Tissue Repair Postgraduate Training Programme

Content and assessment

Lab rotations, PhD research projects and assessment

Course Content

Lab rotations

student at bench

The Tissue Repair PhD programme starts with a core skills training week, followed by two lab rotations. During each lab rotation, which lasts ten weeks, students carry out a research project in a lab of one of the affiliated Principal Investigators. Students will be able to select rotation projects from a list of projects put forward by the Tissue Repair programme Principal Investigators. During the rotations, the Tissue Repair students are fully embedded in the lab where they carry out their research. They will contribute to lab meeting and attend seminars.

Throughout the rotation period, which lasts six months, the students also participate in Discussion Group. Each week the students will come together as a group and attend a presentation and Q&A session hosted by Tissue Repair programme Principal Investigators. Discussion Group is an integral part of the programme, offering students a comprehensive insight into the breath and depth of research around Tissue Repair.

PhD research project

Following the two lab rotations students will choose their main PhD research project and supervisors. Students write a PhD project plan in consultation with their PhD project supervisors. Proposed PhD projects will be reviewed by the Tissue Repair Steering Group to ensure they are within the topic of the Tissue Repair training programme. Collaborative projects co-supervised by Principal Investigators at different research centres are encouraged. A secondary supervisor and additional Thesis Committee members must also be selected.

Photo of students in the Business School cafe

Tissue Repair students will work alongside students on other PhD programmes within the research centres. Throughout the programme, students will be attending regular lab meetings and seminars by internal and invited speakers. These meetings and seminars are an essential part of the programme as they will expose students to a wide range of research associated with tissue repair, ensuring a comprehensive training.

During the last six months of the programme students will focus on writing their thesis and preparing for their final examination.

Course Assessment

Committee meetings

All students will have their work overseen by a Thesis Committee that will provide advice and guidance as well as assessment of progress. The Committee consists of the primary and secondary supervisor, an external advisor, and a member of the Tissue Repair programme Centre Committee Representatives.

Committee meetings will follow the format of a written and oral presentation by the student, followed by a detailed discussion between the student and the committees. Students will have an opportunity to raise matters of concern with the panel in the absence of their supervisor(s).  After each committee meeting, the Convenor will write a meeting report, which is signed by committee members and the student.

Reporting

The first year of registration as a PhD student is probationary and the University as well as the Wellcome Trust require formal reporting. At the end of each rotation students are required to write a short report which include a background, project aim, methods, and a combined results and discussion section.

During the main PhD project students are required to submit reports and present posters about their work at regular intervals, and attend meetings with their Thesis Committee to discuss project plans and results to date. These meeting are to assess whether the student has a sound grasp of the background to the project and to ensure the planned project is reasonable, achievable and on track.