Three vacancies for 4-year MRC funded PhD/DPhil studentships starting October 2016

Closing date 31 December 2015

MRC Harwell is an International Centre for Mouse Genetics at the forefront of studies in mouse functional genomics and mouse models of human disease. We are engaged in lifetime studies – from developmental abnormalities through to diseases of ageing.

There are several research themes offering PhD projects within the Mammalian Genetics Unit at MRC Harwell for 2016:

• Large-scale mouse functional genomics to uncover the gene/phenotype landscape
• Genetic basis of type 2 diabetes
• Genetics of circadian rhythms and sleep in health and disease
• The genetics and pathology of deafness
• The role of cilia in development and disease
• Disorders of sex development
• Bioinformatics of mouse models of disease
• Statistical genomics

Excellent scientific facilities:

The Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell is one of the best state-of-the-art SPF mouse facilities in Europe. Supporting core facilities include: Bioimaging, Transgenics/Genome Editing, Frozen Embryo and Sperm Archiving (FESA), Genomics, Phenotyping, Clinical Chemistry, Proteomics, Histology and Pathology. MRC Harwell has strong collaborative basic and clinical science links with the University of Oxford and many other biomedical research centres in the UK.

Our doctoral training programme:

MRC Harwell offers first class opportunities for PhD students including a formal training programme. Students join a 4-year PhD programme that includes an initial six-month induction and rotation across two laboratories of their choice before selecting and embarking on their research project. Students register with the University of Oxford.

Currently we have 24 doctoral training students. Together the many junior members of the Unit contribute to a vibrant atmosphere providing a supportive environment for the development of future leaders in mouse genetics and the life sciences.

Residence requirements

Residence requirements are detailed in the Research Council UK (RCUK) conditions of research council training grants as follows:

For purposes of residence requirements the UK includes the United Kingdom and Islands.

To be eligible for a full award (stipend and university fees) a student must have:

• Settled status in the UK, meaning they have no restrictions on how long they can stay.
• Been ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK for three years prior to the start of the studentship. This means they must have been normally residing in the UK (apart from temporary or occasional absences).
• Not been residing in the UK wholly or mainly for the purpose of full-time education. (This does not apply to UK or EU nationals).

More information:

Information about potential supervisors and research interests can be found on our research pages.

Informal inquiries can be made to the Director of Graduate Studies Professor Roger Cox by emailing r.cox@har.mrc.ac.uk

Apply Now:

Candidates for an MRC-funded studentship must hold (or be expected to obtain) qualifications at the level of, or equivalent to a first-class or 2.1 honours’ degree in a biological science or related discipline.

Applicants will please send to studentapplications2016@har.mrc.ac.uk the following files (1) a one page covering letter, (2) a CV with the names and contact details of two referees and (3) a completed application form downloadable from our website: http://www.har.mrc.ac.uk/students