PhD students

The Cell-Matrix Centre is currently training 42 PhD students. We normally have a 100% success rate in training students to become competent scientists with good publication records during their tenure here. Many of our students go on to to do postdocs is other world-class labs.

Please go to the individual research group pages to find any vacancies currently available.

Details of the Faculty of Life Science graduate programme:

Postgraduate Study

Postgraduate opportunities within the Faculty of Life Sciences encompass all fields of life sciences, from molecules and cells, to whole organisms and environments.  This is reflected in the number of programmes and courses on offer, with more than 30 different research programmes and over 20 taught courses.

Diverse research programmes and taught courses

Research projects (PhD, MPhil and MRes) are offered from a range of exciting and challenging research programmes, which map onto the Research Groupings represented in this brochure. In addition, specialist MSc programmes are taught in key areas that aim to prepare students for further PhD study or for careers in industry. In terms of career progression, the majority of our postgraduate students remain in research, while others move into related areas such as education, information technology, consultancy and management, helped by the comprehensive skills training they gain during their programme of study.

The Faculty of Life Sciences has a strong ethos of interdisciplinary research and many students have more than one supervisor working in different areas, including from different Faculties within the University. This cross-disciplinary cooperation allows students to tackle a problem from different angles. The Manchester Doctoral College provides an overarching structure across the University to support and enable cross-Faculty doctoral programmes, including a range of Doctoral Training Centres.

Visit our postgraduate web area (details below) for full details of the research programmes and taught courses available in the Faculty of Life Sciences.

Top Ten Reasons to Study within the Faculty of Life Sciences

  • Ranked in the top 3 Universities in the UK for biological sciences in the latest government Research Assessment Exercise (RAE)
  • Over 200 active research labs, more than 1000 members of research staff and over 2200 students working in the life sciences.
  • Brand new purpose-built research complexes, costing £170 million, housing modern cutting-edge research facilities.
  • More than 30 research programmes and 20 taught courses spanning the breadth of life sciences.
  • More studentship funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) than any other UK University department.
  • Around 500 scientific papers published in international research journals annually.
  • Comprehensive research seminar series attracting world renowned speakers.
  • One of the most comprehensive and innovative transferable skills training programmes in Europe offering tailored support for each student.
  • Academic literacy course as part of PhD study to help improve scientific writing skills.
  • Specific University Language Centre providing a range of English language support services for international students.

Full integration into the academic research environment

The postgraduate student community within the Faculty is truly international with more than 450 postgraduate students from more than 40 countries around the world. Each year the postgraduate community is joined by all members of the Faculty of Life Sciences to formally celebrate their substantial research achievements at the Faculty Research Symposium. During this important day in the Faculty calendar, a selection of postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers present their work, through talks and posters, to their peers, academic and support staff and invited guests. This event provides all of our postgraduates with an important opportunity to showcase their research.  Winners of the best presentations and posters are pictured in photo A.

Research with industrial collaboration

The Faculty of Life Sciences has strong links with industry and many postgraduate students work on projects that involve collaboration with industrial sponsors. Typically at any one time around 50 students are undertaking a CASE (Co-operative Awards in Science and Engineering) PhD programme, which allows them to work on a scientific problem that has direct industrial relevance. These PhD students have a supervisor at the University as well as at the collaborating industrial company and spend time working at both locations. The Faculty has links with over 30 different companies through CASE PhDs, including AstraZeneca, BASF, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Epistem, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck Serono, Novartis, Pfizer, and Smith and Nephew.

Postgraduate Student of the Year

 

Each year the Faculty nominates the very best and brightest talent to receive an award for University Postgraduate Student of the Year. This prestigious medal is in recognition of outstanding academic achievement and is based on research output, publications and contribution to the life of the University. Previous winners include Karen Gascoigne (PhD Cell Biology). “I was extremely proud to receive the Postgraduate Student of the Year award. The award has given me the confidence to carry on with a career in science, as a post-doctoral researcher” says Karen.

 

Graduate Training Programme

The Faculty of Life Sciences is proud to have one of the largest and most innovative training and development programmes for postgraduate students in Europe. The Graduate Training Programme (GTP) comprises a series of compulsory and optional workshops, seminars, and skills training modules that are designed to complement a student’s research laboratory training. The training is made up of both face-to-face workshops, conferences and on-line resources, offering a range of experiences and flexibility.

Every student benefits not only from the outstanding academic environment, but also from the opportunity to acquire a broad and individualised range of personal and transferable skills that are of great value in future careers.

How to apply

An on-line application form for all postgraduate programmes and courses is available through the FLS website.

Contact us

For further information regarding postgraduate study within the Faculty of Life Sciences please contact the relevant office:

Research Programmes (PhD/MPhil)

Tel:      +44 (0)161 275 5608

Fax:     +44 (0)161 275 5657

email:   pgresearch.lifesciences

Address:

Graduate Office

Faculty of Life Sciences

The University of Manchester

1.21 Simon Building

Brunswick Street

Manchester

M13 9PL UK

 

Taught Courses (MSc/MRes)

Tel:      +44 (0)161 275 5032

Fax:     +44 (0)161 275 5456

email:   pgtaught.lifesciences

Address:

Recruitment & Admissions Office

Faculty of Life Sciences

The University of Manchester

G.483 Stopford Building

Oxford Road

Manchester

M13 9PT UK

 

www.manchester.ac.uk/lifesciences/postgraduate

www.manchester.ac.uk/lifesciences/postgraduate/apply/