Who’s Up For A PhD?
James Simpson interviews Prof. Barry Hirst on new opportunities for postgraduate study.
Photo: Flickr
The Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) is a new collaboration with Durham and Liverpool Universities and is one of 14 across the UK supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). They are providing £4.5 million worth of sponsorship out of the total £9 million for the project. I went to speak to Professor Barry Hirst about the project and how it will be different to traditional PhDs.
What is the DTP?
A new innovative structure of PhD with research training benefits increasing employability for graduates. It includes a 3 month professional placement (industry, teaching) to get used to a working environment.
When will it start?
September 2012
Main aims?
To widen students’ interest in research by partnering with other Universities (Durham and Liverpool), introducing students to working as a cohort as well as individually. This gives an all-round better experience for the students’ PhD project.
Are placements restricted to the UK?
It’s dependent on the individual and availability of placements, but there are
no restrictions in place. At the moment there is one student in Australia on a pilot scheme.
How many NCL positions?
Approx. 16 for 2012 but it could change in further years, depending on successes.
Do NCL graduates have an equal chance?
Yes, we recognise the quality of our Newcastle graduates and they would have as good a chance as any with a decent application
Would you recommend it to students unsure about the future?
Well 4 years is a long time and it’s quite a commitment, and if you’re not sure, it will come out at interview. The best thing is to discuss with your personal tutor about your options or look at taking a one-year research masters.
How would you go about applying?
There are posts on the University website where the usual postgraduate opportunities come up. More information is available at
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/biomedicine/postgrad/funding/dtp/ and how to apply.
Would you give any advice to applicants?
We are looking for quality applicants with academic standards above at least a 2:1. Subject matter is not important as long as it is around the Biotechnology side of things. An interest in research is a must and voluntary work placements or a good research project will also stand you in good stead.
