fields. This project offers the opportunity to gain skills in fundamental science and translational research and may be particularly well suited to aspiring physician scientists seeking to gain expertise in experimental medicine clinical trials.

DPhil students within the group will receive interdisciplinary training in experimental medicine whilst working within a diverse, international and collaborative environment at the Oxford Vaccine Group.

Novel Vaccine Development and Discovery of Immune Correlates of Protection for Emerging and Neglected Infectious Diseases

Dr Young Chan Kim is a translational vaccinologist, Principal Investigator at the Oxford Vaccine Group and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford. His research integrates vaccine platform technologies, rational antigen design, controlled human infection models, experimental medicine and the discovery of immunological correlates of protection to accelerate vaccine development for neglected and emerging infectious diseases.

The group, based within the Oxford Vaccine Group, is dedicated to the development of innovative vaccines against a range of emerging and neglected infectious diseases, including arboviruses (alphaviruses and flaviviruses), plague, Chagas disease and Q fever. The group harnesses cutting-edge vaccine platforms to address major global health challenges, with a primary focus on improving human health.

The group uses a diverse range of vaccine technologies, including:

•    Viral vectors, including ChAdOx1 and MVA 
•    mRNA 
•    Virus-like particles 
•    Glycoconjugates 
•    Subunit vaccines

These platforms are used to design, develop and evaluate novel vaccines through pre-clinical and clinical testing. The group combines reverse vaccinology, structural biology, antigen engineering and immunology to identify and test next-generation vaccine candidates.

In addition to vaccine development, the group has a strong focus on the discovery of immune correlates of protection, particularly for diseases such as enteric fever, including Salmonella Typhi and Paratyphi, Clostridioides difficile infection and neglected tropical diseases. This work aims to identify immune signatures and immunological markers associated with protection, using approaches such as controlled human infection models, systems serology, immunoassays and functional immune assays.

This DPhil programme offers an exciting opportunity for motivated researchers to contribute to vaccine innovation and immune-correlates discovery. As a student in this group, you will be involved in projects that advance infectious disease research, with a focus on:

•    Discovery of new vaccine antigen targets 
•    Vaccine design using multiple platforms 
•    Pre-clinical and clinical testing of vaccines 
•    Discovery of immune correlates of protection 
•    Immunoassays, including ELISA, ELISpot, flow cytometry and Luminex 
•    Functional immunological assays, including focus reduction neutralisation tests and serum bactericidal assays

You will receive training across the vaccine-development pathway, from antigen selection and design to immunogenicity testing, immune-correlates discovery, pre-clinical and early clinical evaluation. The project will be based within the Oxford Vaccine Group and will involve collaboration with colleagues across Oxford and with external partners.

Project Overview

Deadly pathogens – including filoviruses, hantaviruses, avian influenza, coronaviruses and arenaviruses - pose persistent global threats due to their rapid transmission, zoonotic potential, and ability to cause pandemics. Respiratory pathogens are a key focus given their high mutation rates and potential misuse in biothreat scenarios. As demonstrated by recent outbreaks, these pathogens can rapidly overwhelm healthcare systems and cause substantial morbidity and mortality.

The Lambe team develops vaccines against a broad range of high-consequence and emerging pathogens, having been involved in multiple outbreak scenarios including the Filovirus outbreaks in 2022, 2024 and 2026. The team not only develop and test vaccines for direct translational impact but apply cutting-edge methodologies, generating high dimensional multi-modal datasets, enabling us to dissect complex immunological principles pertinent to the wider field.

This DPhil offers a unique opportunity to apply these approaches combining multi-omic approaches such a as single cell RNA-seq, spatial transcriptomics and systems biology, to not only develop and test life-saving vaccines, but also generate fundamental knowledge across the vaccinology field.

Research areas of interest include vaccine development with a particular focus on systemic and mucosal immunisation, the design of next-generation technologies for targeted respiratory vaccination, and the engineering of precision delivery systems to enhance vaccine targeting and efficacy within respiratory tissues.

Objectives

•    Elucidate the relationship between mucosal and systemic immune responses following vaccination.
•    Investigate immune imprinting and develop immunisation strategies to overcome the challenges of ageing and immunosenescence.
•    Engineer precision delivery systems to enhance vaccine targeting of respiratory tissues.
•    Develop thermostable vaccine formulations and pulsatile delivery platforms using innovative screening approaches, including human organoid models.
 

Training and Development

You will receive interdisciplinary training in immunology, molecular biology, and translational vaccinology. You will acquire expertise in advanced techniques such as cellular assays, vector design, mRNA-LNP formulation with novel carriers (eg protein-functionalised nanoparticles), in vivo imaging, and mucosal challenge models including human organoid platforms. This project offers a unique blend of fundamental science and technological innovation, equipping the student with the skills required for impactful careers in public health, biodefense, and translational research.

The application of the evolutionary and population approaches to the genomic analysis of bacterial pathogens for translation into public health interventions, especially immunisation

Specific organism interests include the pathogenic Neisseria and Campylobacter. Highly interdisciplinary work across the Medical and MPLS Divisions.

See, for example: MacLennan JM, Rodrigues CMC, Bratcher HB, Lekshmi A, Finn A, Oliver J, et al. Meningococcal carriage in periods of high and low invasive meningococcal disease incidence in the UK: comparison of UKMenCar1-4 cross-sectional survey results (Reference: Lancet Infect Dis. 2021;21:677-87. Epub 2021/01/23. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30842-2. PMID: 33482143)

The respiratory mucosa is the primary site of interaction between pathogens and the host immune system, playing a critical role in determining susceptibility to infection, disease progression, and transmission. Despite major advances in immunology, there remains limited understanding of how mucosal immune responses are coordinated in health and disease, how these responses vary across the lifespan, and how they can be harnessed to improve prevention and treatment strategies against respiratory pathogens.

The team investigates host–pathogen interactions at the mucosal surface using Controlled Human Infection Models (CHIMs) and advanced human-relevant experimental systems, including organoid platforms and in vitro infection models. These approaches enable the study of epithelial, stromal, and immune cell responses within physiologically relevant environments, providing insight into mechanisms of microbial colonisation and infection, immune regulation, inflammation, and tissue repair.

Research within the group integrates cutting-edge immunology with multi-OMIC technologies, including high-dimensional spectral flow cytometry, proteomics, single-cell transcriptomics, and spatial biology. By combining experimental and bioinformatic approaches, the team seek to identify correlates of protection, define mechanisms underpinning susceptibility and immune memory, and support the development of next-generation vaccines and immunotherapies for infectious diseases.

Current research themes include:

•    Host immune responses to viral (RSV, Influenza, SARS-CoV-2, HRV) and bacterial (S. pneumoniae, Group B strep) pathogens 
•    Mechanisms underlying pathogen persistence, transmission, and vaccine escape 
•    The impact of ageing, chronic inflammation, and co-morbidities on mucosal immunity 
•    Human Co-infection models examining interactions between multiple pathogens 
•    Development and application of organoid and advanced in vitro infection systems for translational infectious disease research 
•    Microbiome and metabolomics

The group provides an interdisciplinary and collaborative research environment with opportunities to gain expertise in cellular immunology, organoid culture, infection biology, bioinformatics, and translational medicine. You will have the opportunity for training across the full breadth of work. Projects are tailored to individual interests while contributing to broader efforts to understand and improve immune protection at mucosal surfaces.
 

This research is interdisciplinary in nature, combining immunology, infectious diseases, genomics, microbiology, and data science to address major challenges in global health. A central aim of the work is to generate research with tangible societal impact, particularly in the areas of vaccinology, antimicrobial resistance, and precision medicine.

Recent advances in high-throughput technologies and computational biology have created unprecedented opportunities to understand host–pathogen interactions at molecular resolution. This research programme leverages these approaches to uncover biological mechanisms, develop clinically actionable tools, and accelerate translational research.

Current research themes include:

• Systems vaccinology and immune profiling
  Integrating high-dimensional multi-omics datasets to uncover the molecular and cellular mechanisms that shape immune responses to vaccines and infectious diseases.
• Data-driven diagnostics and precision infectious disease medicine
  Developing novel diagnostic, prognostic, and treatment stratification algorithms to support rapid and personalised clinical decision-making in infectious diseases.
• Microbiome and antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
  Investigating the human microbiome as a reservoir for AMR genes and characterising the ecological and transmission dynamics underlying the spread of resistance.
• Computational and in silico vaccine development
  Building synthetic cohorts and computational frameworks for virtual vaccine trials, with the goal of accelerating, optimising, and de-risking vaccine development pipelines.

Overall, this group operates at the interface of biology, medicine, and artificial intelligence, using interdisciplinary approaches to address fundamental biological questions while advancing translational applications with real-world impact.

