Institute of Chemical Biology EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Chemical Biology – Empowering UK BioTech Innovation

Fully funded four-year [1+3] studentships available for UK and International students

Applications to specific research projects are advertised on a rolling basis until the positions have been filled. Candidates will be interviewed by the project supervisors and the CDT directors. We are usually looking for students from a physical sciences background with a master’s degree level of 2:1 or higher.

Support for multidisciplinary postgraduate and postdoctoral training is one of the most important priorities of the Institute of Chemical Biology (ICB). Our pioneering EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) was renewed for its fifth iteration in March 2024: The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Chemical Biology: Empowering UK BioTech Innovation.

The mission of the ICB CDT is to train postgraduate researchers with the language, knowledge and skills to enable them to work at the interface between the physical and life sciences, and who are able to embrace Lab of the Future platforms. This skill set has the potential to revolutionise the state of the art with respect to manipulating, measuring and modelling molecular interactions in biological systems and will transform R&D pipelines.

Our programme, with EDI, student empowerment & cohort formation at its core, fuses blue skies & translational research with professional skills courses and workplace training. Students emerge with a knowledge of molecular technologies, sustainable product development, lean innovation & early-stage commercialisation. Our multi-disciplinary supervision model comprises a 1-year MRes + 3-year PhD, with for the first time an optional 1-year postdoctoral fellowship: “Elevate”, that will offer graduates unparalleled in-work experience.

MRes training

Students will join the first year for a multidisciplinary MRes in Chemical Biology & Bioentrepreneurship, where students will undertake a 9-month multidisciplinary research project; taught courses; FutureLab (prototyping and industry 4.0 training in Imperial College’s Advanced Hackspace); Imperial's industry-led innovation workshops; a high-throughput Drug Screening Programme run in our new automated facility; and much more.

Read more about our MRes training here.

PhD Training Programme

The one-year MRes is followed by a 3-year PhD building on the research project from the MRes, where students continue to benefit from additional bespoke transferable skills training courses, alongside our EVOLVE programme, delivering student-tailored career boosting placements.

In addition, through the InnovaLab programme students will have the opportunity to create their own start-ups. Over the years many of our students have filed their own patents and created their own successful spin-out companies, e.g. FA Bio, Fresh Check, anywhereHPLC.

Read more about our PhD Training Programme here.

ELEVATE Fellowship Programme

Following their PhD, graduates can apply for the ELEVATE Postdoctoral Fellowship, which, if they are selected, will build on the skills and experience developed in their PhD.

Fellows will benefit from a 2-month skills module in a cohort environment including Design Thinking, Impact, Business Communication, and Leadership. This will be followed by in-work placements over 10 months with our strategic partners.