Fully Funded 4 year MRes-PhD studentships in Fungal Infectious Disease

Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at The University of Aberdeen

Start Date: Early September 2019

Application Deadline: Tuesday 15 January 2019

Do you want to make a difference in patients’ lives? Are you interested in combatting fungal infectious disease? Do you want advanced training in molecular biology, genomics and/or immunology? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, then you should consider the MRes-PhD studentships offered by the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Aberdeen (MRC CMM).

These four-year studentships start with a 1-year Master of Research (MRes) degree that provides a solid theoretical and practical foundation in fungal infectious disease. This includes one research project on host immunology and a second on pathogen biology. Students then progress to their 3-year PhD, choosing their cross-disciplinary PhD project from a broad selection of peer-reviewed proposals. Students also receive additional research skills training, personal and career development opportunities, funding for travel to conferences and workshops, and support from mentors who provide independent career advice. Successful candidates will join a team of over 50 international PhD students and postdoctoral researchers in the Centre. To hear more about the MRes-PhD programme from two of our current students please visit: www.abdn.ac.uk/cmm/training/mres-phd.php

The MRC CMM hosts an interdisciplinary group of world-leading scientists who study both the host and the pathogen, and is one of the largest such Centres in the world. Based around the internationally recognised expertise of the Aberdeen Fungal Group, the mission of the MRC CMM is to facilitate pioneering cross-disciplinary research to substantially advance our understanding of underappreciated, life-threatening fungal infections. These advances will impact patient lives through improved prevention, diagnosis and treatment of fungal diseases in the future. Successful applicants will benefit from our vibrant, friendly and collegiate atmosphere, and the interdisciplinary nature of the cutting-edge science being performed in our Centre.

Funding and Eligibility

The studentships are funded by the Medical Research Council in partnership with the University of Aberdeen. They include a tax-free stipend, tuition fees and research costs are covered for the four years of the programme.

Candidates should have, or be expected to achieve, at least a 2.1 Honours degree. Funding is available to UK/EU candidates only.

Application process

To apply, please visit the University of Aberdeen postgraduate applicant portal.

Please provide a copy of the degree certificate and transcript for each previous degree undertaken, a copy of your English language proficiency certificate (if relevant), and contact details of two referees who can comment on your previous academic performance (at least one should be from your current degree programme). References will be requested if you are selected for interview.

Also, please include your CV and a personal statement stating your future ambitions and how this MRes-PhD programme will enable you to achieve those ambitions.

Please email Fiona Insch (graduateschool-clsm@abdn.ac.uk) and/or Dr Karen McArdle, MRC CMM Manager (e.karen.mcardle@abdn.ac.uk), if you have any queries about the application process.

Interviews are expected to be held in mid-February 2019.