Oxford Vaccine Group

At the Oxford vaccine group our mission is the design, development, clinical evaluation and laboratory testing of vaccines to improve human health. We aim to achieve our mission with major programmes on:

• Pneumococcal infection and vaccines (Daniela Ferreira);
• Viral outbreak pathogens (Teresa Lambe);
• Typhoid, paratyphoid, Coxiella, meningococcus and plague (Andrew Pollard);
• Non-typhoidal salmonella (Maheshi Ramasamy);
• Use of “omics” to interrogate vaccine responses (O’Connor);
• Social sciences of vaccines (Samantha Vanderslott);
• Alphaviruses and Chagas (Young Chan Kim); and
• Artificial Intelligence (CoI-AI) programme, which integrates human-pathogen challenge models, microbiology, advanced immunology and AI-enabled data science to drive discovery in host–pathogen interactions and immune protection (Daniela Ferreira, Andrew Pollard). Fully funded DPhil studentships are available within the CoI-AI programme.

Further details can be found under names of individual investigators. These major programmes above are in addition to a broad programme of work on COVID19 and the use of human challenge models and other experimental medicine studies. Our work includes opportunities for PhD training for potential students from both clinical and scientific backgrounds.

The LEGACY Network at the Oxford Vaccine Group

How can we design vaccines that give long-term protection against evolving pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2, influenza and emerging viral threats such as Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever or Bundibugyo viruses, that still work well in older or immunocompromised people?

The LEGACY Network (lymph node single cell genomics, ancestry and ageing) - part of the MRC/UKRI funded partnership, Lymph Node Research UK— led by Professor Katrina Pollock, studies human immune responses where they begin: in the lymph node. Using real-time ultrasound-guided lymph node sampling, longitudinal clinical studies and cutting-edge immunology, the team map vaccine responses in unprecedented detail.

The work combines ultrasound imaging, single-cell RNA sequencing, cellular indexing of transcriptomes and epitopes by sequencing, T and B cell receptor sequencing, spectral flow cytometry, functional cellular assays, organoid generation and systems serology with mathematical modelling of responses to study vaccine-draining and non-draining lymph nodes and blood across diverse groups.

Current studies ask how immune responses vary by ancestry, age, vaccine type and immune history, including responses to seasonal influenza vaccination, COVID-19 mRNA immunisation and a novel adenoviral vector vaccine against Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever.

Students interested in human immunology, vaccinology, ageing, infection, genomics or computational biology, including developing generative AI models will benefit from this project. Students will join a multidisciplinary clinical and scientific team working to understand human lymph nodes to inform the design of better, longer-lasting vaccines.

You will study vaccine immunity at its source, the human lymph node — and help shape the future of vaccine design.

We welcome applications from prospective students from a scientific or clinical background who are passionate about infectious diseases and global health. Projects are designed around WHO priority pathogens with a focus on improving health outcomes in Africa.

Enteric infections and mucosal immune responses

Infections caused by Gram negative bacteria are a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in low and middle income countries. Disease control ultimately requires access to good sanitation, but the current lack of sensitive diagnostic tests and increasing resistance to commonly used antibiotics make vaccines against these pathogens a cost-effective medium-term solution.

The group investigates immunity against enteric pathogens with a focus on Salmonella. Projects include:

• assessing vaccines in healthy volunteer clinical trials;
• investigating correlates of protection against disease using natural infection and controlled human infection model studies; and
• developing laboratory techniques including spectral flow cytometry, systems serology and to measure systemic and mucosal immune responses to enteric organisms.

Emerging pathogens

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted how rapidly a novel pathogen can spread, disrupting health systems, economies, and societies worldwide. The Oxford Vaccine Group played a key role in designing and testing a vaccine that contributed to saving millions of lives globally. Building on our expertise in emerging pathogen vaccines, we are developing strategies to tackle Lassa fever, a serious and often overlooked threat to public health, particularly in West Africa where it is endemic. Developing an effective vaccine would not only protect vulnerable populations and healthcare workers but also help contain outbreaks before they escalate.

Projects include:

• investigating novel Lassa fever candidates in clinical trials in West Africa;
• a social sciences approach to exploring how communities and policy stakeholders in endemic regions perceive Lassa fever and potential vaccines; and
• developing novel laboratory techniques including ELISpot and viral neutralising antibody assays against Lassa fever virus post vaccination and after natural infection.

