Wellcome PhD Programme for Clinicians
From the beginning of February 2020, we will be accepting applications
for fellowships to start in October 2020
Application deadline: Friday 6 March 2020 (midday UK time)
Please read the FAQs carefully before applying
All applications must be made via the University’s online Applicant Portal
To be eligible to apply for the fellowships, you must be qualified in clinical or veterinary medicine and in a training grade (i.e., not of Consultant or Faculty status). It is anticipated that many will have already commenced their higher specialist clinical training, but this is not essential. Although veterinary graduates are not eligible for a Sanger Institute fellowship, they can undertake research at the Sanger Institute supervised either solely or jointly by a Sanger faculty member, whilst supported by another fellowship from the programme.
It is important to note that fellowships supported by the Universities of Cambridge and East Anglia are only open to citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA). Wellcome Sanger Institute funded fellowships are open to overseas applicants.
All successful candidates must be registered with either the General Medical Council or the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Further details can be found at http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/Funding/Biomedical-science/Funding-schemes/PhD-funding-and-undergraduate-opportunities/WTD037337.htm
General Information
The Universities of Cambridge and East Anglia together with the Wellcome Sanger Institute invite applications for 4 fellowships in the PhD Programme for Clinicians, to be taken up by the end of 2020. The fellowships provide funding for: clinical salary, University and College fees and research consumables for 3 years*. Prior to commencement, the Programme can provide up to three months of additional salary support, enabling successful applicants to experience different research groups before choosing their project and PhD supervisor. Candidates who are interested in computational biology, epidemiology or public health can be funded for an additional 1-year MPhil in order to obtain the appropriate skills before starting their PhD.
Fellowships based in campuses in Cambridge or Norwich, offer diverse research training opportunities in Departments and Institutes throughout the University of Cambridge Schools of Clinical Medicine and Biological Sciences and the Biomedical campus of the University of East Anglia and associated institutes on the Norwich Research Park.
In addition, the Wellcome Sanger Institute is a world-leading centre at the forefront of experimental, computational and translational genomic research. Faculty members use large-scale genomic tools to investigate important global health problems such as cancer, malaria, diabetes and infectious disease. Examples of potential Sanger-based projects can be found at http://www.sanger.ac.uk/about/study/phd-programmes/clinical-phd-programme
The most important criteria we are looking for are academic excellence and the potential to pursue a career in academic clinical or veterinary medicine. Further details are available from http://www.mrl.ims.cam.ac.uk/postgraduate-study-at-the-mrl/wellcome-trust-clinical-phd-programme/ and https://www.uea.ac.uk/medicine-health-sciences/graduate-school/studentships or by contacting Teresa Wallman (tdw30@medschl.cam.ac.uk) or Professor Alastair Watson for the University of East Anglia (alastair.watson@uea.ac.uk).
* Limit of tenure applies: 3 years
What funding is provided?
The Wellcome Trust Programme provides:
- A clinical salary
- University and College fees at the ‘Home/EU’ rate
- Research expenses
- Contribution towards travel
- Contribution towards general training costs
An allowance for animal costs is also available if required (on a case by case basis), subject to approval by the Wellcome Trust.
All studentships are fully funded, there is no need to apply for additional funding (e.g., Gates Scholarship) to be considered for this PhD programme.
Home and Overseas Fees at the University of Cambridge and University of East Anglia
There are two tiers of fees: home and overseas. The home rate is applicable to all students from EU countries plus one or two others. The overseas rate is applicable to those who do not qualify for home fees. However, the terms home and overseas are complex and you should see http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/students/studentregistry/fees/costs/index.html for a definition of ‘overseas’. The fees payable for any candidates to be registered with the University of East Anglia can be confirmed with the UEA Postgraduate Research Service and Fees Office, see https://portal.uea.ac.uk/postgraduate-research.
When will interviews be held?
The interview panel will comprise the Programme Director, Deputy Programme Director, representatives from the University of East Anglia, University of Cambridge Department of Veterinary Medicine, the Wellcome Sanger Institute, and also a selection of Theme Leads and Principal Investigators from the Programme. We may also invite a Director of another ‘Wellcome Trust PhD Programme for Clinicians’ to join the panel.
Application is currently open and must be via the University of Cambridge Graduate Admissions on-line portal http://www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/cvcbpdwtc. You will be asked to name two referees on the Applicant Portal. Both will be contacted automatically for their references so please ensure that you provide their correct email addresses. You should contact your referees as early as possible in the application process, before submitting your application, asking for permission to include their names and ensuring that they are able to submit their reference within the allotted time.
Closing date for applications: Friday 6th March 2020 (midday UK time).
Interviews will be held on Monday 27th April 2020.
Following the conclusion of the selection process, any successful candidates who will be registered at the University of East Anglia on the Norwich Research Park will be supported in making a formal application on the UEA online system by the Postgraduate Research Service at UEA. Please contact them at fmh.gradschool@uea.ac.uk for guidance and support in doing this.
