Information/Q&A session
for supervisors of students in year 1
Barry Hirst
Dean of Postgraduate Studies, FMS Graduate School and DTP Director
Dianne Ford
DTP Director, Newcastle University
Tim Cheek
DTP cohort coordinator, Newcastle University
20 February 2014
Studentship allocation
• 14 partnerships funded
• 220 four-year studentships p.a. for three intakes from October 2012
• Newcastle University lead research organisation in partnership with
the University of Liverpool and Durham University
– Awarded 15 studentships p.a
– Matched funding generates 30 studentships p.a.
– Allocated on basis of BBSRC income
• 16:11:3 (Newcastle:Liverpool:Durham) for 2012-13
– Filled 14:11:4
• 16:13:2 (Newcastle:Liverpool:Durham) for 2013-14
– Filled 16:13:3
• 13:14:2 (Newcastle:Liverpool:Durham) for 2014-15
Studentship allocation
Bioenergy & Industrial
Biotechnology (20%)
World Class
Underpinning
Bioscience
(47%)
Basic
Bioscience
Underpinning
Health (6%)
Food security (27%)
World Class
Underpinning
Bioscience
(45%)
Basic
Bioscience
Underpinning
Health (20%)
Food security (35%)
•
78%
Plus “exploiting new ways of working”
– cross cutting enabling theme
– multidisciplinary and quantitative approaches
70%
ENWW
•
EXPLOITING NEW WAYS OF WORKING: Enabling innovative working practices in an
era of rapid technological advancement, the next generation internet, and
quantitative and computational approaches to bioscience.
– This enabling theme is cross-cutting and drives bioscience research in all areas – the need for
researchers to develop and use new bioanalytical, bioinformatic and biological technologies
to accelerate discovery and preserve UK world class status. This includes an emphasis on the
development and use of systems and modelling approaches to the study and solution of
biological problems. The Exploiting New Ways of Working priority embraces multidisciplinary
and quantitative approaches and covers the development of research expertise and skills as
follows:
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Research expertise in and for the development of the next generation of bioanalytical and biological
technologies, in areas including (but not exclusively) bioimaging, ’omics technologies and
biomolecular characterisation
Research expertise in the development of the next generation of computational and bioinformatic
tools, and resources to drive data intensive bioscience and tackle the bioscience data deluge
Research expertise in synthetic biology, an emerging area at the interface of biology, engineering,
chemistry and IT that focuses on the design and construction of new biological parts, devices, and
systems, and the re-design of existing, natural biological systems for useful purposes
Boosting skills, across the biosciences, to ensure that all researchers are effective in exploiting new
tools and methodologies relevant to their research as they become available
Fit of projects with portfolio
agreement
Training programme structure
• Integrated MRes/PhD
– Concession for 3 year
programme
• MRes Biosciences in year 1
(Merit required to progress)
• Submission within 4 years
of MRes registration
– NO additional year for writing
up
MRes programmes
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Ageing and Health MRes
Animal Behaviour MRes
Biosciences MRes
Biotechnology and Business Enterprise MRes
Cancer MRes
Cardiovascular Science in Health and Disease MRes
Diabetes MRes
Epidemiology MRes
Evolution and Human Behaviour MRes
Immunobiology MRes
Medical Molecular Biosciences MRes
Medical Genetics MRes
Medical Sciences MRes
Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine MRes
Molecular Microbiology MRes
Nanomedicine MRes
Neuromuscular Diseases MRes
Neuroscience MRes
Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine MRes
Systems Biology MRes
Toxicology MRes
Translational Medicine and Therapeutics MRes
Transplantation MRes
Training programme structure
• Integrated MRes/PhD
– Concession for 3 year
programme
• MRes Biosciences in year 1
(Merit required to progress)
• Submission within 4 years
of MRes registration
– NO additional year for writing
up
MRes programmes
•
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Ageing and Health MRes
Animal Behaviour MRes
Biosciences MRes
Biotechnology and Business Enterprise MRes
Cancer MRes
Cardiovascular Science in Health and Disease MRes
Diabetes MRes
Epidemiology MRes
Evolution and Human Behaviour MRes
Immunobiology MRes
Medical Molecular Biosciences MRes
Medical Genetics MRes
Medical Sciences MRes
Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine MRes
Molecular Microbiology MRes
Nanomedicine MRes
Neuromuscular Diseases MRes
Neuroscience MRes
Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine MRes
Systems Biology MRes
Toxicology MRes
Translational Medicine and Therapeutics MRes
Transplantation MRes
PIPS (Professional Internships for PhD
Students)
• BBSRC expect ALL DTP students to undertake a
PIPS
• 3 months total
• Unrelated to PhD research
• Different environment
• Timing flexible
PIPS (Professional Internships for PhD
Students)
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•
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NNedPro Cambridge
Bio-Imaging Unit, Newcastle University
Pfizer, Boston
SCM Pharma, Newcastle
British Science Festival
“My experience
was extremely
positive and
beneficial.”
