Wellcome Trust 4-year PhD Programme in Molecular, Genetic and Lifecourse Epidemiology (MGLE)

We are seeking enthusiastic scientists to join the next generation of inter-disciplinary researchers who will exploit the wealth of new data being generated in population health sciences. Our innovative four-year PhD programme offers you the opportunity to develop the knowledge and technical skills to become a future research leader in the fields of molecular, genetic and/or lifecourse epidemiology.

The Programme

The MGLE 4-year PhD programme has been funded by Wellcome and is based in the University of Bristol. This four-year programme combines tailored innovative training in a foundation year with your choice of a three year PhD project.

Interdisciplinarity

We welcome students from a wide range of scientific backgrounds. Our community of researchers have diverse skills and work together on exciting interdisciplinary research projects using data and samples from leading cohort studies such as ALSPAC and UK Biobank. We strongly encourage applications from a range of disciplines (e.g. natural sciences, biostatistics, molecular genetics, econometrics, biochemistry, mathematics, statistics, engineering and computer science). Our PhD programme and training environment is designed to provide you with the necessary skills to succeed in this field!

Programme structure

Our PhD studentship is fully funded for 4 years and has two major components:

1. Our foundation year combines specific and generic skills training with practical experience gained from undertaking two 'mini-projects'. Each mini-project consists of a four month period during which you work on a project in one of the programmes research areas (eg epidemiology, genetics, epigenetics, bioinformatics/data science or molecular laboratory research).
   
   The mini-projects are integrated with training from a menu of 1-5 day short courses which you will select on the basis of experience and training needs. These courses cover epidemiology, statistics, programming, high-performance computing, reproducible research and other research skills. You will also have the opportunity to attend external specialist courses and international meetings.


2. Years 2-4 are spent undertaking your main PhD research project. You will be encouraged to continue attending courses and conferences throughout your studentship, with a focus on presenting your results at international conferences towards the end of your project.

Towards the end of your studentship a range of training opportunities are available to support your transition into the next stage of your career.

The University

You will be hosted by the University of Bristol, a leading UK research university. The university is near the centre of Bristol, a vibrant and welcoming UK city. The MGLE twitter page and our University Instagram page showcases Bristol activities and our city.

During your studentship you will be part of Bristol Medical School, which offers an integrated approach to postgraduate education in a collaborative and multidisciplinary environment. The PhD programme is based within the Population Health Sciences Department and complements parallel PhD programmes at the University, including (amongst others) those in: Dynamic Cell Biology, Integrative Cardiovascular Science, Neural Dynamics and Complex Networks.

We have an extensive pool of >100 supervisors and all PhD students are co-supervised by more than one member of staff to provide optimal support and access to a wide range of skills and expertise.

Research visits to other organisation within and beyond the UK are actively encouraged, along with participation in conferences, workshops and other events.

The University of Bristol publicly commits to intensify our efforts to improve the representation, progression, experience and success of our minority ethnic students.

How to Apply

Applications are invited from October 2023 for 5 studentships starting in September 2024. Applications are completed online at www.bristol.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply . Before applying please email brms-pgradmin@bristol.ac.uk for further details about the programme, potential topics, supervisors, and what information we will require from you.

You are encouraged to contact potential supervisors to discuss potential research projects before you submit your application. Example projects are listed below, but you are welcome to contact potential supervisors with your own project ideas if they are relevant to the programme. Supervisors may be identified from the listing of potential programme supervisors on the programme website.

The Wellcome Trust provides support for four years, which includes a stipend of £23,955-£25,666, PhD registration fees (UK rate only)*, research expenses totalling £50,000 over 4 years, travel and transferable-skills training. The scheme also provides access to up to £35,000 per student in transition funding to help each individual to plan, train and move into their desired career path once the PhD has been completed.

* Two studentships per year are also available to non-UK International applicants.

For further details about the Wellcome Trust studentships, potential topics and supervisors please email brms-pgradmin@bristol.ac.uk

An online application workshop took place on 14th November 2023 to offer advice and answer questions on the application process. Please view the recording here.

When applying please choose 'Molecular, Genetic, Lifecourse, Epidemiology (Wellcome Trust PhD).' Please state that you are applying for the Wellcome MGLE PhD programme in your covering letter. A research proposal is not required at this stage. After completing your application please take 5 mins to complete this short survey.

PhD Projects: