London Interdisciplinary Biosciences Consortium (LIDo)

The London Interdisciplinary Biosciences Consortium (LIDo) is an immensely successful and established collaborative partnership offering world-class interdisciplinary research.

LIDo unites an exciting team of outstanding universities and unique specialist institutions to provide a truly remarkable and unparalleled opportunity for innovative cutting-edge research in the heart of one of the world's most vibrant and scientifically stimulating cities.

In September 2024 LIDo will be offering 41 fully funded studentships across our DTP and iCASE routes of entry; these include home tuition fees and a tax-free stipend in the region of £20,622. A maximum of 11 of these positions can be offered to students eligible for overseas fee rates, where LIDo will cover the full fee amount.

DTP Route

In the first year of the programme DTP students will undertake two 4-month research projects in different partner institutions, selecting from a catalogue of over 200 topics. The choice of PhD topic is finalised after the second rotation project.

Research opportunities are available across the breadth of BBSRC remit. Exemplar projects can be found on our website: https://www.lido-dtp.ac.uk/projects and DTP students will have the opportunity to contact potential supervisors in the Spring ahead of our call for projects.

LIDo is particularly keen to welcome students from the physical sciences who are eager to apply their skills and experience to biological problems and students from the plant sciences for exciting new projects available at our specialist academic and associate partners.

All DTP students undertake a compulsory 3-month internship (PIPS) during their PhD to gain experience and context for careers where the transferable skills developed during their PhD programme can be usefully employed.

iCASE Route

Industrial collaborative (iCASE) students begin working on their named project from the start of the course. These projects represent genuine partnerships between academics within the LIDo consortium and industrial colleagues, allowing students to experience both distinctive environments in a mutually productive and supportive team and an extended placement of 3-18 months with their non-academic partner.

Training and Cohort Building

During the first-year, students will receive advanced training in fundamental and advanced mathematical, computational, and statistical skills for interdisciplinary and systems biology research. Expert in-house training in biological concepts and exposure to the history, trends and structure of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries make up the remaining first year teaching.

Each year a week of cross research council remit teaching cushions the two rotations providing students the opportunity to hear from diverse speakers on complex problems of importance in the UKRI five-year strategy.

The extraordinary LIDo teaching and research-intensive environment sits within a framework of robust and established cohort building activities, culminating each year in an academic retreat for the students.

Application

Applicants must hold, or be expected to achieve, a first or high upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent), or an MSci or other Masters degree.

We enthusiastically invite highly motivated applicants from a wide range of academic backgrounds including biological, physical, computational, engineering, or mathematical disciplines.

We value equality, diversity, inclusion (EDI) and we welcome applications from anyone regardless of age, disability, race/ethnicity, religion, sex, gender identity or sexual orientation.  We encourage individuals who have had worked in relevant sectors, followed unique career paths, or taken career breaks, to apply. We actively promote and encourage a more inclusive environment. We aim to provide high standards of support to all participants to ensure that each member of the LIDo programme can excel.

For details on how to apply and the link to our online application form please go to: www.lido-dtp.ac.uk/apply

The application window will close on Wednesday 10th January 2024 at 5pm.

Projects