“In terms of
personal
development I feel I
achieved a lot; I now
have a lot more
confidence in my
abilities and skills.”
“I was surprised how
much I grew as a
person…..This
allowed me to come
back to my PhD with
an improved attitude
towards work.”
PIPS (Professional Internships for PhD
Students)
PIPS (Professional Internships for PhD
Students)
Cohort events
•
2012/13
– October 2012
•
Induction and NEPG conference; Newcastle (cohort 1)
•
PIPS event; Newcastle (cohort 1)
•
Debating and PGR conference; Liverpool (cohort 1)
– February 2013
– July 2013
•
2013/14
– October 2013
•
Induction and NEPG conference; Newcastle (cohort 1, cohort 2)
•
•
PIPS event; Newcastle (cohort 1, cohort2)
Research integrity; Durham (cohort 1)
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Liverpool (cohort 1, cohort 2)
– February 2014
– June 2014
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2014/15
– October 2014
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Induction and NEPG conference; Newcastle (cohort 3; invited input from students in cohorts 1 and 2?)
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PIPS event; Newcastle (or Durham?) (cohort 3; invited input from students in cohorts 1 and 2?)
•
Liverpool (cohort 3; invited input from students in cohorts 1 and 2?)
– February 2015
– June/July 2015
•
Ideas for the future
– New cohorts as above
– Annual event
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All DTP students
3 year cycle
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BBSRC strategic priorities?
Scientific communication?
Science policy/impact?
SysMIC
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R statistics package
Matlab modelling
Moodle VLE
3 modules (can select the
appropriate level)
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Module 1: 5 taught submodules and mini project (each
20 h; run over 6 months, so 5
h/week)
Module 2: 7 taught and mini
project
Module 3: All based around
project work
Support from Daryl Shanley
–
Cohort 1: October 2013-March
2014
•
–
Lisa Hindmarsh
Cohort 2: Begin October 2014
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Proposed fortnightly “direct”
support sessions
Preparatory MATLAB training
12 months?
Training grants
Training grants
Advisory panel
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Professor Elena Lurieluke (Procter & Gamble)
Dr Linda Wainwright (Unilever)
Professor Chris Tapsell (KWS UK Ltd)
Dr Andy Blanchard (GlaxoSmithKline)
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Professor Dianne Ford (Newcastle)
Professor Barry Hirst (Newcastle)
Professor Graham Kemp (Liverpool)
Professor Keith Lindsay (Durham)
Dr Nadja Reissland (Durham)
Professor Stephen Rushton (Newcastle)
Professor Jonathan Wastling (Liverpool)
Annual progress review
• Late March/early April 2014
• Review of MRes taught module marks
• Short report from MRes project supervisor
MRes to PhD transition
• MRes project and assessments complete by
end of July 2014
• Students begin PhD research immediately
• PhD induction session April 2014
Questions
• How are you supporting (or how will you
support) your student in their PIPS?
• How are you supporting (or how will you
support) your student in Exploiting New Ways
of Working?
• Does you student understand BBSRC and how
their project fits into strategic priorities?
• Other points for discussion?
• Web questionnaire to follow