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.
The Institute of Chemical Biology (ICB) was created more than 20 years ago with a focus on the development of novel molecular tools and technologies to tackle challenges in the drug-discovery, healthcare, and over the years has expanded its focus to include the agri-science and personal care sectors. It brings together more than 165 research groups across Imperial College London with over 45 strategic civic and industrial partnerships along with an SME business club.
Support for multidisciplinary postgraduate and postdoctoral training is one of the most important priorities of the Institute. 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. Indeed, the ICB CDT is the longest running CDT in the UK and has graduated >380 PhD students to date and we are very proud of the fact that more than 90% of our graduates remain in science. The ICB CDT forms the heart of the ICB at Imperial.
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The ICB CDT cohorts are supported by and benefit from one of the world’s largest Chemical Biology communities. The ICB CDT offers unparalleled depth & breadth bringing together the ICB academic community with Industry CDT partners, who are leaders in pharma, personal care, agri-science, and bio/med tech as well as SMEs, government agencies/facilities and affiliates.
MRes training
Students will join the first year for a multidisciplinary MRes in Chemical Biology & Bioentrepreneurship, where exciting professional and transferable skills courses are crafted and delivered in partnership with industry, and fused with world class research, hacking and entrepreneurship training.
This includes: a 9-month multidisciplinary research project; taught courses; FutureLab, where students will get experience of 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.
During this phase of the programme students continue to benefit from additional bespoke transferable skills training courses in Science Communication, outreach and responsible research innovation 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.