Teaching
In year 1, a structured training programme will include training projects, specialist courses and symposia. Alongside core research skills training and specialist training courses, students will participate in tutorials focused on experimental design, scientific writing and grant preparation, laying the foundation for their main PhD project.
Also in year 1, all students will undertake two 12-week training projects in different disciplines. These projects will build skills beyond the student's primary field and provide early exposure to diverse research environments and technologies. The two training projects will also enable students to decide what approaches and areas of research interests them and subsequently which supervisor/group they want to undertake their PhD research with. The student and chosen supervisor will then work together to develop and refine their doctoral project, with submission of this proposal to the British Hearth Foundation in late summer.
Year 1 training and rotations take place in Cambridge. Partnership with the Milner Therapeutics Institute enables interaction with 9 pharmaceutical companies across the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, via away days, shadowing and mentorship.
In years 2-3, students will undertake their specific three-year PhD project, with research ideally co-supervised by researchers from different disciplines and/or across institutes. Students will continue to engage with the broader programme through seminars and workshops to develop other research and professional skills, along with other cohort activities. Students will be encouraged to present their research at conferences and publish in peer-reviewed journals.
The rich training environment of Cambridge, underpinned by an existing BHF Centre of Research Excellence, will enable successful students to receive high-quality scientific mentorship, transferable skills training, and exposure to cutting-edge cardiovascular research with real-world translational impact.
| One to one supervision |
The primary supervisor should engage with students in a 1-2-1 meeting for a minimum of 1 hour bi-weekly, and typically also meet as a group for lab meetings. The University of Cambridge publishes an annual Code of Practice which sets out the University’s expectations regarding supervision. |
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| Taught/Research Balance |
Entirely Research
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Placements
Students will have the option to undertake optional short-term training visits with our academic partner The University of Oxford, research institutes (e.g. Milner Institute), or future industry collaborators (e.g. AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk). These visits would be taken during Year 1 for short training visits (1-2 days for e.g. seminars or workshops), or Years 2–4 of the PhD and could be short term (e.g. 1-2 weeks) to learn a technique, or longer in duration (e.g. 3–6 months; with leave to work away agreement) to be embedded in a partner laboratory (e.g. to use a specialist piece of equipment and/or utilise a technique that is unique to the lab), where necessary and justified. The purpose of these visits is to broaden training, provide exposure to different scientific environments and techniques, and strengthen cross-institutional collaboration.
Feedback
Students should expect to receive ongoing feedback from all supervisors involved in their research project. In addition, the principal supervisor will write termly online progress reports which can be accessed by the student.
The University of Cambridge publishes an annual Code of Practice which sets out the University’s expectations regarding supervision.
Assessment
Thesis / Dissertation
The PhD is examined by submission of a thesis of no more than 60,000 words on the research conducted, followed by an oral examination with two examiners. The thesis will have to comply with the rules and regulations set out by the Degree Committee in which the student is registered for their PhD.
Other
All students are probationary in the first 18 months of their PhD and are required to undergo formal assessment (by written report and oral assessment), which they must pass. If successful, the student moves from being "probationary" to being registered for the PhD and can proceed with their project.