Programme outline
The Centre hosts over 40 PhD students in its member laboratories.
Supervision
Each student has a principal supervisor, normally the student’s research group leader, and a second (advisory) supervisor, sometimes from another University Department, who has appropriate independent expertise in the student’s project area.
The principal supervisor is responsible for day-to-day supervision and research training. Training is provided on-site for all required techniques.
The first year of a PhD studentship is probationary and further progress is dependent on satisfactory progress with experimental work and written reports.
PhD Thesis Committee
Research and training progress of individual students is actively monitored and assessed by a personal Thesis Committee comprising the two supervisors and a third member of academic staff who chairs the committee.
This Committee meets with the student at regular intervals, particularly during the first year, and provides advice and guidance where required.
In the final year the Committee assists with scheduling of thesis preparation.
Structured Post-Graduate Activities
In addition to their personal project work and literature reviews, students are expected to participate in the following activities:
- Generic and transferable skills training (provided through the Graduate School of Life Sciences)
- Meetings of their research group (usually weekly)
- Attendance at Centre seminars is strongly encouraged (research seminars given by Centre members and by visiting national and international scientists)
- In the second year, all PhD students will give a formal oral presentation of their work to the Centre
- Students are strongly encouraged to attend national and international research conferences
The PhD student community
There is a strong community spirit among the Centre's PhD students, with an active social life.
In addition, students organize their own monthly meetings in which they take it in turn to present their latest research to fellow students (with accompanying free beer and pizza).
This article was published on Mar 30, 2012