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Biosciences MPhil, PhD, MD

Within our MPhil, MD and PhD Biosciences, you'll use traditional bioscience disciplines to investigate steps from genotype to phenotype.

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Start date(s):

  • September 2024
  • January 2025
  • April 2025

Overview

We offer MPhil, PhD and MD supervision in our main research areas. Our research also incorporates chemistry, biophysics and eukaryotic-microbial model.

You'll join a vibrant research community of about 100 postgraduate research students. You'll work in one of our established research groups. This will be alongside postdoctoral researchers, senior students and staff. We will encourage you to present your work in the Institute and at scientific meetings.

Our staff successfully attracts postgraduate funding from diverse sources. These include:

  • UK Research Councils, including a BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership
  • Industrial CASE awards
  • charities
  • UK and international government initiatives

 

 

Research themes

Our research has four themes, each linked to a research group

Bacterial Cell Biology group

The Bacterial Cell Biology Group focuses on the fundamental aspects of:

  • cell biology
  • biochemistry
  • pathogenicity of eubacteria.

Together with colleagues from Computing Sciences, they form the Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology (CBCB). The CBCB is the world’s largest research centre. They focus on the molecular and cellular biology of bacterial cells and bacterial cell wall biosynthesis. They use a range of biochemical, genetic and microscopic approaches. With this, researchers reveal fundamental cell mechanisms. These include:

  • bacterial cell wall biosynthesis
  • cell division including plasmid and chromosome segregation
  • cellular response to phage infection
  • genetic competence
  • the action of toxin–antitoxin genes and mRNA cleaving enzymes
  • secretion chaperones involved in the regulation of flagellar assembly
  • microbial protein secretion
  • responses to environmental stress
  • gene expression and regulatory networks
  • determination and control of cell shape

Epithelial Biology group

The Epithelial Biology Group focuses on universal organising principles. This includes the processes governing the specialised roles of epithelial cells in:

  • epithelial transport
  • nutrition
  • microbial-interactions
  • health and disease

Proteins: Structure, Function and Evolution group

The Proteins: Structure, Function and Evolution Group has the common goal of seeking to understand the nature of protein:protein and protein:ligand. This includes structure/function relationships at the molecular level. In particular, members focus on:

  • macromolecular X-ray crystallography
  • structures of proteins crucial to bacterial cell division
  • metals in cells
  • protein-carbohydrate interactions in macromolecular and cellular recognition
  • molecular and cellular evolution of eukaryotic cells. This includes their genomes and organellesmembrane protein structure:function relationships
  • archaeal DNA polymerases

Sensing, Signalling and Expression group

The Sensing, Signalling and Expression Group works with how DNA replicates and expresses. They explore how this expression alters by sensing change. This can be in the environment or within the eukaryotic cell. Research in this area explains the molecular signalling pathways. They regulate membrane, cytoplasmic and nuclear events in eukaryotic cells. This is including signalling specific to:

  • cellular ageing
  • cell division and differentiation
  • cell cycle control
  • calcium homeostasis
  • environmental sensing
  • infection and immunity
  • organelle function

Current research interests, projects and publications are available from our staff profiles.

Find out more about postgraduate research study in the Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences.

READ MORE

Important information

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Qualifications explained

Find out about the different qualification options for this course.

How you'll learn

Your development

Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS) researcher development programme 

Each faculty offers a researcher development programme for its postgraduate research students. We have designed your programme to help you:

  • perform better as a researcher
  • boost your career prospects
  • broaden your impact
  • Through workshops and activities, it will build your transferable skills and increase your confidence.

You’ll cover:

  • techniques for effective research
  • methods for better collaborative working
  • essential professional standards and requirements
  • Your programme is flexible. You can adapt it to meet your changing needs as you progress through your doctorate.

Find out more about the FMS researcher development programme

Doctoral training and partnerships

There are opportunities to undertake your PhD at Newcastle within a:

  • Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT)
  • Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)

Being part of a CDT or DTP has many benefits:

  • they combine research expertise and training of a number of leading universities, academic schools and academics.
  • you’ll study alongside a cohort of other PhD students
  • they’re often interdisciplinary
  • your PhD may be funded

Find out more about doctoral training and partnerships

If there are currently opportunities available in your subject area you’ll find them when you search for funding in the fees and funding section on this course.

The following centres/partnerships below may have PhD opportunities available in your subject area in the future:

Your future

Our Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

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Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Facilities

Our facilities include:

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2024 entry (per year)

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

  • matriculation
  • registration
  • tuition (or supervision)
  • library access
  • examination
  • re-examination
  • graduation

Find out more about:

Search for funding

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Entry requirements

The entrance requirements below apply to 2024 entry.

Qualifications from outside the UK

English Language requirements

Admissions policy

This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.

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Other policies related to admissions

Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course

How to apply


Using the application portal

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  • on-campus open days
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  • webinars

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Get in touch

Questions about this course?

If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:

Medical Sciences Graduate School
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 7002
Email: fmsgradschool@ncl.ac.uk

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