PhD

We provide a supportive training environment for postgraduate research. Our strengths fall within the approaches we use to underpin research in biological function, development, and disease processes.

Expertise in WIBR

Neuroscience: neural computation, neural signalling, neural plasticity, neurochemistry, neurodegeneration
Molecular neurobiology and nociception
Developmental neuroscience
Stem cell biology
Biological and medicinal chemistry
Molecular and cellular biology of pain

See our research hub for details of current projects and our Principal Investigators.

Research environment

There are usually 20-30 postgraduate students at the WIBR working towards a PhD, MD(Res) or MBPhD award. During their time with us, students are expected to:

attend and contribute to research seminars
use the skills and training courses provided
get involved with the postgraduate student society run with the UCL Cancer Institute.

WIBR postgraduate students have a full-time postgraduate tutor for mentoring and pastoral care. You will meet every month to discuss student-related issues, hold informal student research seminars, and listen to speakers invited by the students. Students provide feedback to staff via the graduate tutor or through our staff-student consultative committee.

Structure

Most PhD places at UCL are now four-year programmes. There is a taught element in the first year, plus three 3-month "rotation projects" in different labs. You then decide on a lab and project for the final three years. You should apply to these programmes directly, naming one or two preferred supervisors who are participants in the programme.

Programmes sponsored by traditional studentships (e.g. medical charities) tend not to include a specific taught element (other than the taught credits required of all PhD students at UCL) and they do not involve lab rotations.