The aims of the MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit are to study the biology of the mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cell. There is a growing realisation that the dysfunction of various aspects of mitochondrial biology is connected to major neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, and that as the major source of reactive oxygen species, the mitochondrion is likely also to be involved in ageing. Therefore, the Unit is developing its interests in the cell biology of mitochondria and is linking its activities to clinical science. For students wishing to continue on to the PhD, the MPhil provides a good foundation for future research studies.

The MPhil in Medical Science (MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit) aims to:

• give students with relevant experience at a first-degree level the opportunity to carry out focused research in the discipline under close supervision; and
• give students the opportunity to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests.

Research at the Medical Research Council - Mitochondrial Biology Unit (MBU) at the University of Cambridge aims to understand the fundamental biochemical and biological processes taking place in mitochondria, and the roles and integration of mitochondria within the cell. We aim to learn about the involvement of mitochondria and mitochondrial dysfunction in human diseases and to exploit our understanding and knowledge to develop new therapies to treat them.

The MBU takes on talented students from around the world and our PhD in Medical Science degree is awarded by the University of Cambridge Degree Committee for Clinical Medicine.

The primary aim is for our postgraduate students to develop the skills required to submit an excellent PhD thesis in either three or four years (five to seven years if part-time), depending upon the duration of their funding.

To that end, our students design and conduct robust and high-quality experiments and then analyse the results. Alternatively, students may apply sophisticated analyses to existing ‘big data’ sets from large cohort studies. In both cases, an important aim is for our students to learn to communicate their findings in writing and orally to academic or lay audiences. We also aim for our students to be fluent and practised in open science principles and methodologies.

While there is no 'standard' route or model, our experience is that an excellent PhD results from asking a good question and the expertise of our supervisors in combination with the dedicated enthusiasm of our doctoral students.

The primary aim is for our students to develop the skills required to submit an excellent MPhil thesis.

To that end, our students design and conduct robust and high quality experiments and then analyse the results of these experiments. Alternatively, students may apply sophisticated analyses to existing ‘big data’ sets from large cohort studies. In both cases, an important aim is for our students to learn to communicate their findings both in writing and orally to academic or lay audiences. We also aim for our students to be fluent and practiced in open science principles and methodologies.

While there is no "standard" route or model, our experience is that an excellent MPhil results from asking a good question and the expertise of our supervisors in combination with the dedicated enthusiasm of our students.

Studies are carried out by science graduates, medical students combining clinical training and clinically qualified doctors undertaking scientific training. The research covers the whole spectrum of medical science from basic biology to clinical therapies. Along with the specific research training provided in the laboratory in which you work, you receive further training within the department in the form of graduate workshops concentrating on research techniques, research seminars both on the Addenbrooke's site and elsewhere in the University, and graduate student seminars dealing with generic skills such as intellectual property rights, writing a thesis or paper, and entrepreneurship.

The course introduces students to research skills and specialist knowledge. Its main aims are:

• to give students with relevant experience at a first-degree level the opportunity to carry out focused research in the discipline under close supervision; and
• to give students the opportunity to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests.

The Department of Haematology is located on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. Research in the department falls into three main areas with major relevance for human disease: The Haematopoiesis and Blood Cancer Group, the Structural Medicine and Thrombosis Group, and the Transfusion Medicine Group.

The haematology research groups belonging to the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute moved into a brand new purpose-built facility on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus in 2019. The remaining Haematology groups are based across the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, the NHS Cambridge Blood Centre and the Sanger Institute.

The department offers this Masters (MPhil) programme of research to students under individual supervision of a Principal Investigator based in the Department of Haematology. During their MPhil, students are based in a research group, supported by their Principal Supervisor and associated laboratory staff, as well as the Department Postgraduate Education Committee and Postgraduate Student Committee.

There is no taught / examined course work, but students are encouraged to attend all seminars and events run within the Department, in the Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centra, and elsewhere on the Biomedical Campus.

MPhil students write a thesis, which is examined via an oral examination (viva).

We welcome applications from postgraduates wanting to work towards a Masters (MPhil) degree, in any of the labs belonging to the Department of Haematology. Successful applicants must meet the University's minimum academic admissions criteria, and applicants are required to contact potential supervisors before submitting an application, to discuss their application and funding options. A list of Haematology Principal Investigators can be found on the Department of Haematology website.

The MPhil course introduces students to research skills and specialist knowledge. Its main educational aims are:

to give students with relevant experience at a first-degree level the opportunity to carry out focused research in the discipline under close supervision; and

to give students the opportunity to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests.

