UNIVERSITY OF KENT
New Research Programmes of Study
1
Proposals for new programmes should contain:
1.1
Award and Title
PhD, MSc and MPhil in Computational Biology
1.2
Length and Mode of Registration
Master of Science by Research and Thesis
Full -Time (one year)
Part-Time (two years)
Doctor of Philosophy
Full-Time (three to four years)
Part-Time (five to six years)
Master of Philosophy
Full-Time (two years)
Part-Time (three years)
1.3
Entry Requirements
PhD, MPhil: First or Upper second Honours degree or Masters degree in a relevant
subject area or equivalent.
MSc: First or Second Class degree in a relevant subject area or equivalent.
1.4
Campus
Canterbury
1.5
Anticipated Total Student Registrations
Target total FTE registrations at steady state will be 10 (PhD) and 3 (MSc) for this
programme. It is anticipated that total target FTE registrations (steady state) for all
research programmes offered by the school of Biosciences will remain at 70-90 (PhD)
and 10-15 (MSc).
Biosciences currently offer PhD/MPhil/MSc in Biochemistry, Microbiology, Genetics
and Cell Biology.
1.6
Programme Management
School responsible for management of the programme: Biosciences
The management of the programme will be overseen by the School Director of
Graduate Studies with responsibility for research programmes of study and the School
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Graduate Studies Committee. The management of the programme will also be
reviewed at Faculty and Institutional levels by the Faculty Graduate Studies Committee
and the Graduate School Board as outlined in the University’s Code of Practice for the
Quality Assurance for Research Programmes of Study.
This programme will be managed together with our existing research programmes.
Biosciences staff with managerial roles related to postgraduate programmes currently
include:
School Director of Graduate Studies:
Dr. Tobias von der Haar
School Director of Research Masters Programme: Dr Ian Blomfield
1.7
School Director of Taught Masters Programmes:
Dr Dan Lloyd
Departmental Administrator:
Dr Laureanne Tibbles
Postgraduate Administrator:
Lin Riches
Postgraduate Admissions officer:
Geraldine Travers
Proposed Start Date
2015
1.8
Opportunity and Need
Opportunity and need for this new degree arise through three recent developments: 1)
the appointment of new staff in Biosciences/ CMP with a focus on computational
biology, 2) an increase in postgraduate research projects in Biosciences that exploit
computational/mathematical expertise in other schools in the faculty and 3) disciplinary
changes in the life sciences:
1) The CMP has recently appointed a new lecturer in bioinformatics (Dr Mark Wass),
whose research interests are exclusively in computational biology. Dr Wass’s current
students choose from the existing research degrees, however, both students and
supervisor(s) feel that this is unsatisfactory and the title of the degrees awarded does
not reflect the actual research topics well.
2) The number of research projects jointly supervised between Biosciences and other
schools is growing, and most of these projects come under the computational biology
heading. Current examples include students jointly supervised between Biosciences
and Computing, and Biosciences and EDA. The new computational biology degree
would be more appropriate as a degree title for such projects than existing degrees.
3) Technical developments in the life sciences have led to the routine generation of
large data sets. Because of this, there is increasing scope for research projects that do
not themselves generate data but that re-analyse and integrate published datasets.
Typically, such projects would be covered well by a computational biology degree.
1.9
Aims and Objectives (including assessment criteria)
The aims and objectives for this degree relate to 1) generic training in research skills,
and 2) specific training in skills related to computational biology.
1) The generic aims overlap strongly with our existing research degrees, namely
a) to train every student in an environment in which there are opportunities to
develop both their research and personal skills as a foundation for a wide range
of science careers,
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b) to acquaint students with up-to-date knowledge in the molecular life sciences,
including knowledge of the relevant biological components, processes, and of
methods to advance knowledge,
c) to provide skills in scientific data analyses and study design,
d) to provide skills in enhancing the impact of the students’ research by
encouraging innovation and communication of the results of the work to a wide
public and awareness of the enterprise potential of their work.
e) to produce well-trained, highly-motivated and highly-qualified postgraduate
students who will meet the needs of the research and user communities in the
UK or their country of origin; have a full awareness of the importance of the
wide dissemination of their science; and have excellent career prospects either
within international science or elsewhere.
2) Aims specific to the computational biology programme include
a) To enable students to understand the language and methodology of modern
computational biosciences,
b) To understand the specific requirements, methodology and available tools for
handling large-scale datasets,
c) Where appropriate, to provide the computational skills required to customise
existing tools and develop new tools for the analysis of large scale datasets,
d) To gain an appreciation of how large-scale datasets and their computational
analyses interact with the experimental biosciences.
We aim to deliver these objectives within the framework of the guidelines published by
the Research Councils following on from the Robert’s Report 2002 on Postgraduate
Training. Our current practice is largely in line with the research council guidelines.
We will aim to exploit training mechanisms for the Computational Biology degree
(including courses in computational biology and bioinformatics) also for enhancing the
training of students on our other research degrees, many of whom would benefit from
more in-depth knowledge of computational methods.
This degree, like our existing research degrees, will be examined strictly in accordance
with the University’s assessment criteria for research programmes of study as outlined
in Section 8.4 of the Regulations for Research Programmes of Study.
1.10
Programme Outline
As for our other research degrees, the main component of the degree comprises of
research conducted by the student under close supervision by the supervisory team. In
this context, it is worth noting that the laboratory-based set-up of most biosciences
research inevitably leads to weekly or daily contact between students and supervisors,
and that supervision is therefore necessarily closer than in many other disciplines.