The overall purpose of the group's research is to reduce the global burden of hereditary neurological disease. This goal is pursued through three strategic aims:

1. identification of genes associated with neurological diseases,
2. advancement of the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis in these diseases, and
3. development of effective treatments for hereditary neurological diseases.

This work has recently led to the development of an innovative gene therapy approach for a genetic condition named spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, relying on viral delivery of an isoform of the disease gene Androgen Receptor and suitable for translation into the clinic (see reference: doi.org 10.1126/sciadv.abi6896) and the identification of genetic variants in the ATP6V0A1 gene as a cause of severe neurodevelopmental conditions (see reference: doi.org 10.1101/2021.06.01.21257500).

In particular, the group are interested in understanding the mechanisms underlying the diversification of the human transcriptomic (RNA editing), the ways those contribute to the functioning of the motor unit in health and disease, and how this knowledge can be harvested to enable targeted correction of mutations in coding sequences of RNA for treatment.

The group employs a combination of transcriptomic analyses, advanced microscopy, cellular and biochemical studies in human iPSC-derived neurons, disease models in mice, and translational studies in human subjects. The group's expectation is that these studies will ultimately reveal central disease mechanisms of neuromuscular diseases and serve as a foundation for the development of effective disease-modifying therapies.

Developing a Precision RNA Editing Platform for Therapeutic Applications

Project summary

Supervisors: Carlo Rinaldi and Stephan Sanders.

Project code: CoRE-TG 2026-005

This is a MRC CoRE in Therapeutic genomics DPhil project.

RNA editing is a natural and widespread post-transcriptional modification in mammalian cells, primarily involving adenosine to inosine (A-to-I) conversions mediated by ADAR enzymes, and cytosine to uridine (C-to-U) conversions facilitated by APOBECs. These modifications are crucial for regulating gene expression, splicing, and other cellular processes. Recent developments in programmable RNA editing, especially those leveraging ADARs, have opened new possibilities for correcting pathogenic mutations with high specificity and reversibility, offering advantages over permanent DNA editing approaches.

Current therapeutic RNA editing strategies focus on delivery of recombinant enzymes and guide RNAs or use of highly chemically modified antisense oligonucleotides (ASO); while demonstrating proof-of-concept in correcting disease-causing mutations in vivo, they face challenges such as low efficacy, hurdles with the delivery of large payloads, and off-target effects. These limitations highlight the need for more effective, targeted delivery systems to unlock the full therapeutic potential of RNA editing.

Combining the precision of ASOs with the targeted delivery capabilities of ASO conjugates, here we aim to develop a new class of therapeutics with high specificity, safety and potency which has the potential to open up hundreds of therapeutic targets. 

Project Objectives

1. Mining available databases (e.g., ClinVar, Genomics England) to identify disease-causing mutations that are amenable to RNA editing
2. Conjugate antisense oligonucleotides with moieties targeting endogenous RNA editors to identify the most effective combinations
3. Test ASO conjugates in reporter cell lines and disease models (iPSC-derived neurons)
4. Deliver lead ASO conjugates in mice (optional)

Research Methodologies

1. Molecular Cloning and Protein Engineering: Designing and constructing expression vectors
2. Engineering and optimizing linker sequences and protein modifications
3. Protein expression, purification, and characterization (e.g., ELISA)
4. Nucleic Acid Synthesis and Modification
5. Cell Culture and Transfection
6. RNA Editing and Gene Expression Analysis (i.e., RT-PCR, and sequencing to assess editing outcomes)
7. Bioinformatics & Data Analysis (i.e., Analysing sequencing data for editing efficiency and off-target effects).

Potential Project Impact

This project has the potential to create a new class of highly specific, safe, and reversible RNA-based therapeutics. By harnessing antisense oligonucleotide conjugates, it could enable the correction or modulation of a wide range of genetic disorders, including those that are currently not amenable to standard ASO therapy. Additionally, the project holds significant potential for intellectual property generation, with opportunities to develop novel patents that can propel further commercialization and clinical translation.