The MPhil in Medical Science (Genomic Medicine) consists of supervised laboratory-based research examined by thesis and an oral examination. We offer our MPhil degree full-time over 12 months or part-time over 24 months. This is not a taught course - the MRes in Genomic Medicine is a possible alternative as it offers both research and taught elements.

Applicants are typically science postgraduates or clinically qualified doctors undertaking scientific training. Research is predominantly in the areas of cancer genetics, computational medicine and the genetics of rare disease and developmental disorders. The aim is to understand the cell biology of disease mechanisms using a wide range of disciplines including biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, cell biology, bioinformatics and biostatistics. Specific research training relevant to your own project is provided in the laboratory in which you work. Further training is provided within the Addenbrooke's campus and elsewhere in the University, and includes postgraduate workshops on research techniques, research seminars, and postgraduate student education seminars on generic subjects such as intellectual property rights, statistics, bioinformatics, communication skills, writing a thesis or paper and entrepreneurship.

The course's main aims are:

• to give students with relevant experience at first-degree level the opportunity to carry out focused research in the discipline under close supervision; and
• to give students the opportunity to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests.

The decision to undertake a PhD at Cambridge is a life-changing one. It demonstrates a motivation to tackle the most difficult scientific problems. Pursuing a Cambridge PhD at the CRUK Cambridge Institute implies an additional commitment to addressing fundamental problems in cancer biology that will ultimately impact on the lives of patients. While we expect a very strong commitment from you, you should also expect from us a commitment to foster your development as an independent scientist.

We endeavour not just to train students to be good scientists, but to equip them with additional skills that will enhance a career in academia or provide opportunities to apply their training in other areas. Postgraduate students have the opportunity to attend numerous courses run by the Institute, the University and the School of Clinical Medicine.

We expect our students to take ownership of their project, driving it forward with assistance from other members of the Institute, which encourages each student to develop the skills they need to become a successful independent researcher. Within four years of commencing study, students are supported to submit their thesis, and to prepare their research findings for publication in scientific journals.

The CRUK CI MPhil is a 12-month course, during which time the student is expected to complete a research project, and write and submit a thesis of no more than 20,000 words. The student will then be examined orally on the thesis and on the wider field of related research.

Each student is supported by a Principal Supervisor who is normally a Group Leader, or a senior CRUK CI academic leading on a specific project. In addition, each student will receive day-to-day supervision by a qualified postdoctoral researcher.

All students are encouraged to attend lectures of interest both in the Institute and in the wider University. They are also expected to participate in journal clubs and lab meetings, and to take advantage of the numerous and varied opportunities including transferable skills training offered by both the Institute and the University.

The MPhil course will train students in research skills and specialist knowledge with the aim of:

• Giving students with relevant experience at first degree level the opportunity to carry out focused research in the discipline under close supervision;
• Providing students with the opportunity to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests.

Please ensure you check the Department of Clinical Neurosciences website for up-to-date information on projects and funding.

Postgraduate training is very different from undergraduate courses. It is based on individual needs and abilities, and is designed to help you to think clearly, originally and practically, and to prepare you for leadership in science. We teach our postgraduate students how to plan and carry out cutting-edge research. Cambridge is an amazing place to learn how to do research. Visiting speakers and collaborators come from all over the world, and there are simply too many seminars for one person to attend! We have a careful system of monitoring the individual progress of each student; everyone has both a principal supervisor and associated adviser, and there are weekly student-led seminars.

Research training within the Department has several essential components, the first and foremost being the research project itself, with which you will make a significant scientific contribution. This will give you experience and training in a variety of experimental and/or clinical research techniques, but will also teach you how to organise research, plan experiments, and read and digest the scientific literature relevant to your research work. Most research groups have weekly or fortnightly meetings in which all members discuss each other's work.

However, other skills are also important. You will be required to attend seminars and round-tables, and you will have the opportunity to go to scientific meetings both in the UK and abroad. These bring you into direct contact with prominent and active scientists in your field from around the world.

You will also give scientific talks yourself. Audiences for such talks are often quite large, and the discussion of your paper is often very lively. You will also be expected to attend courses, that either directly relate to your research (for example, they might teach you a specific skill or expand your theoretical knowledge) or teach you general skills that are important for a well-qualified scientist to know (for example, how to write a scientific paper, use databases, or interact with the media). There are a large number of these courses, many of them run by the Postgraduate School of Life Sciences. The Department also has its own series of seminars.

We expect our postgraduate students to publish in high-quality journals, and nearly all of them do so.