King’s College London Centre for Doctoral Training in Biological Physics Across Scales

Are you interested in tackling key questions at the physics-life sciences interface?

About us

The King’s College London Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Biological Physics Across Scales (BiPAS) aims to train the next generation of interdisciplinary research leaders to tackle key outstanding questions at the physics-life sciences interface.

Our knowledge of the most basic questions that regulate life, such as the functioning of the brain, the mechanisms of infection, and the progression of cancer, remains largely incomplete. Despite substantial advances in individual fields, too often decisive progress has been halted by a scarcity of experimental, computational, and theoretical approaches that transcend the resolution of classical biochemical methods. In particular, we are currently limited on all fronts by our inability to integrate fast-emerging data from experiments and observations occurring at very disparate scales—from a single molecule to a whole population. Making progress in this domain requires that students are trained to be bilingual in the physical and biological sciences and develop transferrable skills to work across disciplines and scales. The BiPAS CDT aims to do just this. Students will be jointly supervised by a physical scientist and a life scientist, ensuring that they receive interdisciplinary training that enables them to identify the most pressing unresolved questions in the life sciences and devise fresh and innovative approaches from the physical sciences to resolve them.

Who Should Apply?

Applications are invited for an October 2022 start from candidates with a background in the physical sciences and a strong interest in interdisciplinary research at the interface between physics and biology. Competitive applicants will have a first-class or upper second-class degree (or equivalent) in relevant subjects including physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, or engineering. Where applicants have (or expect to obtain) an MSc degree, a distinction or merit is required.

Funding

The CDT will fund at least 4 students to join the programme in October 2022. Studentships are 3.5-year awards and include a tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate plus London weighting (currently £17,609 per annum), UK tuition fees, and a generous allowance for research consumables and conference travel.

How to Apply

Applications are now open for October 2022 entry. The CDT will be considering applications in several rounds until all CDT places have been filled. Please check the website to see the current deadlines.

Further details about how to apply can be found at: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/nms/research/bipas-cdt

For any questions, please contact the CDT office: bipas-cdt@kcl.ac.uk

Management team

Professor Sergi Garcia-Manyes Director
Doctor Katelyn Spillane, Co-Director
Professor Carla Molteni, Co-Director
Professor Ismael Diez Perez, Co-Director
Ms. Rowena Peake, Programme Manager