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King's College London

Key information

Award:
MPhil/PhD
Study mode:
Full time
Duration:
3.5 years

The Mechanics of Life doctoral scholarship programme is a multi-disciplinary doctoral training scheme funded by the Leverhulme Trust. This programme aims to train future research leaders to tackle key outstanding questions in biology from a distinctly mechanical perspective. It will train interdisciplinary scientists to develop new techniques, methodologies and analytical tools required to resolve outstanding challenges underpinning Mechanobiology across a broad range of biological themes. The course is unique to the UK and Europe it will build on current research and is complemented by the establishment of a wider international partnership.

Who is it for?

This doctoral scholarship programme is for physical and biological scientists - physicists, chemists, mathematicians, engineers, biophysicists, microbiologists, biochemists and related disciplines - have an interest in unlocking the complexity and challenges of mechanobiology.

Students will be supported by two project co-supervisors. When possible one will be a physical scientist and the other a life scientist who are both fully committed to an interdisciplinary training approach.

Read more about the Mechanics of Life Leverhulme doctoral scholarship programme

Management team

Professor Sergi Garcia-Manyes, Director

Doctor Katelyn Spillane, Co-Director

Professor Juan Martin-Serrano

Professor Jody Rosenblatt

Professor Malcolm Irving

Contact email address: Mechanicsoflife@kcl.ac.uk

Faculties

  • Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences
  • Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine
  • Faculty of Dentistry Oral & Craniofacial Sciences

Schools

  • School of Cardiovascular Medicine & Sciences
  • School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences

Departments

  • Department of Physics
  • Department of Chemistry
  • Department of Infectious Diseases
  • Centre for Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine
  • Randall Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biophysics
  • Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology

Course intake

7 per year

Studentship Award and Eligibility

All studentships are funded awards for 3.5 years and include tuition fees, stipend, and a research and training support grant (RTSG).

Tuition fees: Tuition fees will be fully covered by the Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarship Programme at the UK Tuition Fee rate for the duration of the funded period. In exceptional cases International Tuition Fees may be covered by a fee waiver.

Stipend: Students will receive a tax-free stipend at UKRI rates. For 2022/23, the stipend will be £19,668 per annum.

RTSG: A generous allowance will be provided for research-related costs, including consumables, attendance at UK and international conferences, and training.

Eligibility: Both UK and overseas students are eligible to apply. Studentships for international students will be limited in number and competitive, and we encourage strong international candidates to apply.

Postgraduate training

The training included on the programme will include:

  • Force Talks seminar Series - monthly research colloquia presented by outstanding external scientists. Speakers will target their talks to the level and scientific background of PhD students and aim to give ‘big picture’ insight into their research field and how it fits within the broader context of mechanobiology.
  • Masterclasses delivered by the supervisory team, focusing on specific techniques and their applicability to research questions relevant to mechanobiology. These seminars will provide breadth to student education in mechanobiology that complements the focused, in-depth project-based research.
  • Tailored workshops in research integrity and ethics and entrepreneurship, complemented by bespoke resources.
  • King’s central resources, encompassing transferrable skills training,
  • When possible, students will be encouraged to undertake a placement of up to 3 months.
  • Annual Symposium. This two-day annual event will include scientific sessions that cover the breadth of interdisciplinary research fields included in the doctoral Programme and will feature first class national and international speakers who are invited by the students. Students will showcase their work with posters.

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Studentship Award and Eligibility

All studentships are funded awards for 3.5 years and include tuition fees, stipend, and a research and training support grant (RTSG).

Tuition fees: Tuition fees will be fully covered by the Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarship Programme at the UK Tuition Fee rate for the duration of the funded period. In exceptional cases International Tuition Fees may be covered by a fee waiver.

Stipend: Students will receive a tax-free stipend at UKRI rates. For 2022/23, the stipend will be £19,668 per annum.

RTSG: A generous allowance will be provided for research-related costs, including consumables, attendance at UK and international conferences, and training.

Eligibility: Both UK and overseas students are eligible to apply. Studentships for international students will be limited in number and competitive, and we encourage strong international candidates to apply.

Postgraduate training

The training included on the programme will include:

  • Force Talks seminar Series - monthly research colloquia presented by outstanding external scientists. Speakers will target their talks to the level and scientific background of PhD students and aim to give ‘big picture’ insight into their research field and how it fits within the broader context of mechanobiology.
  • Masterclasses delivered by the supervisory team, focusing on specific techniques and their applicability to research questions relevant to mechanobiology. These seminars will provide breadth to student education in mechanobiology that complements the focused, in-depth project-based research.
  • Tailored workshops in research integrity and ethics and entrepreneurship, complemented by bespoke resources.
  • King’s central resources, encompassing transferrable skills training,
  • When possible, students will be encouraged to undertake a placement of up to 3 months.
  • Annual Symposium. This two-day annual event will include scientific sessions that cover the breadth of interdisciplinary research fields included in the doctoral Programme and will feature first class national and international speakers who are invited by the students. Students will showcase their work with posters.
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Key information

Award:
MPhil/PhD
Study mode:
Full time
Duration:
3.5 years