Although the situation is different for computer-based research, the close contact
between students and supervisors is sufficiently entrenched in the life sciences that it is
usually also maintained for non-lab based projects. This is facilitated by features such
as close physical proximity between supervisors’ and students’ offices. Supervision will
be documented via SDS-based forms for supervisory meetings and progression
reviews as per the requirements in Annex K of the code of practice. It is expected that,
similar to the lab-based research degrees, the largest part of the project-specific
training will be delivered through supervisor-student contacts.
We will use a number of mechanisms to address other training needs of students.
1. Induction week. Training in a number of skills will be delivered as part of the
induction week events. This includes library skills, skills in documenting research
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(lab notebooks), an introduction to the university’s progression monitoring system
and its requirements, basic health and safety training, and where relevant training
relating to GTA-specific requirements.
2. Moodle-based Graduate Training Resource. Skills delivered in the induction week
will be reinforced by our Graduate Training Resource, which serves as a look-up
resource for procedures, requirements, and contact points in case of specific
problems. The GTR also serves as a techniques forum in which students can
identify specific techniques routinely used in other labs in the school, and identify
proficient users who can give advice on or training in specific techniques.
3. External provision of training in specific tools and techniques. Due to the plethora of
tools and techniques available in computational biology, we will not be able to
provide all of the required training ourselves. However, a feature of the
Computational Biology community is that often tools come with excellent, tailormade training resources which can be remotely accessed. We will use these tools,
together with more generic remote training resources such as the NCBI YouTube
resources or the BBSRC SysMIC course, to provide appropriate training for the
students. Where required, funding is available through the research allocation
(currently £1000 pa for PhD and £800 pa for MSc). For lab-based students this is
provided to cover reagents expenses, for the computational biology students where
this is not relevant we will instead use this allocation to cover training and provide
the required computational resources.
4. We hold an annual Biotechnology and Public Affairs week which is compulsory for
all research students. This is intended to deliver current awareness in wider issues
surrounding the life sciences, including matters relating to impact, policy making,
and sciences communication.
5. Training in presentation skills is provided by giving students regular opportunities to
present their research. Specifically: 1) 1st year students give oral presentations on
their research to the newly incoming students during the induction week, 2) 2nd year
students present posters on their research to the School during our annual
postgraduate symposium in July each year, 3) 3rd year students give oral
presentations on their research to the School during the PG symposium, 4) all
students present regular updates on their research to the school through our
weekly FireBio seminar programme which combines presentation from students,
academic staff, and outside researchers (each student will present 1-2 talks per
year) 5) students present their research regularly to lab members in lab meetings,
which all research groups in the School organise individually.
6. Training in writing skills will be provided by requiring the preparation of specific
documents for the progression review meetings, which are then evaluated and
discussed during the review meeting itself.
7. Exposure to cutting-edge research in the life sciences will be delivered through our
weekly departmental seminar programme, for which we invite national and
international experts in their field to deliver 1-hours seminars. It is a requirement for
research students to attend at least 50% of these seminars throughout their period
of registration.
1.10a Details of the research training that the student will be expected to complete:
School level
Students will be expected to
1) Conduct research of a publishable standard as specified in the university’s
regulations for postgraduate study, on a project agreed in discussion with their
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supervisors. This element will be the main assessment criterion for judging the
success or failure of the research degree, as determined in the viva at the end of
the period of registration.
2) Deliver oral presentations at the end of their 1st and 3rd years and poster
presentations at the end of their 2nd year for the induction week and postgraduate
symposium
3) Deliver regular written reports on their work as basis for the progression review
meetings
4) Attend a minimum of 50% of all research seminars in the department
5) Attend the Biotechnology and Public Affairs week
Institutional level
All students are required to convene progression review meetings as specified on the
student data system.
(Where the programme specification is for a PhD or MPhil)
All new PhD students are required to undertake a researcher development
assessment, including at a researcher development assessment workshop (part of the
Graduate School’s Researcher Development Programme). The completion of the
assessment is a requirement for successful completion of the probation review.
(Where the programme specification is for a Masters by Research and Thesis)
New students are able to undertake a researcher development assessment, including
at a researcher development assessment workshop (part of the Graduate School’s
Researcher Development Programme). Completion of the assessment is not a
requirement, however, students are encouraged to participate.
1.10b Details of other courses students may benefit from:
School level
At school level, a number of existing courses can be used to supplement training of
computational biology research students. For students coming into this degree from a
computational background, training in molecular biology basics is available through our
taught Masters degrees in Cancer Biology, Reproductive Medicine, Biotechnology,
Structure Based Drug Design and Infectious Diseases. Particularly relevant is module
BI836 (Advanced Skills in Molecular Biology, level 7) which is common to all taught
degrees. For students coming in from a molecular biology background, BI638
(Bioinformatics and Genomics, level 6) will be an ideal entry point to acquaint students
with the basic computational tools.
Institutional level

