The University of Oxford Doctoral Training Centre

The Doctoral Training Centre houses six programmes of study. Other programmes may be found here.

Systems Biology

The research focus of the Systems Biology DTC is in developing a systems approach to "bridging the gap" between theoretical and experimental knowledge from the level of the individual protein to the level of the whole cell/organism.

View details »

Systems Approaches to Biomedical Science

The EPSRC and MRC SABS-CDT aims to create the next generation of research leaders in drug discovery particularly in the areas of computational and structural therapy discovery, data-driven drug discovery and physiological modelling.

View details »

Synthetic Biology

The EPSRC & BBSRC Synthetic Biology Centre for Doctoral Training (SynBioCDT) provides a 4-year doctoral programme that offers training in the new field of Synthetic Biology, the "Engineering of Biology". This centre is a collaboration between the Universities of Oxford, Bristol and Warwick.

View details »

Interdisciplinary Bioscience DTP

The Interdisciplinary Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership aims to equip a new generation of bioscience researchers with the skills and knowledge needed to tackle the most important challenges in bioscience research.

View details »

Synthesis for Biology & Medicine

The SBM CDT aims to train next-generation doctoral scientists in the practice of chemical synthesis coupled with an in-depth appreciation of its application to biology and medicine.

View details »

Biomedical Imaging

The Oxford-Nottingham Biomedical Imaging (ONBI) Centre for Doctoral Training, co-sponsored by EPSRC and MRC, aims to train the next generation leaders in the science of biomedical imaging, and offers a uniquely broad training in all imaging methods and scales.

View details »

The centres above are housed in the Rex Richards building at the University of Oxford. You can compare these programmes by pressing the button below.


