Through a funding initiative by the Wellcome Trust, the Department of Social Medicine has established a 4 year PhD Programme in Molecular, Genetic and Lifecourse Epidemiology (http://www.epi.bris.ac.uk/postgrad/wellcome/wellcome.htm).The aim is to equip epidemiologists with the technical skills and training to exploit rapidly developing new technologies in molecular and genetic sciences within population-based cohorts in ways that could significantly improve our understanding of causal pathways in disease and its progression.

Rapidly developing systems biology technologies and data resources have opened a new era in molecular and genetic research. Combined with life course studies in population-based cohorts, these approaches will significantly improve our understanding of causal pathways that lead to disease and its progression.

This PhD Programme in Molecular, Genetic and Lifecourse Epidemiology, offers an integrated approach to postgraduate education in a collaborative and multidisciplinary environment. It complements parallel leading edge interdisciplinary PhD programmes in Bristol in Dynamic Cell Biology and in Complex Networks.

Your PhD will consist of a 1st year of 3 x 10 week attachments in the following core areas: epidemiology, biostatistics/ bioinformatics and genetic laboratory skills . The rotations are integrated with associated core-topic 1-5 day Short Courses , which you will select on the basis of past experience and continued training needs. In the final 10 weeks of the 1st year you will choose your PhD project and prepare a detailed research proposal.

The subsequent 3 years will be spent undertaking your PhD research.

All of your studies (apart from attendance at specialist courses, international meetings or working with collaborators elsewhere) will be at the University, which is near the centre of Bristol, a vibrant and leading UK city.

The formal application process is held between the end of October through to March. Potential applicants are encouraged to contact Susie Potts (contact details below) for further information.

The Wellcome Trust provides support for four years and includes a stipend, PhD registration fees at UK/EU student rate, research expenses, travel and transferable-skills training. Overseas students need to first apply for a University of Bristol Overseas Centenary Postgraduate Research Scholarship to obtain full funding to cover the overseas PhD registration fees for 3 years and be able to self-fund the overseas registration fees for one year.

For further details about the Wellcome Trust studentships, potential topics and supervisors, and for application forms, contact:

Susie Potts,
University of Bristol,
Canynge Hall,
Bristol BS8 2PS.

Email: susie.potts@bristol.ac.uk.