Graduate School’s Researcher Development Programme (including online training
provision), www.kent.ac.uk/graduateschool/skills/programmes/tstindex.html

Student Learning Advisory Service provision,
http://www.kent.ac.uk/uelt/about/slas.html

Information Services (Library and Computing Services), www.kent.ac.uk/is/
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1.10c Details of progression milestones that the student will need to reach and successfully
pass:
Students will be subject to the progression milestones as outlined in Annex K
(Progression and Examination) of the Research Code of Practice,
http://www.kent.ac.uk/teaching/qa/codes/research/annexknew.html).
1.10d Details of the assessment method:
Like our other research degrees, the Computational Biology degrees will be assessed
by thesis and examination.
The length of research degree theses are outlined in the Instructions to Candidates for
the Examination of Research Degrees at:
http://www.kent.ac.uk/teaching/qa/regulations/research/pgdipresc.html.
1.11
Chairs of Supervisory Teams
The following members of the School currently hold approved supervisory chair status
for other research degrees and have published research relevant to this degree:
Baines, Dr Anthony
Blomfield, Dr Ian
Brown, Professor David
Geeves, Professor Mike
Griffin, Professor Darren
Gourlay, Dr Campbell
Howard, Dr Mark
Kad, Dr. Neil
Michaelis, Professor Martin
Mulvihill, Dr Dan
Smales, Professor Mark
von der Haar, Dr Tobias
Warren, Professor Martin
Williamson, Dr Richard
Xue, Dr Wei-Feng
In addition, we have several academic staff with computational biology interests who
have recently joined the School. These do not currently hold registered supervisory
chair status but will be expected to obtain this within the next 2-3 years.
Tsaousis, Dr. Anastasios
Wass, Dr Mark
All students will have a supervisory team as required by Annex H (Supervision) of the
Code of Practice for Research Programmes of Study. The supervisory team will
typically consist of one or more direct supervisors (i.e. supervisors involved in day-today supervision and design of the project), and one supervisory chair (who is not
normally involved in day-to-day supervision, but acts as a project-external arbiter of
appropriate training and progress).
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Day-to-day supervision will be provided by the direct supervisors. Progress will be
monitored by the direct supervisors and the supervisory chair. In case of problems that
the student does not wish to discuss with the direct supervisors, students will be given
opportunities to raise such issues with the supervisory chair and School DoGS in the
absence of the direct supervisors during each progression review. In cases where the
direct supervisors are not able to supervise the degree to completion (for example due
to a breakdown in the supervisory relationship or because the supervisor leaves the
university) suitable alternative supervisors will be identified from within the academic
staff of the school. Where this is not possible, the supervisory chair will become the
default supervisor for the remainder of the student’s registration.
1.12
Research Environment
The School of Biosciences has a high proportion of internationally competitive research
according to the 2014 REF exercise, and the School Plan aims to further improve on
this. The School houses 30 academic staff and three independently-funded research
fellows. The School’s external research income for the 2013-14 financial year was
£5.5m.
Research in the School of Biosciences is focused primarily on essential biological
processes at the molecular and cellular level, encompassing the disciplines of
biochemistry, genetics, biotechnology and biomedical research. Computational Biology
is a complementary theme that pervades all other research areas and is used in
conjunction with and to enhance these. Many of the academics in the School have
funded collaborations in the UK, Europe and beyond and students are encouraged to
become involved with the researchers in these wider collaborations.
The School of Biosciences has a strong publication culture and members regularly
publish papers, often in the highest quality journals (the REF submitted outputs of the
school were judged as 21% 4* and 69% 3*). Recent examples of publications that are
bona fide 4* publications for the REF (Impact factor >10, journals ranked within the top
15% of their discipline) and which included postgraduate authors include Molecular
Cell, Cell Metabolism, Nature Chemical Biology, Proceedings of the National Academy
of Sciences of the USA, and EMBO Journal.
The School has a strong track record of productive links with the pharmaceutical,
agrochemical and biotechnology sectors both in the UK and world-wide. The School
has a part-time Business Development Officer and an academic seconded two days
per week, charged with fostering industrial links. These links have – and continue to be
– established through fully-funded research projects and studentships, contract
research, consultancies, provision of short courses (e.g. most recently for Pfizer,
Zeneca and the NHS), CASE studentships and undergraduate placements (as part of
our Year in Industry option). The appointment of Professor Paul Davis (Insense Ltd.)
as a Visiting Professor in Applied Immunology, Dr. Graham Darby (ex-GSK) as
Honorary Professor in Virology and Prof. Peter Goodfellow (ex GSK) as Honorary
Professor in Genetics further illustrates our commitment to promoting academicindustrial interactions. We currently have research projects and studentships funded
by Pfizer, Lonza, UCB Celltech, British United Turkeys Ltd. and PIG Improvement
Company and we have undertaken short-term research contracts for Abbott Labs,
Knoll, Excyte and Channel Diagnostics. We also have strong collaborative links with
the regional NHS and students benefit from joint research programmes established
with NHS partners.
We fully subscribe to the ethos that first-class, internationally competitive research
requires state-of-the-art technical support, coupled with the necessary research
infrastructure. We have established four major research support facilities, each with a
permanent Facility Manager: Biomolecular Analysis, Microscopy and Image Analysis;
Animal Cell Culture and Protein NMR. Each facility is self-contained, aims to be largely
self-supporting and accessible to all research students and staff, for whom training is
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provided by the Facility Manager. Two of the Facilities (Protein Analysis and the NMR)
have been established via major grant support from the Wellcome Trust. Our portfolio
of facilities continues to be improved and extended in response to new staff
appointments and funding initiatives; for example a Fast Reaction Laboratory,
Video/Fluorescence Microscopy Suite and an Anaerobic Laboratory have all been
recently established with internal (HEFCE) and external (Wellcome and BBSRC)
support. Particularly relevant to the new degree, high-end computing infrastructure has
been added to this list through the appointment of Dr Mark Wass as Lecturer in
Computational Biology.
The School has a stringent safety policy. There is a School safety co-ordinator and
committee (including student representation) as well as specific staff assigned to
monitor genetic manipulation, the handling of radioisotopes and the use of lasers. Each
project carried out is assessed for potential hazards and records kept and updated for
each of the procedures used within the School. For the Computational Biology degree,
this is relevant in cases where the computational work is complemented by limited wetwork.
1.13
Student Support and Guidance
School level support services
As for our other research degrees, we rely largely on institutional level support services
for students with special requirements. To date, this policy has worked well and we see
currently no need to add specific School level support services to the good institutional
portfolio.
Institutional level support services
1.14

