Award details

The Randall Centre is a research centre in the School of Basic & Medical Biosciences, which sits in the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine. King’s College London is one of the world’s top 31 universities (QS World Rankings 2021), and this studentship will offer the opportunity to be supervised by internationally renowned academics.

3 Reasons to study with us:

• Intellectual stimulation and interdisciplinary research: Research in the Randall Centre is at the interface of biomedical and physical sciences and is focussed on using interdisciplinary approaches to discovering molecular and cellular processes in biology and medicine. Many of these applications are focused on cell motility and the cytoskeleton, muscle signalling, stem cells and developmental biology, with a translational focus in allergy and asthma, cardiovascular and cancer biology. This work continues the legacy of pioneering research in biophysics including the X-ray crystallographic studies of DNA by Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins.
• Supporting environment: We provide a very supportive environment for our PhD students There are many opportunities for training in technical and transferable skills, and a very active and sociable PhD student community.
• Career opportunities: Most of our PhD graduates continue careers in science as post-docs in academic and industrial laboratories or other science related careers e.g. grant administration, science journalism and intellectual property.

Funding

The studentship is fully funded by The Darwin Trust of Edinburgh. The student will be funded for four years full-time PhD study, receiving a tax-free stipend of £18,916 per year.  The student does not pay any tuition fee as these are paid by the studentship.

Eligibility criteria

This studentship is ONLY available to students who are citizens of, and ordinarily resident in, countries in Africa and who are not already a graduate of King’s College London. Candidates should have completed their first degree less than five years prior to the closing deadline for applications. The studentship is not open to anyone who has already started a PhD. Candidates should not be eligible for UK Research Council studentships.

Academic Entry Requirements

The programme welcomes applications from a diverse range of backgrounds. Evidence of the ability to carry out research successfully will be an advantage, but this research does not have to be in the same area as your intended PhD project.

Applicants will be reviewed on qualifications, experience and potential to undertake a research degree.

The minimum entrance qualification is an Upper Second-Class Honours degree in a relevant subject, or an equivalent overseas qualification. Applicants who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements may be admitted if they hold an alternative qualification of an equivalent or higher level in a relevant subject or can prove relevant professional experience which demonstrates that the applicant can follow and complete the programme.

English Language Requirements

You are required at the time of application to demonstrate that you meet the minimum English requirements for Band D as prescribed by the university’s English Language requirements. Please note being educated in English in an African country does not mean you meet the English Language requirements (see table Band D in above link).

Application process

Step 1: Choose your research project

Candidates are invited to choose the area of research they wish to study for a PhD. There are three research sections in the Randall Centre (Molecular Biophysics, Cellular Biophysics, and Muscle Biophysics). Information about each section can be found on the Randall Centre webpage.

Step 2: Contact Supervisor

Contact a Supervisor in a research area you are interested from the list of Eligible Group Leaders and find out more about the PhD projects they have on offer.

Step 3: Submit an application

Once you have agreed a project with your selected supervisor, you are ready to submit an application. To do this please read the Basic and Medical Biosciences Research MPhil/PhD webpage, in particular the section Application Procedure under Entry requirements as it provides details of the information required to be included in the application. Applications must be made online at https://apply.kcl.ac.uk/ and follow the steps outlined below:

• Register a new account and login.
• Open a new application
• On the ‘Choose a programme’ page:
  • Type ‘Basic and Medical Biosciences Research’
  • Select from the drop-down menu ‘Basic and Medical Biosciences Research MPhil/PhD (Full-time)’
    Note: your application cannot be considered if submitted under the wrong programme
• Tick the 01 October start date
• Complete and submit your application noting you will be asked to include the following:
• Academic Transcripts – where applicable, academic transcripts must be submitted with the online admissions application
• Details of your qualifications (you will need to attach copies)
• Details of previous employment (where applicable)
• A personal statement describing your research experience, reasons for doing a PhD, why you wish to apply for this project and your future career plans. Please include this as an attachment uploaded under ‘other’ in research section.
• References – all applications require two supporting references. They can be either both from academic tutors or one academic tutor and one from an employer in research institutions/companies.
• Research Proposal – in text box provided include the name of the selected supervisor and add the agreed PhD project proposal.
• Funding section: Please tick box 5 and include the following reference: 2021/BMBS/01

Application deadline: Midnight (UK time) 13 June 2021. You are advised to submit your application before the deadline.

Step 4: Interviews

Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed via Teams in late June/early July.

Contact for further information

For further information about the application process please contact one of the Randall Postgraduate Coordinators; Dr Baljinder Mankoo or Professor Jim McDonnell, or the Operations Officer Education Helen Rudkin.