Synthesis for Biology and Medicine

The programme aims to train next-generation doctoral scientists capable of addressing major challenges across the entire remit of organic chemistry, with a focus on skills relevant to the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries.

Designed in collaboration with international pharmaceutical and agrochemical companies who have offered specific expertise to enhance the CDT's training and research, the CDT has adopted an open-access model to ensure free exchange of information, knowledge and expertise between all students, academics and industrial partners.

Students are admitted to the programme without being assigned to a specific research group and are trained initially through a series of taught courses in a single cohort in all aspects of organic synthesis. Details on the modules are provided on the course’s website. Students subsequently undertake two 16-week research rotations in laboratories of their 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 are clustered into four broad areas (‘project fields’):

• new reaction discovery
• exploring new molecular space
• natural produce chemistry
• tools for chemical biology.

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

All modules during the taught course involve some aspect of formal assessment, including written reports, problem solving, and group and individual presentations. Similarly, each project rotation will be assessed based on a short report submitted thereafter.

A termly report on the student’s progress is submitted by their supervisor throughout the course. At an appropriate stage students must pass Transfer of Status, which is to ensure they have the potential to gain a doctorate. This will normally be at the end of their fifth term, but students will have up to six terms to complete this stage. This assessment will be made on the basis of a report and oral examination.

By the end of their third year students must pass Confirmation of Status, which is to ensure that they are on track to complete the thesis within a reasonable time.

The degree is examined by thesis and oral examination by two examiners, one of whom is normally from Oxford and one from elsewhere.

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Department of Chemistry and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff.

In the case of students who require specific help to adjust to an academic programme or to a new range of skills, the supervisor will work with them to ensure that they have additional support.

Most SBM CDT Alumni remain in chemistry, pursuing academic or industrial research, particularly the health-related industries such as pharmaceuticals. There is a wide variety of other destinations, including patent attorneys, life sciences consultancy and start-up companies.

The department runs an annual careers conference for graduate students and the careers service offers a wide variety of support, including CV workshops. The CDT and the department also host a large number of visits from prospective employers, where students can find out more information. There is an alumni officer, who keeps in touch with graduates, and the department runs a number of social and scientific events for them.

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.

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