Student Support and Wellbeing www.kent.ac.uk/studentsupport/

Student Learning Advisory Service http://www.kent.ac.uk/uelt/about/slas.html

Counselling Service www.kent.ac.uk/counselling/

Kent Union www.kentunion.co.uk/

Graduate Student Association (GSA)
www.kent.ac.uk/graduateschool/community/woolf.html

Graduate School (Provision of (i) Researcher Development Programme
(workshops and on-line courses) (ii) institutional level induction and (iii) student-led
initiatives such as social events, conferences and workshops
www.kent.ac.uk/graduateschool/index.html

Information Services (computing and library services) www.kent.ac.uk/is/

Postgraduate student representation School, Faculty and Institutional levels

Centre for English and World Languages www.kent.ac.uk/cewl/index.html

Careers and Employability Services www.kent.ac.uk/ces/

International Development Office www.kent.ac.uk/international/

Medical Centre www.kent.ac.uk/counselling/menu/Medical-Centre.html
School Quality Assurance and Enhancement

The programme will be overseen by the School Director of Graduate Studies with
responsibility for research programmes of study and the School Graduate Studies
Committee.
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1.15

Student feedback will be obtained from Staff/Student Liaison Committees,
Postgraduate Student Representation on school-level committees and the
Postgraduate Research Experience Survey.

The programme will be reviewed via the annual programme monitoring and
periodic programme review processes.
School Resource Implications
Resource implications from this program are minimal. We do not expect any growth in
numbers beyond that expected if we kept to our existing degrees. As computational
projects are generally less resource intensive (particularly with respect to space and
consumables required) than experimental degrees, the overall resource demands from
our Research Degree are likely to remain unchanged or may be slightly reduced.
Specific Computational resources that are required include the provision of high-end
personal computers (this does not greatly exceed resource requirements for existing
projects), and for some projects access to higher-end servers. The Wass group have
recently acquired a bioinformatics server that will be sufficient at least for initial needs.
If other academics design projects requiring access to server infrastructure, schoollevel approval for such projects will only be given if strategies for the provision of
adequate resources are in place.
1.16
Professional Accreditation
n/a
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