Organisations	University of Oxford	University of Oxford	University of Oxford, Oxford Brookes University, The Pirbright Institute, Diamond Light Source, ISIS, STFC Central Laser Facility, The Research Complex at Harwell	University of Oxford	University of Oxford, University of Warwick, University of Bristol	University of Oxford, University of Nottingham
Research Councils
Academic Background	For graduates from physical and life sciences who wish to conduct research in the field of systems biology	For graduates from physical and life sciences who wish to undertake research careers at the industrial interface	For graduates from life and physical sciences who wish to undertake research in fundamental and applied bioscience	For graduates from chemistry who wish to undertake synthetic chemistry research	For graduates from engineering, physical, life and medical sciences who wish to conduct research in the field of Synthetic Biology	For graduates from primarily a mathematical or physical sciences backgrounds who wish to conduct imaging research in the clinical and life sciences
Focus	Developing new mathematical, statistical and computational tools and approaches for modelling biological systems	Developing and applying mathematical, statistical, computational and experimental approaches for drug discovery	Bioscience and the application of interdisciplinary approaches in the biosciences	Synthetic chemistry coupled with an in-depth appreciation of its application to biology and medicine	Engineering of Biology: how to design new or redesign existing biological parts, devices and systems for a desired behaviour and functionality	Developing new image acquisition, technological or image analysis techniques and apply them to biological or clinical applications
Course Description	Four year D.Phil. 12 months based at the DTC doing taught courses and two 10 week rotation projects. No need to identify research area for D.Phil. in advance.	Four year D.Phil. 12 months based at the DTC doing taught courses and two 10 week rotation projects. No need to identify research area for D.Phil. in advance. All projects involve an academic partner and an industrial partner.	Four year D.Phil. 9 months based at the DTC doing taught courses and two 12 week rotation projects. No need to identify research area for D.Phil. in advance. 12 week Professional Internship in years 2-4	Four year D.Phil. 12 months based at the DTC doing taught courses followed by two 15 week rotation projects. No need to identify research area for D.Phil. in advance.	Four year D.Phil. (Oxford) or Ph.D. (Warwick and Bristol). 12 months based at the DTC doing taught courses and two 10-week rotation projects (at least one in Bristol or Warwick for Bristol or Warwick students). No need to identify research area for D.Phil./Ph.D. in advance.	Four year D.Phil. (Oxford) or Ph.D. (Nottingham). 12 months based at the DTC doing taught courses and two 10-week rotation projects (at least one in Nottingham for Nottingham-registered students). No need to identify research area for D.Phil./Ph.D. in advance.
Core research areas	Systems Biology Detailed pathway modelling Larger scale network modelling Cellular modelling Physiome modelling	Industrial Life Sciences Networks for prediction Target identification and validation Molecular drug design Handling uncertainty in biological models Multi-scale modelling of biological systems Novel therapeutics Data analysis	Fundamental and Applied Bioscience Integrative Animal and Plant Biology Mechanistic Molecular and Cellular Bioscience Bioscience for Food, Industry and Energy Exploiting New Ways of Working	Synthetic Chemistry. Synthesis in 6 Project Fields: New Synthetic Methods 3D Templates for “Lead-Like” Compounds Functional Probes for Epigenetics Next Generation Anti-Infectives Natural Product Chemistry Tools for Neuroscience	Synthetic Biology Synthetic Circuit Design Evolution and Synthetic Biology Synthetic Biology across scales Biomimetic Construction Systems and Control theory for Synthetic Biology Synthetic Communities	Biomedical Imaging Cellular imaging and medical imaging applications Imaging technology Novel image acquisition and reconstruction Post-acquisition image analysis Contrast agents and imaging probes
Closely associated departments at the University of Oxford	Biochemistry Chemistry Computing Laboratory Mathematics Plant Sciences Zoology	All biomedical and science departments across the university	Biochemistry Plant Sciences Zoology Chemistry Dunn School of Pathology Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics	Chemistry Structural Genomics Consortium	All biomedical and science departments across the university	Computer Science Engineering Science Chemistry Biochemistry Clinical Neurosciences Oncology Physiology and Anatomy Radcliffe Dept of Medicine And from Nottingham: Sir Peter Mansfield MRI Research Centre, Medicine and Health Sciences, Maths
Links with industry	Industrial advisory board. Projects involving industrial partners are supported	All short projects and D.Phil. projects include an industrial partner	Industrial advisory board. Projects involving industrial partners are supported	All short projects and D.Phil. projects include an industrial partner or mentor	Industrial advisory board. Projects involving industrial partners are supported	Industrial advisory board. Projects involving industrial partners are supported
Core Modules (Oct-Dec)	Cells, Signals and Systems or Essential Mathematics and Statistics Introduction to Programming Scientific Computing using Matlab Introduction to Systems and Synthetic Biology Introduction to Experimental Bioscience or Introduction to Organic Chemistry	Cells, Signals and Systems or Essential Mathematics and Statistics Introduction to Programming Scientific Computing using Matlab Drug Discovery Introduction to Experimental Bioscience or Introduction to Organic Chemistry Anatomy and Physiology Medicinal Chemistry	Essential Mathematics and Statistics or Cells, Signals and Systems Introduction to Programming Scientific Computing Using Matlab Advanced Experimental Techniques Microscopy and Imaging Techniques Introduction to Systems and Synthetic Biology Image Analysis Data Management and Curation	Stereocontrol Pharma Disconnections Modern Heterocyclic Chemistry Radicals, Radical Cations and Radical Anions Cells, Signals and Systems Drug Discovery Modern Carbanion Chemistry Metal Catalysis Modern Total Synthesis DFT and Mechanism Case Studies in Physical Organic Chemistry Fluorine Epigenetics Anti-infectives	Cells, Signals and Systems or Essential Mathematics and Statistics Introduction to Programming Introduction to Experimental Bioscience Scientific Computing using Matlab Introduction to Systems and Synthetic Biology Introduction to Experimental Bioscience or Image Analysis and Data Management and Curation	Cells, Signals and Systems or Essential Mathematics and Statistics Introduction to Light Microscopy Introduction to Medical Imaging Modalities Introduction to Image Analysis Scientific Computing Using Matlab Introduction to Programming
Advanced Modules (Jan-Mar)	Statistics Structural Biology Anatomy and Physiology Systems Medicine Mathematical Modelling Structural and Systems Biology Techniques Further optional courses in years 2-4	Statistics Structural Biology Anatomy and Physiology Biomedical Imaging – Design and Imaging High Performance Computing Structural and Systems Biology Techniques Further optional courses including Entrepreneurship and Project Management in years 2-4	DTP students can opt to attend additional courses from those offered within the DTC, via the MPLS Graduate Academic Programme and Medical Science Division Skills Training Programe, or by partner organisations (e.g. Synchrotron and Neutron School (Diamond Light Source and ISIS)) DTP students have access to ongoing practice-led training in interdisciplinary skills and inter-DTP training in specialist subjects.	Biomedical Imaging – Design and Imaging Structural Biology Advanced NMR X-ray Crystallography Study Design & Clinical Trials Chemistry Entrepeneurship	Synthetic Circuit Design Evolution and Synthetic Biology Synthetic Biology Across Scales Systems and Control Theory for Synthetic Biology Biomimetic Construction Synthetic Communities Advanced Methods in Synthetic Biology Wetlab project Ethical, Legal and Societal Aspects of Synthetic Biology	Advanced Light Microscopy Advanced Medical Imaging Modalities Advanced Image Analysis High Performance Computing Contrast Agents and Imaging Probes Anatomy and Physiology Study Design, Research Governance and Clinical Trials Mathematical Modelling for Imaging
Research skills training	Training in core research skills, including scientific writing, project management and communication. Teaching experience and training.	Training in core research skills, including scientific writing, project management, and communication. Teaching experience and training. Additional training in skills relevant to research in industry and at the industrial interface.	Training in core research skills, including scientific writing, project management and communication. Teaching experience and training. Entrepreneurship and public engagement training and experience.	Training in core research skills, including scientific writing, project management and communication. Teaching experience and training.	Training in core research skills, including scientific writing, project management and communication. Teaching experience and training. Public engagement training and experience.	Training in core research skills, including scientific writing, project management and communication. Teaching experience and training.