Careers after Biosciences - Doing a PhD Dr Peter Meacock Sub-Dean for Graduate Studies Faculty of Medicine & Biological Sciences Dr P Meacock What does a PhD involve? Why do it? How long & how much? Entry requirements? How funded? How, where and when to apply?

Dr Peter Meacock

Sub-Dean for Graduate Studies

Faculty of Medicine & Biological Sciences

What does a PhD involve? Training as an independent researcher - to practise and lead research Totally different to Undergraduate degree Investigative, not taught No terms or long vacations; more like “employment”! Less formal structure; self-motivation is critical! Original research Own project (YOUR responsibility) Supervisor/Thesis committee ( the key relationship! ) Member of a research group (contribute to team effort) Progress monitoring (probationary year 1) Skills-training & professional development Thesis writing and examination Viva voce defence with two expert Examiners Dr P Meacock

Totally different to Undergraduate degree

Investigative, not taught

No terms or long vacations; more like “employment”!

Less formal structure; self-motivation is critical!

Original research

Own project (YOUR responsibility)

Supervisor/Thesis committee ( the key relationship! )

Member of a research group (contribute to team effort)

Progress monitoring (probationary year 1)

Skills-training & professional development

Thesis writing and examination

Viva voce defence with two expert Examiners

Why do a PhD ? Learn more about subject Enjoy “doing” research Contribute to knowledge Become a professional independent researcher Career advancement - leadership & responsibility in research - many other careers too! - separates you from other BSc graduates Employability and Skills development - Research;- technical, problem-solving, intellectual rigour - Organisational;- project & time management , IT - Communication;- presentation (written and oral), IT - Personal;- commitment, initiative, adaptability - Interpersonal;- team-working, net-working, negotiation Dr P Meacock

Learn more about subject

Enjoy “doing” research

Contribute to knowledge

Become a professional independent researcher

Career advancement - leadership & responsibility in research - many other careers too! - separates you from other BSc graduates

Employability and Skills development - Research;- technical, problem-solving, intellectual rigour - Organisational;- project & time management , IT - Communication;- presentation (written and oral), IT - Personal;- commitment, initiative, adaptability - Interpersonal;- team-working, net-working, negotiation

How long does it take? How much does it cost? Registration Full-time; min 2 years, max 4yrs Part-time; min 3yrs, max 6 yrs Yr 1 probationary (APG); Yr 4 “writing-up” Realistically full-time 4 years 24/7/52 commitment! Costs (= investment) Registration: H/EU £3,390pa; Int’l £12,650pa Stipend: 2009 UK RC rate £13,290 (tax-free) Travel/conferences: ~ £300 Research costs: mol biol ~£8K-10K pa (dept support) Dr P Meacock

Registration

Full-time; min 2 years, max 4yrs

Part-time; min 3yrs, max 6 yrs

Yr 1 probationary (APG); Yr 4 “writing-up”

Realistically full-time 4 years

24/7/52 commitment!

Costs (= investment)

Registration: H/EU £3,390pa; Int’l £12,650pa

Stipend: 2009 UK RC rate £13,290 (tax-free)

Travel/conferences: ~ £300

Research costs: mol biol ~£8K-10K pa (dept support)

Entrance requirements? Entry requirements First or 2i BSc degree, or MRes/MSc, in relevant subject (2ii with good MSc upgrade will normally be considered) Supportive academic references Strong performance in interview Looking for Aptitude for research (curiosity, creativity & initiative) Enthusiasm, motivation & commitment Good academic background & subject knowledge Research experience (yr3 project, summer vac’n research & Sandwich yr) Dr P Meacock

Entry requirements

First or 2i BSc degree, or MRes/MSc, in relevant subject (2ii with good MSc upgrade will normally be considered)

Supportive academic references

Strong performance in interview

Looking for

Aptitude for research (curiosity, creativity & initiative)

Enthusiasm, motivation & commitment

Good academic background & subject knowledge

Research experience (yr3 project, summer vac’n research & Sandwich yr)

How do I fund it? Studentships (BBSRC, MRC, NERC, Wellcome Trust, charities, industry) Pay fees, stipend, travel, research costs (basic award) Supplemented, if RC CASE-award with industry Last for 3 to 4 years Administered through departments/supervisors Eligibility restrictions (normally UK/EU only) Limited number, so competitive! Employment, eg. as RA (part-time PhD) International students Home country scholarships, eg. government? Partial awards via UK university (eg Scholarships) British Council Some Charities/Foundations (eg Chevening) Self Dr P Meacock

Studentships (BBSRC, MRC, NERC, Wellcome Trust, charities, industry)

Pay fees, stipend, travel, research costs (basic award)

Supplemented, if RC CASE-award with industry

Last for 3 to 4 years

Administered through departments/supervisors

Eligibility restrictions (normally UK/EU only)

Limited number, so competitive!

Employment, eg. as RA (part-time PhD)

International students

Home country scholarships, eg. government?

Partial awards via UK university (eg Scholarships)

British Council

Some Charities/Foundations (eg Chevening)

Self

How to apply No UCAS scheme, or equivalent Applications direct to supervisor or dept, or via University Graduate School/Office Decide YOU want to do it – not a default ! Decide your research area Apply for advertised PhD places and studentships Write directly to depts/supervisors of interest Dr P Meacock

No UCAS scheme, or equivalent

Applications direct to supervisor or dept, or via University Graduate School/Office

Decide YOU want to do it – not a default ! Decide your research area

Apply for advertised PhD places and studentships

Write directly to depts/supervisors of interest

How to find PhD opportunities? When to apply? Information sources Biological Sciences academic staff Web pages of depts/supervisors Postgraduate Prospectuses of Uni’s Commercial web sites (FindaPhD, jobs.ac, NewScientist) Posters on Notice boards Ads in periodicals (New Scientist, Nature) When to apply Early in final year (November-January) onwards Dr P Meacock

Information sources

Biological Sciences academic staff

Web pages of depts/supervisors

Postgraduate Prospectuses of Uni’s

Commercial web sites (FindaPhD, jobs.ac, NewScientist)

Posters on Notice boards

Ads in periodicals (New Scientist, Nature)

When to apply

Early in final year (November-January) onwards

What do YOU need to check out? Having decided YOU do want to do a PhD;- Decide what research area interests you and investigate opportunities Project - interesting, rewarding & achievable? (4 yrs of your life, or more!) International quality research environment? (RAE score of department) Good PhD training & support environment? Supervisor - successful PhD track record ? Could you “work” with supervisor? Dr P Meacock

Having decided YOU do want to do a PhD;-

Decide what research area interests you and investigate opportunities

Project - interesting, rewarding & achievable? (4 yrs of your life, or more!)

International quality research environment? (RAE score of department)

Good PhD training & support environment?

Supervisor - successful PhD track record ?

Could you “work” with supervisor?

Sources of information about “Doing a PhD” and PhD careers VitaeProgramme http:// www.vitae.ac.uk FindaPhD http://www.findaphd.com/ Jobs.ac.uk http://www.jobs.ac.uk/ New Scientist http://www.newscientistjobs.com Science Careers First Wave http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/ UKCGE http://www.ukcge.ac.uk/ Dr P Meacock

VitaeProgramme http:// www.vitae.ac.uk

FindaPhD http://www.findaphd.com/

Jobs.ac.uk http://www.jobs.ac.uk/

New Scientist http://www.newscientistjobs.com

Science Careers First Wave http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/

UKCGE http://www.ukcge.ac.uk/