Chemistry in Cells: New Technologies to Probe Complex Biology and Medicine

The programme supports four years of DPhil study. The first term of the programme will provide training in research and transferable skills. This will include both taught and practical courses, and the opportunity to meet prospective supervisors and career mentors. Following a 16-week rotation period, students will undertake their full DPhil project for approximately 3.5 years.

Taught transferable skills courses

Induction: Orientation to Oxford, the programme, and relevant facilities. Explanation of course structure and procedures, explicitly lay out expectations and responsibilities, research integrity/reproducibility and code of practice. Cohort bonding and interaction with prospective supervisors will be promoted through ‘star speaker’ slots throughout the week.

Life Skills for Scientists: This new module will provide training in transferable skills, resilience, equality diversity & inclusion, and explore diverse career opportunities.

Taught science courses

Cells and Systems: This existing module introduces core concepts in molecular/cell biology for graduate students with a background in physical sciences.

Quantitative Chemical Biology: This new module will be delivered with our industrial collaborators (AstraZeneca, GSK, Merck, and OxStem) and will provide an overview of different quantitative chemical biology techniques, tools and statistical analysis used to study and manipulate biological systems.

Computational Approaches for Chemical Biology: This new module will be delivered with our industrial collaborators and will provide an overview of computational techniques, coding and machine learning in biology.

Introduction to Drug Discovery: This module introduces the practice of pharmaceutical discovery from drug-target discovery to clinical trials. Some material will be delivered by industrial scientists.

Practical science course

Introduction to Experimental Bioscience: This course is designed for students with a physical sciences background and little experience with wet-lab biological/biochemical research. It will include hands-on experience in method development techniques.

Rotations and placements

Our programme will allow students to gain experience in a range of environments through a variety of placements, which will feed into the substantive DPhil project:

Project week: during project week students will visit the laboratories of prospective supervisors to assist decision making on scientific rotation and project choice. This approach supports our vision that communication and informed choice will promote a positive DPhil experience and promote an improved research culture.

Scientific rotations: a flexible 16-week rotation phase will be used to tailor training to suit the individual student needs, maximising the interdisciplinarity of the training. After the rotation phase, students will spend 41 months engaged in their substantive DPhil research.

Industrial placements: students whose projects involve industrial collaboration will undertake a 3-month (approx.) placement at our industrial collaborators. This will provide students with experience of working in an industrial setting. Work undertaken on the placement will prioritise techniques and approaches that are relevant to the project, but which are not available within Oxford, ensuring that students maximise the skills gained within their DPhil. Students will be supported during their industrial placements by industrial mentors and visits from Oxford supervisors.

Clinical placements: all of the directors have been inspired to conduct medically-relevant research by interactions with patients. To provide a clinical perspective on research all students will undertake a placement in a hospital or other clinical setting. This will further inspire students to address major societal needs in their work.

Flexible career placements: flexible funding to support short-term postdoctoral activities will be available.

The allocation of graduate supervision is the responsibility of the Medical Sciences Doctoral Training Centre (MSDTC) and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. A supervisor is often found outside the department.

This is a new course and there are no alumni yet. Graduate destinations will be posted as data become available.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. In certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information, please see our page on changes to courses.

Other courses you may wish to consider

If you're thinking about applying for this course, you may also wish to consider the courses listed below. These courses may have been suggested due to their similarity with this course, or because they are offered by the same department or faculty.

Courses suggested by the department

Cellular Structural Biology DPhil
Inorganic Chemistry for Future Manufacturing (EPSRC CDT)
Interdisciplinary Bioscience (EPSRC DTP)

All graduate courses offered by the Medical Sciences Doctoral Training Centre (MSDTC)

Biomedical and Clinical Sciences DPhil

Cancer Science DPhil

Cardiovascular Science DPhil

Cellular Structural Biology DPhil

Chemistry in Cells: New Technologies to Probe Complex Biology and Medicine DPhil

Computational Discovery DPhil

Genomic Medicine and Statistics DPhil

Ion Channels and Membrane Transport in Health and Disease (OXION) DPhil

Neuroscience combined MSc and DPhil

All graduate courses offered by the Department of Chemistry

Chemical Biology DPhil

Chemical Biology MSc by Research

Chemistry in Cells: New Technologies to Probe Complex Biology and Medicine DPhil

Inorganic Chemistry DPhil

Inorganic Chemistry MSc by Research

Inorganic Chemistry for Future Manufacturing ESPRC CDT

Organic Chemistry DPhil

Organic Chemistry MSc by Research

Physical and Theoretical Chemistry DPhil

Physical and Theoretical Chemistry MSc by Research

Synthesis for Biology and Medicine CDT

Theoretical and Computational Chemistry MSc

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Entry requirements