PhD

Synthesis for Biology and Medicine

Study mode:On campus Study type:Full-time Languages: English
Local:$ 9.11 k / Year(s) Foreign:$ 28.2 k / Year(s) Deadline: Nov 18, 2024
1 place StudyQA ranking:4334 Duration:4 years

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The programme offers joint academic-industrial training in all aspects of synthesis coupled with an in-depth appreciation of its application to biology and medicine.

Graduate destinations

This is a new programme and there are no alumni yet. The department runs a number of activities in close cooperation with the Careers Service, including an annual careers conference, CV workshops and visits from many employers. The programme also has strong engagement with industrial partners.

This EPSRC-led initiative is designed to build on Oxford Chemistry’s strength in synthetic chemistry and the model of inter-disciplinary scientific training within the existing Centres for Doctoral Training in Oxford.

The programme aims to train next-generation doctoral scientists in the practice of chemical synthesis coupled with an in-depth appreciation of its application to biology and medicine.  It also aims to train graduates capable of addressing major challenges across the entire remit of organic chemistry with a focus on skills relevant to the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries.

The programme was designed in collaboration with eleven international pharmaceutical and agrochemical companies who have offered specific expertise to enhance the CDT's training and research. To ensure free exchange of information and expertise between all academic and industrial partners the CDT will adopt an intellectual property-free model consistent with its focus on basic science. 

Students are admitted to the programme without being assigned to a specific research group and will be trained initially thorough a series of taught courses in a single cohort in all aspects of organic synthesis. You will subsequently undertake two 16-week research rotations in laboratories of your choosing before joining a specific group for a substantive three-year DPhil research project. To enable significant and long term research goals to be tackled, research projects will be clustered into six broad areas ('project fields'):

  • new synthetic methods
  • 3D templates for ‘lead-like’ compounds
  • functional probes for epigenetics
  • next-generation anti-infectives
  • natural product chemistry
  • tools for neuroscience

During all four years of the programme, you will also receive a tailored programme designed to broaden their research and professional skills.

For the first year, you will be housed in the purpose-built facility located in the Rex Richards Building. This will be the location of the taught courses and contains a large, open plan office designed expressly to facilitate cohort-interaction and interdisciplinary training. 

At an appropriate stage you must pass Transfer of Status. This will normally be at the end of your fifth term, but you will have up to six terms to complete this stage. This assessment will be made on the basis of a report and oral examination.

Applicants are normally expected to be predicted or have achieved a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent international qualifications), as a minimum, in a relevant chemical sciences subject.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.6 out of 4.0.

However, entrance is very competitive and most successful applicants have a first-class degree or the equivalent.

A previous master's degree (either an integrated master's degree or standalone) is preferred but is not required. Substantial professional experience or a graduate qualification may be a substitute for a lower grade at undergraduate level.     

If you hold non-UK qualifications and wish to check how your qualifications match these requirements, you can contact the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC).

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

  • Official transcript(s)
  • CV/résumé
  • Statement of purpose:Up to 1,000 words
  • References/letters of recommendation:Three overall, generally academic

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Higher level

Test

Standard level scores

Higher level scores

IELTS Academic 
Institution code: 0713

7.0 Minimum 6.5 per component  7.5  Minimum 7.0 per component 

TOEFL iBT 
Institution code: 0490

100

Minimum component scores:

  • Listening: 22
  • Reading: 24
  • Speaking: 25
  • Writing: 24
110

Minimum component scores:

  • Listening: 22
  • Reading: 24
  • Speaking: 25
  • Writing: 24
Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) 185

Minimum 176 per component

191 

Minimum 185 per component

Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) 185

Minimum 176 per component

191 

Minimum 185 per component

  • Global Education
  • Hill Foundation Scholarships
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