Molecular, Genetic and Lifecourse Epidemiology (Wellcome)

Our ability to fully exploit new molecular and genetic technologies in epidemiology depends on a new generation of interdisciplinary scientists who can harness the benefits of these technologies in exciting and productive ways. This innovative four-year PhD programme equips students with the knowledge and technical skills to achieve this.

We welcome students from a wide range of backgrounds. Our community of researchers have diverse skills and work together on exciting interdisciplinary research projects using data and samples from leading cohort studies such as ALSPAC and UK Biobank. We strongly encourage applicants from a range of disciplines (eg natural sciences, biostatistics, molecular genetics, econometrics, biochemistry, mathematics, statistics, engineering and computer science).

This programme offers generous funding from the Wellcome Trust and a distinctive cross-disciplinary approach. The first year is designed to offer you opportunities to investigate core subject areas, such as epidemiology, genetics and statistics. You will complete two four-month mini-projects tailored to your training needs and attend a series of short courses and workshops selected from a menu of research methods, computational, statistical and generic training options. Towards the end of the first year you will refine the plans for your main PhD project, which will be completed in years two to four. Throughout the programme, you will benefit from supervision by highly regarded academics in a dynamic research environment.

You will have a good honours degree (minimum requirement is an upper second class degree) or master's degree in a relevant discipline. As this is a multidisciplinary programme, degrees may be in a range of science subjects, but the applicant should be able to demonstrate in their research statement how they will apply this to molecular, genetic or lifecourse epidemiology.

See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.