University of Cambridge Graduate Studentships, Graduate School of Life Sciences

The Centre aims to fund up to three PhD studentships commencing in October 2008, for projects falling within its remit. These may be held in any relevant department within the University or affiliated institutes. Details of projects available and contact details for
supervisors are given at the bottom of the page.
The studentships will be awarded on a competitive basis and applicants will be expected to demonstrate both a strong academic background and aptitude for research.
Students will receive instruction and guidance principally from their supervisor in a supportive and stimulating environment, but also attend formal training courses.

Further information is available from the Graduate School: http://www.biomed.cam.ac.uk/gradschool/prospective/ .

The studentships will be fully funded at Wellcome Trust rates for three years of full-time research, and are open to UK, EU and overseas students. However, if a candidate who is offered a studentship also obtains substantial funding from another awarding body, this will be taken into account in determining the level of the award. The Centre is also willing to consider hosting students for the PhD who have already secured independent funding. For information regarding the costs of PhD training in Cambridge please refer to the Board of Graduate Studies’ website http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/gradstud/ .
Requirements
Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, at least an upper second class honours degree in a relevant biological subject. For overseas students the minimum undergraduate GPA for entrance into the University is 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale), and those for whom English is not their native language should see the Board of Graduate Studies’ guidelines regarding Competence in English.
Research students are initially admitted without being registered for a particular degree, and are then registered for the PhD on satisfactory completion of a report at the end of their first year of study.
Application procedure
We encourage all applicants to make initial informal enquiries of individual members of the Centre regarding their projects on offer. Once you have identified a potential supervisor and project you should make a formal application as follows:
1) Complete a GRADSAF application form available from the Board of Graduate Studies’ website http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/gradstud/ and return to the Board by January 31st 2008 at the latest. That form combines admission to the University with admission to a college. King’s College is pleased to consider applicants who are offered the Centre’s studentships, and so you may wish to indicate this college as your first choice. However, admission to this particular college cannot be guaranteed and candidates should indicate a second choice. Candidates from outside the EU who return the GRADSAF form by 14 December 2007 will also be considered for ORSAS awards.
2) Send a curriculum-vitae, a half-page personal statement outlining your motivation for research at the Centre, two confidential academic references in sealed envelopes, and, if possible, a transcript of your undergraduate results to:
Ms Aileen Briggs,
Graduate Administrator,
Centre for Trophoblast Research,
Physiology Building,
Downing Street,
Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
Both elements of the application must arrive by January 31st 2008, and incomplete applications cannot be considered.
Short-listed candidates will be interviewed in person or by telephone during February, and decisions should be communicated by the end of March.