Molecular Cell Biology in Health and Disease

After a very short induction period of one or two weeks, during which some basic training is provided, you will start a research project in your supervisor’s laboratory.

You will be supervised by a team that includes your main supervisor, a graduate advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies. Your graduate adviser will usually be another experienced principal investigator in the department. Your supervisor may appoint a senior member of the laboratory as your day-to-day supervisor. Most laboratories have weekly meetings where members present and discuss their research results with other members of the laboratory. You will also regularly present your work in progress seminars, which are attended by other research groups working in related areas. Further support is available from your college advisor.

There are a number of key stages in the research programme.

1. Within a month of starting, you will meet with your supervisor and graduate adviser to finalise your project and agree on an initial programme of research.
2. Within the first three months, you will complete an analysis of your training needs with your supervisor.
3. Within the first six months you are expected to complete a literature review on a topic relating to your area of research.
4. After one year you will apply to transfer to DPhil status. To do this you write a report describing your research to date and plans for the future. This will be assessed by two independent experts, who interview you as part of the process.
5. You will apply to confirm your DPhil status by the end of your third year. This involves writing a short progress report and thesis outline and giving a presentation. The application is assessed by two experts.
6. The final stage is submission of your DPhil thesis, which needs to be done within four years.

Whilst working on your research project you will participate in a comprehensive, flexible skills training programme which includes a range of workshops and seminars in transferable skills, generic research skills and specific research techniques. There are also numerous seminars and lectures by local and visiting scientists and you are provided with many opportunities to meet leading scientists.

There are a wide range of events organised for DPhil students. All students participate in an annual graduate students' symposium, which is attended by the entire department. Student contributions are carefully evaluated and prizes are awarded to the best posters or presentations in each year.

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology.

The majority of graduates from the DPhil in Molecular Cell Biology in Health and Disease (previously the DPhil in Pathology) pursue research careers in academic institutions or industry. Graduates also pursue careers in management (in pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies), consulting, law, teaching, with science funding organisations, charities and in scientific publishing.

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

Applicants are strongly advised to visit the Medical Sciences Graduate School website to help them identify the most suitable course and supervisors.

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 school

Cardiovascular Science DPhil
Interdisciplinary Bioscience DPhil
Biomedical Sciences (NIH OxCam) DPhil
Biomedical and Clinical Sciences DPhil
Integrated Immunology MSc

All graduate courses offered by the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology

Molecular Cell Biology in Health and Disease DPhil

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Entry requirements