Mechanics of Life Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarship Programme

Are you a physical or biological scientist? Do you have an interest in unlocking the complexity and challenges of mechanobiology?

The Mechanics of Life Doctoral Scholarship Programme is a unique multi-disciplinary doctoral training scheme funded by the Leverhulme Trust that focuses on how physical forces and changes in the mechanical properties of cells and tissues contribute to development, cell differentiation, physiology, and disease.

The programme is seeking physicists, chemists, mathematicians, engineers, biophysicists, microbiologists, biochemists and related disciplines to become future research leaders to tackle key outstanding questions in biology from a distinctly mechanical perspective. It will train interdisciplinary scientists to develop new techniques, methodologies and analytical tools required to resolve outstanding challenges underpinning Mechanobiology across a broad range of biological themes.

The course is unique to the UK and Europe it will build on current research and training strengths at King’s.

Students will be supported by two project co-supervisors. When possible one will be a physical scientist and the other a life scientist who are both fully committed to an interdisciplinary training approach.

Duration: 3.5 years

Study mode: Full-time

Postgraduate training

The training included on the programme will include:

Mechanics of Life Leverhulme DSP Training Programme

• Force Talks seminar series - monthly research colloquia presented by outstanding external scientists. Speakers will target their talks to the level and scientific background of PhD students and aim to give ‘big picture’ insight into their research field and how it fits within the broader context of mechanobiology.
• Masterclasses delivered by the supervisory team, focusing on specific techniques and their applicability to research questions relevant to mechanobiology. These seminars will provide breadth to student education in mechanobiology that complements the focused, in-depth project-based research.
• Tailored workshops in research integrity and ethics and entrepreneurship, complemented by bespoke resources.
• King’s central resources, encompassing transferrable skills training.
• When possible, students will be encouraged to undertake a placement of up to 3 months.
• Annual Symposium. This two-day annual event will include scientific sessions that cover the breadth of interdisciplinary research fields included in the doctoral Programme and will feature first class national and international speakers who are invited by the students. Students will showcase their work with posters.

King’s central resources, encompassing transferrable skills training

• Centre for Doctoral Training
• Faculty and Department training and events for your specific are of study

Management team

Professor Sergi Garcia-Manyes, Director
Doctor Katelyn Spillane, Co-Director
Ms. Rowena Peake, Programme Manager

Fees and funding

Studentship Award and Eligibility

All studentships are funded awards for 3.5 years and include tuition fees, stipend, and a research and training support grant (RTSG).

Tuition fees: Tuition fees will be fully covered by the Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarship Programme for 3.5 years.

Stipend: Students will receive a tax-free stipend for each year of study at UKRI rates. As an indication, 2022/23, the stipend was £19,668 per annum.

RTSG: A generous allowance will be provided for research-related costs, including consumables, attendance at UK and international conferences, and training.

Eligibility: Both UK and overseas students are eligible to apply.

How to Apply

Applications are now open for October 2023 entry. The Doctoral Scholarship Programme will be considering applications in several rounds until all places have been filled. Please check the website to see the current deadlines.

Further details about how to apply can be on the King’s College London website using the link below. http://www.kcl.ac.uk/mechanicsoflife

Please note that we do not accept CVs via email, to apply you will need to complete an application through the application portal, King's Apply.