Proposed Project Timelines

Year 1: Concept Development & Design

• Conduct literature review on RNA editing and oligonucleotides conjugates
• Establish protocols for protein expression, purification, and binding
• Begin preliminary in vitro studies

Year 2: Optimization & In Vitro Validation    

• Develop and test ASO conjugates
• Assess RNA editing efficiency and specificity in mammalian cell models

Year 3: Preclinical Evaluation & In Vivo Studies    

• Select lead conjugates
• Evaluate therapeutic efficacy in relevant disease models
• Refine delivery methods 

Year 4: Validation, Translation & Preparation for Clinical Development

• Confirm therapeutic benefits and safety in in vivo studies
• Prepare detailed data for publication

Potential Internship/Exceptional Training Opportunities

During the first Year of the DPhil, the candidate will have the opportunity to gain insight into the process of protein generation by visiting the dedicated Discovery Platform at the Rosalind Franklin Institute, in Harwell (Oxfordshire), with whom this project will be developed in collaboration.

Opportunities for student participation in PPIE 

Once a disease suitable for this RNA editing technology has been identified, we will actively liaise with affected family groups and patient organizations. We plan to organize activities such as informational sessions, workshops, and public engagement events to explain the therapeutic strategy, its potential benefits, and the research process. This collaboration aims to foster understanding, gather feedback, and build trust with the community. Engaging patients and families early will also help tailor the research to real-world needs, ensuring that the development of this innovative therapy aligns with patient priorities and expectations.

Your DPhil experience 

Your main research will be based within your supervisor's research group, while you will also join the wider multidisciplinary MRC CoRE-TG community. 

Depending on your project, your research may include laboratory, computational and/or translational approaches. Students will have access to research and professional development opportunities, including training needs assessment, skills development, networking and engagement with researchers. The MRC CoRE-TG's collaborations with industry and other external partners may also provide insight into how research progresses towards clinical use and into career paths within and beyond academia. We are committed to an inclusive research environment and encourage applications from all qualified candidates. 

Funding

Applicants to this project will be considered for a fully-funded MRC CoRE-Therapeutic Genomics (MRC CoRE-TG) which involves a second interview following the departmental interview. Due to UKRI limits on international student recruitment, only UK home students students are eligible for these MRC CoRE-TG DPhil scholarships. For information on home student eligibility, please refer to UKRI training grants: standard terms and conditions of training grant sections TGC 5.2.4 & TGC 5.2.5.

The MRC CoRE-TG DPhil scholarship provides funding for: 

• Course fees for the duration of fee liability
• A living stipend at the UKRI rate, paid for four years.
• A £20,000 Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) to support research and training costs.
• A £1,200 travel allowance to support research-related travel and development opportunities.

The stipend rate is reviewed annually by UKRI/MRC. 

Overseas applicants are still welcome to apply for MRC CoRE-TG projects. They may be considered for other funding opportunities available through the department and may also apply for external or other funding independently to support their DPhil.

Application process and further information

This is a two-stage selection process. The Department of Paediatrics will consider applications to this project and successfully shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview in the week commencing 11 January 2027. Successfully interviewed candidates will be nominated to the MRC-TG selection process for which interviews will be held in late January.

Applications are competitive and subject to the admissions requirements of the relevant Oxford department. Applicants are required to contact their prospective supervisor(s) to discuss their suitability before submitting an application to the project.

More information about MRC CoRE-TG can be found on the MRC Centre of Research Excellence in Therapeutic Genomic website. 

For CoRE programme enquiries: [email protected]

RNA medicine

Strategies for therapeutic manipulation of gene expression have matured to the point where there are now multiple FDA-approved drugs with diverse mechanisms of action including gene silencing (via RNase H-active gapmer oligonucleotides or RNA interference using siRNA) and direct antagonism of proteins (using aptamers), and exon skipping/inclusion using steric block oligonucleotides. Of particular interest are splice switching oligonucleotides that can rescue expression of proteins associated with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) – both paediatric muscle-wasting disorders which previously had very limited treatment options. Central to the development of these therapies is an understanding of disease nucleic acid biology (in terms of understanding the target mRNA splicing) and drug nucleic acid chemistry (the design, composition, and delivery of the therapeutic molecule). These exciting developments are paving the way for a plethora of new molecule medicines across a wide spectrum of disease indications. The group are interested in developing new modalities of therapeutic gene manipulation, including gene editing, RNA editing, and gene activation. Primarily, the group are focused on neuromuscular diseases (such as DMD and SMA) and infantile epileptic encephalopathies (such as Dravet syndrome).

Work in the group encompasses:

1. investigations of novel RNA-targeting or RNA-based therapeutic strategies;
2. gene expression profiling to better understand disease (especially in terms of spatial-restriction, sub-cellular localisation, and non-coding RNA); and
3. the development of biomarkers for monitoring responses to therapeutic intervention (with a particular focus on small RNA biomarkers).

