4-Year Cheney Scholarship PhD Programme in In Situ Structural Biology

Exciting new developments in imaging and structural methods, know as in situ structural biology, can reveal the structure and behaviour of biological macromolecules inside healthy and diseased cells and tissues. The pioneering Cheney Scholarship 4-year PhD programme at the University of Leeds will train the next generation of researchers and exploit these new developments across a broad range of research areas with a great potential for translation.

<p>This unique PhD programme will bring together world-leading research from the <a href="https://biologicalsciences.leeds.ac.uk/">Faculty of Biological Sciences</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://leedsbrc.nihr.ac.uk/">Leeds Biomedical Research Centre</a> based in the Faculty of Medicine and Health. It will be housed in a brand-new, state-of-the-art hub: the Cheney Biomedical Accelerator. This exciting hub has been enabled by a philanthropic gift from Peter and Susan Cheney. The Cheney Biomedical Accelerator will incorporate advanced facilities to enable a novel approach for scientists and clinicians to work together, helping to fast-track the rate at which discovery can lead to translation and addressing some of the current intractable questions in biomedicine.</p> <p>The new facilities in the Cheney Biomedical Accelerator, alongside facilities for light and electron microscopy within the&nbsp;<a href="https://astbury.leeds.ac.uk/">Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology</a> are state-of-the-art. These include in-house access to focused ion beam milling, cryo-electron microscopy/tomography, super-resolution light microscopy, NMR, Mass Spectrometry, high speed AFM and much more. We provide a vibrant, interdisciplinary environment with an outstanding positive research culture, where a new generation of scientists who are passionate about doing cutting edge research can flourish.</p> <p>The aims of the programme are to understand life in molecular detail, and to understand how changes in protein structute <em>in situ</em> leads to dysregulation and disease. The Cheney Biomedical Accelerator will advance our ability to translate fundamental science towards treatments that benefit patients.&nbsp;This is a new multi-year PhD programme, and <strong>applications are now invited for up to 2 new scholarships, commencing in October 2024. Interviews will take place on Thursday 16^th&nbsp;May 2024.</strong></p> <h4>Funding:</h4> <p>These 4-year scholarships will cover the cost of academic fees (at the UK Home fee rate for postgraduate reserachers) and an enhanced PhD stipend (&pound;21,099 &ndash;&nbsp;&pound;23,055 per annum, based on 2023/24 rates). The scholarship also includes budget for research consumables, facility access, training and funding to attend relevant scientifc meetings.</p>

<p>To apply for this scholarship opportunity applicants should complete an <a href="https://biologicalsciences.leeds.ac.uk/research-degrees/doc/how-to-apply">online application form</a> and attach the following documentation to support their application:</p> <p><strong>Supporting statements:</strong></p> <ol> <li><strong>A summary of your academic and employment achievements</strong>: Please highlight any awards, scholarships or outstanding achievements, such as excellent module results, project outcomes and final/predicted grades and include the subjects of your previous degrees. Maximum 200 words*</li> <li><strong>An explanation of your motivation to do a PhD within our Cheney Scholarship scheme: </strong>Please include why you want to study for a PhD, your suitability for our programme and interest in in situ structural biology. Maximum 200 words*</li> <li><strong>A description of a situation in which you have gathered evidence, used this evidence to come to conclusion(s) and inform action(s):</strong> This is a competency-based question designed to show your skills and potential. Your answer could include an experience from research, employment, voluntary work, committee membership or education. Maximum 200 words*</li> </ol> <p>*Please do not mention your name, gender identity or institutions you have studied at in your personal statements. We are operating part of our shortlisting process with this information anonymised as part of our EDI strategy to increase diversity in STEM. <strong>Responses exceeding the word limit will receive a reduced score.</strong></p> <ul> <li>a 2 page&nbsp;academic CV</li> <li>degree certificates and transcripts for both undergraduate and postgraduate studies (or marks so far if still studying)</li> <li>Evidence that you meet the programmes minimum English language requirements (if applicable)</li> </ul> <p>To help us identify that you are applying for this scholarship please provide the following information on your application form:</p> <ul> <li>Select <strong>PhD&nbsp;Biological Sciences 4 Year (PHP-BSGS-4FT)</strong>&nbsp;as your programme of study</li> <li>When asked for your source of funding please indicate that you are applying for the 4-year Cheney Scholarship</li> </ul> <p><em>As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education. Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+ and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability.</em></p>

Applicants must be eligible under the UK Home Fees status criteria. You should have, or expecting to obtain, a first class undergraduate degree (British Bachelors Honours degree or equivalent) or an upper second class undergraduate degree alongside a Master degree in a relevant area. This could include: biochemistry, biological sciences, structural biology, biomedical sciences, imaging, chemistry or physics. Applicants must not already hold a doctoral degree. We welcome applicants from all suitably qualified candidates and particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups. All scholarships will be awarded on the basis of candidate potential. Applicants whose first language is not English must meet the Programme's English Language requirements, where applicable.

The minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study is an IELTS of 7.0 overall with at least 6.5 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid.

<p>For further information please contact the Facutly Admissions Team<br /> e: <a href="mailto:fbsgrad@leeds.ac.uk">fbsgrad@leeds.ac.uk</a></p>