Download Application Guidelines for the Institute of Chemical

Application Guidelines for the Institute of Chemical Biology Doctoral Training
Centre “New Supervisors” Studentships- 2012/13
Background Information
The Institute of Chemical Biology (ICB) has been awarded an EPSRC Doctoral Training Centre (DTC)
in the area of Chemical Biology. The training programme provides a means whereby a new
generation of physical scientists can bridge disparate fields and gain the confidence to grapple
with bio-molecular research in a multidisciplinary environment.
The DTC addresses the acknowledged shortage of well-trained physical scientists capable of
contributing to bio-medical science. The central research theme of the DTC is concerned with
understanding protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions as targets for biological intervention.
In particular:


The development and application of new measurement, modelling, computational and
chemical approaches to specific biological problems.
The establishment of engineering rules underlying such interactions with a view to
making clinically relevant interventions for therapeutic purposes.
The studentship
For this call, two applications in the area of “Molecular Studies of protein-protein (or proteinlipid) interactions” will be funded.
The studentship, starting in the 2012/13 academic year, comprises a 1-year MRes in the Chemical
Biology of Health and Disease, followed by a 3-year PhD. The MRes course involves lecture
material in basic Chemical Biology, which lasts from October-January, followed by a research
project that runs from January to September.
The studentship will cover tuition fees and stipend for a total of 4 years. In addition, there is a
consumable allowance of £3,000 per annum and a travel allowance for the student of £1,000 in
total.
Student Eligibility
The awarding body for the ICB DTC studentships is the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research
Council (EPSRC) of the UK. Students must therefore conform to the eligibility requirements laid
down by the EPSRC, which normally means that the student must be a UK resident. All students
must have a good honours degree (2.1 or above) in a physical sciences subject with the normal
requirement being an MSci (or equivalent).
Supervisor Eligibility
The aim of this scheme is to further stimulate new interactions within the area of Chemical Biology
in college. Therefore each application should include at least one lead supervisor who has never
been awarded an ICB-DTC funded studentship. All other supervisors on the proposal must not
have more than two current (i.e. active in October 2012) ICB-DTC funded studentships.
At least two supervisors must hold an academic position at Imperial College that is tenured over
the complete period of the studentship (this does not mean that an IC supervisor who does not
hold a position for the full four year period cannot apply). However, in such circumstances a third
supervisor (from Imperial College) would have to be added who could continue the student
supervision if the original supervisors’ tenure was not extended); they should fulfil the usual
College criteria for eligibility to act as a PhD supervisor.
Project requirements

It is fundamental to the grant award that the project must be inherently multidisciplinary
and must include at least two supervisors. The supervisors should provide the different
skill sets, and the most usual division will be to have one “medical/biological” and one
“physical” supervisor1. The supervisors must be from different labs (however two
supervisors from the same lab may apply if a third supervisor is involved with the project).
It is expected that the student will typically undertake work in each research environment
for some part of the study, including the MRes project.
 Only four formal supervisors are allowed under College rules.
 Proposals will typically identify a clinical/biological problem for study and a technology
improvement to address the problem with. The application must demonstrate
innovation in the physical sciences. Technologies can be experimental or theoretical. The
proposal must be in the area of protein-protein (or protein-lipid) interactions.
 All ICB students are registered in the Department of Chemistry. The 4 year programme
comprise of a 1-year MRes followed by a 3-year PhD. Both the MRes and PhD projects are
undertaken with the same set of supervisors; it is therefore necessary to allocate the
research work so that a self-contained MRes project can be carried out during the initial
year. This part of the project should also be multidisciplinary in nature. It is not normally
possible for a student to omit the MRes year.
Application Process
The awards will be made on the basis of written applications to the ICB, who will be responsible
for deciding which applications should be supported.
In keeping with the remit of the DTC studentship proposals must be in the area of “Molecular
studies of protein-protein or protein-lipid interactions”.
As with all ICB-DTC calls, applications must demonstrate innovation in the physical sciences.
1
These definitions are not meant to be restrictive, nor are they necessarily defined by departmental affiliations. What
is important is exposure of the student to multiple disciplines, wherever these are located.
Please clearly state the synergies expected with specific current ICB projects (please see ‘List of
Current ICB DTC Projects’ on the ICB website), indicating the expected nature of the interactions
with specific existing projects.
When filling in the application form it is important to demonstrate that your proposed project
meets all the criteria listed. Proposals should clearly outline the innovative aspect of the research
counterbalanced by its achievability in terms of time and funds. Please specify your research
infrastructure, including the access to resources already in place and any additional needs.
We actively encourage participants to discuss potential projects with members of the ICB if they
are unsure of the procedure or the remit.
Applications to the ICB should be made using the separate application forms provided. Please
complete your application by entering your text directly into this word document. Please restrict
your application to the three pages, and do not use a font less than 10 pt. Note that we cannot
consider applications longer than 3 pages. We request that you send the completed application
form as an electronic copy (in word document format) by email to Dr Erika Rosivatz
([email protected]) by Friday 2nd of March 2012.
Relevant Dates

Friday 17th of February 2012, 2-3 pm: Show and Tell The Seminar & Learning Centre
(SALC) Room 8, Level 5, Sherfield Building, Imperial College London, South Kensington
Campus)
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Friday 2nd of March 2012: Submission deadline for proposals
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Friday 9th of March 2012: Allocation of funding and announcement of awards soon
thereafter.
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Eligible students will be interviewed by the ICB-DTC Board and the project supervisors on
ICB-DTC recruitment days (dates to be announced).