Genome instability and telomere maintenance mechanisms in paediatric cancer

Sustained proliferation in cancer requires activation of a telomere maintenance mechanism (TMM), yet the processes determining how tumour cells adopt either telomerase activity or the Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) pathway remain poorly understood. ALT-positive cancers, which are particularly common in paediatric and young adult malignancies such as osteosarcoma and high-grade glioma, are characterised by profound genome instability and replication stress. Research in this group focuses on understanding how oxidative stress, non-canonical nucleic acid structures and DNA damage interact to destabilise telomeres and influence TMM pathway choice during tumour evolution.

The research seeks to define the molecular mechanisms linking oxidative stress and replication-associated genome instability to ALT pathway activity in paediatric cancers. Using a combination of cellular systems, patient-derived material and genome-wide approaches, the team investigate how stress-induced DNA damage accumulates at telomeres and how cancer cells adapt to tolerate or exploit this instability. The team use a variety of molecular, genomic and biophysical techniques to characterise the formation of abnormal nucleic acid and protein-DNA structures, determine how these influence telomere maintenance, and identify the cellular pathways that regulate these processes. This work also explores how epigenetic and chromatin-associated alterations shape telomere biology and contribute to the selection of specific TMM pathways during malignant transformation.

As a clinician-scientist, the focus of our basic biology investigations is the identification of vulnerabilities associated with ALT-positive cancers that could inform future therapeutic strategies. This project hopes to identify and develop strategies for targeting telomere maintenance and genome stability pathways. This group benefits from existing expertise in translational telomere biology and paediatric oncology, together with strong collaborations in genome biology, computational genomics, proteomics and single-molecule imaging.
 

The developmental stage-specific cellular and molecular characteristics of fetal and postnatal progenitors are likely to determine the biology of ALL at different ages. We are particularly interested in high-risk childhood ALL, such as infant ALL and Down syndrome associated ALL. We have recently developed a novel MLL-AF4+ infant ALL model using primary human haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. The overarching aim of research in our lab is to improve the outcomes of children with high-risk ALL.

The current DPhil projects are in these areas:

1. Developing faithful models of high-risk childhood ALL to better understand leukaemia initiation and maintenance at different ages;
2. Mechanistic studies to understand key drivers of childhood ALL;
3. Target discovery and translation of findings from (1) and (2) into preclinical studies; and
4. Projects using multi-omics to understand how cell intrinsic and/or microenvironmental characteristics of the developmental stage at which a leukaemia originates, drives the biology of leukaemia at different ages.

Severe neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) lead to serious and often life-threatening symptoms including seizures, cognitive impairment, communication problems, and motor dysfunction. Our group aims to use bioinformatics to identify the genetic mechanisms underlying these disorders and to develop therapies to improve the lives of those affected.

We focus on three main research questions:

1. How can we find the genetic variants and genes underlying these disorders in the coding and noncoding genome?
2. What do these genetic variants and genes tell us about the underlying neurobiology?
3. How can we use these insights to develop advanced therapies to help affected individuals?

Over the past decade, our group has used whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing of thousands of individuals to identify hundreds of genes underlying NDDs (Read more about this on the PubMed website) and to understand the role of splicing variants and noncoding variants in these disorders (Read more about this on the PubMed website).

Working with collaborators in the USA (UC San Francisco and Yale) we have generated single-cell datasets with epigenetic (ATAC-seq) and transcriptomic (RNA-seq) data from postmortem brain samples of hundreds of individuals. We use these data to understand regulatory processes underlying brain development and NDDs, including the role of biological sex as a modifier. We also aim to use these data to identify genes and variants that are amenable to genome-targeted therapies, including antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and CRISPR-based genome editing.

STRONG (Specialised Translational Research Oxford Neuromuscular Group)

STRONG (Specialised Translational Research Oxford Neuromuscular Group) has a special interest for newborns screening of genetic condition, Angelman syndrome, innovative outcomes using magneto-inertial technology and wearable devices and natural history studies. The group are working with patients in order to design and conduct efficient clinical trials.

Paediatric Neuroimaging Group

The Paediatric Neuroimaging Group can offer a range of DPhil projects related to early life neurodevelopment and clinical research translation. The group's work is focussed on better understanding the development and treatment of infant pain. The group places great importance on translating mechanistic insights from research into clinical practice and can offer DPhil students opportunities to focus on mechanistic research, clinical trials, methodology development (MRI, EEG and analytical approaches) and provide opportunities to work with industry, academia and regulators to optimise the acceleration of innovations into practice.

This group is interested in the genetic and epigenetic basis of congenital heart disease. Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most frequent birth defect, affecting around 1 in 100 births globally. Heart malformations associated with CHD range in severity, from no or few symptoms to very severe, resulting in neonatal lethality or requiring open-heart surgery. Despite progress in cardiovascular medicine and surgery that has reduced mortality rates, CHD is still the primary cause of mortality from birth defects, imposing a significant disease burden worldwide. Although CHD is highly prevalent, most of the cases remaining unexplained, which highlights the need to identify new causes of CHD and better understand CHD pathogenesis.

The group uses mouse models of congenital heart disease and embryonic stem cells to gain insights into the developmental processes disrupted in disease. It employs a wide variety of techniques including molecular biology, gene editing, histology/anatomy and imaging as well as transcriptomics and epigenomics, combined with bioinformatics analysis. This approach allows the group to study different components of the cardiac gene regulatory networks, and discover new genes with important roles in cardiac development. It also investigates the role of chromatin during cardiac development and disease. To achieve this, the group is exploring the non-coding genome to identify and characterise novel enhancers involved in cardiac development.

This group is based at the Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM). 

Vaccines, Health and Society (VHAS) Unit

The Vaccines, Health and Society (VHAS) Unit is a multidisciplinary research centre that seeks to improve understanding of the roles played by different individuals and groups and their interaction with healthcare practice and medical research. The unit aims to produce theoretical and empirical research in social sciences and create a bridge to public health issues through policy advice, interventions, and public engagement. We draw on a variety of disciplines from sociology, history, behavioural science, health economics, and public policy to combine a wide set of tools and literatures. Further, being based within the Oxford Vaccine Group, benefits from the unique opportunity to interact with vaccinologists, epidemiologists, immunologists, and clinicians. A particular focus lies on studying actors’ attitudes and behaviour towards vaccination in society, policy, and media, across time and geographies. More broadly, our interests are also in a wide range of public health topics, including issue prioritisation, disease history, and social mobilisation. Our research unit runs regular research seminars, has ongoing collaborative writing groups on a wide range of topics, and frequently hosts visiting researchers, providing a lively environment for DPhil candidates. We can support a range of DPhil projects on the social aspects of vaccination and health, including co-supervision with other groups within the Department of Paediatrics (and in exceptional cases outside of the department).

Further information about research in the department can be found on the department's website.  

Official course title

Doctor of Philosophy in Paediatrics

Award

Course code

RD_PE1

The department has state-of-the-art laboratories with a number of research groups at different locations in Oxford, with most of the groups based at the John Radcliffe Hospital and the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine (WIMM), the Centre for Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine and the Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine at the Churchill Hospital, and the Science Centre at South Parks Road.

Students will have access to the department’s IT support and University library services. Workspace will be related to individual circumstances. If undertaking experimental work, bench space will be provided within a laboratory. The provision of other resources specific to a project should be agreed with the supervisor as part of the planning stages of the agreed project.

Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine

The Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine (WIMM) fosters research in molecular and cell biology with direct application to the study of human disease. The WIMM is the location for the developmental immunology and haematology research groups in the Department.

Peter Medawar Building

The Peter Medawar Building houses an inter-disciplinary research consortium which investigates pathogen diversity through a combination of experimental and theoretical approaches, with links to two University divisions: Medical Sciences, Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences. This is the location for the HIV research group.

Oxford Vaccine Group, Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine (CCVTM)

The Oxford Vaccine Group (OVG) is located in CCVTM which is a purpose-built space for research in vaccinology and tropical medicine. The facility includes fully-equipped modern Containment Level 2 and 3 laboratories for the design, development and clinical testing of vaccines. Facilities are designed to accommodate multi-disciplinary working across microbiology, immunology, and molecular techniques in proximity to clinical expertise and trial patients/volunteers.

Paediatric Nutrition Research Group Laboratories

The two Paediatric Nutrition Research Group Laboratories are located in the neonatal unit. One is a visual function laboratory to study the development of visual pathways in brain-damaged infants following neurotropic supplementation of their diets.

The second is a body composition laboratory which house an air displacement plethysmography used to validate new techniques derived from 3-D ultrasound measures of body composition in new-born infants.

Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM)

The Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM) opened in 2022 and is an available resource for relevant students. At its core is a formal merger of developmental biology and regenerative medicine in the form of 15-20 world leading research groups comprising 240 cardiovascular, neuroscience and immunology scientists. Our intention as an organisation is to integrate their expertise to foster multidisciplinary collaborations.

Library services

Bodleian Health Care Libraries provides services to the staff and students of the University of Oxford, mainly in clinical medicine, and to the staff of the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust. There are over 20,000 books and over 550 journal titles in the Bodleian Health Care Libraries

IT resources

The Medical Sciences Division IT services provide Information Technology services, support and advice to the University of Oxford's Medical Sciences Division. It operates and manages data networks and networked services for the division's departments located on the Oxford Hospital Sites (John Radcliffe, Churchill, Warneford and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre), the Old Road Campus in Headington, and parts of the Science Area in the centre of Oxford.

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Department of Paediatrics and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Department of Paediatrics.

Most students have the opportunity to meet with their supervisor at least three times a term.

You will join one of the department's research groups with primary supervision provided by faculty members in one of the department's laboratory or clinical research facilities. It is highly recommended that individuals speak to and consider a supervisor before they make a formal application.

Formal assessment of progress will be made at three points during the course: transfer of status from Probationary Research Student (PRS) status to DPhil Status; this occurs in the 4th term. This is followed by confirmation of status which traditionally takes place either at the departmental annual research day held in late April or at the end of the ninth term. Then the final thesis and oral examination (viva voce) before the twelfth term ends.

Alumni from the DPhil in Paediatrics include clinicians and scientists who have pursued diverse careers, now populating senior academic and clinical posts in universities around the world. Several individuals have also remained within the University in Post-Doctoral positions.

*Combined for the DPhil and the MSc by Research in Paediatrics

^†Three-year average (applications for this course for entry in 2024-25 to 2026-27)

• a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in a subject relevant to the research project you are applying to.

Entrance is very competitive.

For applicants with a bachelor's degree from the USA, the minimum overall GPA that is normally required to meet the undergraduate-level requirement is 3.5 out of 4.0.

GRE General Test scores

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience

• Preference may be given to those who have previously studied in an appropriate scientific research discipline.
• Applicants who have evidence of scientific publication on their application are at an advantage.
• It would be expected that graduate applicants would be familiar with the recent published work of their proposed supervisor.

Interviews are normally held as part of the admissions process.

Candidates who are shortlisted are normally interviewed as part of the admissions process. Interviews usually take place in mid- to late January and there will be a minimum of three academics on the interview panel. Candidates will be either interviewed in person or online.

The format of the interview includes a short presentation from candidates on their research proposal followed by questions from the interview panel.

The following colleges accept students on this course:

• Balliol College
• Brasenose College
• Green Templeton College
• Hertford College
• Jesus College
• Kellogg College
• Lady Margaret Hall
• Linacre College
• Lincoln College
• Magdalen College
• Oriel College
• Reuben College
• Somerville College
• St Anne's College
• St Catherine's College
• St Cross College
• St Edmund Hall
• St Hugh's College
• St John's College
• St Peter's College
• The Queen's College
• Trinity College
• Wolfson College
• Wycliffe Hall

You should also communicate with the department in order to refine your application before submitting, especially if you are applying to a particular studentship.

Academic references are required.

Your references will be assessed for:

• your intellectual ability
• your academic achievement
• your motivation and interest in the course and subject area
• your ability to work effectively both in a group and independently.
   

Statement of purpose

Research proposal

The research proposal should cover areas such as the background to your research, methodology, expected results and the contribution to the field of learning.

The overall word count should include any bibliography. 

It will be normal for your ideas subsequently to change in some ways as you investigate the evidence and develop your project. You should nevertheless make the best effort you can to demonstrate the extent of your research question, sources and method at this moment.

This will be assessed for:

• your reasons for applying
• the coherence of the proposal
• the originality of the project
• evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study
• the ability to present a reasoned case in English
• the feasibility of successfully completing the project in the time available for the course (a maximum of 4 years)
• commitment to the subject, beyond the requirements of the degree course
• preliminary knowledge of research techniques
• capacity for sustained and intense work; reasoning ability
• ability to absorb new ideas, often presented abstractly, at a rapid pace.

Email: [email protected]
Tel: +44 (0)1865 286946