Warwick Medical School is one of the best places in the UK to undertake research in cell and developmental biology. The Centre for Mechanochemical Cell Biology provides an interdisciplinary research environment with access to state-of-the-art light microscopy systems, from single molecule optical tweezers to lattice light sheet imaging. Our supervisors have been trained in world-class research centres around the world and will guide you through challenging research projects at the forefront of science.

2020 Study: Covid-19 impact

These are difficult times, but our MSc by Research course is accepting applications and in light of the current situation, the starting date for the course will be March 7^th 2022. Our interdisciplinary projects are currently being redesigned to accommodate partial remote working so that you can complete a meaningful research project even if we have periods of lockdown through the next academic year. Regular cohort activities offered in the course will occur remotely whenever necessary.

We continue to monitor the current situation closely, taking advice from government agencies to ensure we make the safety of our students our key priority. We also recognise this is changeable situation so our advice is to check the FAQs we have: warwick.ac.uk/insite/coronavirus/future-students/

You will work on a research project for 12 months and take part in regular cohort activities where you will receive training in research integrity, science communication and critical appraisal of the literature. Projects are available in a range of topics within cell and developmental biology such as cell migration, chromosome segregation, motor protein dynamics, intracellular transport, endometriosis and T-cell signalling.

Project titles include:

• Rebuilding the cell surface, a watchmakers approach to understand the plasma membrane-cortex interface Supervisor: Darius Koester

• Understanding the synergy between microtubule targeting agents
  Supervisor: Anne Straube

• Probing the mechanics of nucleosome assembly using in vivo crosslinking strategies
  Supervisor: Andrew Bowman

• Physical influences on collective cell migration
  Supervisor: Michael Smutny

• Dissecting the biochemical & mechanical regulation of immune cell migration
  Supervisor: Aparna Ratheesh

• Determining the forces driving chromosome segregation in human cells
  Supervisor: Andrew McAinsh

• Advanced microfluidics assay for kinesin-dependent microtubule dynamics and mechanics
  Supervisor: Rob Cross

• Exploring T cell signalling using optogenetics
  Supervisor: John James

• CRISPR/Cas tools for in vivo imaging of RNA
  Supervisor: Karuna Sampath

• Revisiting the neck linker model for force generation by kinesin
  Supervisor: Masanori Mishima

• Flagellum assembly and function in protozoan parasites
  Supervisor: Samuel Dean
• Investigating different endometriosis subtypes using in vivo models
  Supervisor: Erin Greaves

Students will undertake an independent research project and submit a thesis of less than 40,000 words. The thesis will be assessed by an internal and an external examiner who will decide whether a viva is required. 

Applicants should hold at least an upper second class (UK honours) degree or equivalent. If you hold an international qualification, please consult the International Office webpages for information on UK equivalents.

If you were not educated in English, you will be expected to obtain one of the following recognised English Language qualifications:

• IELTS (British Council International Testing System) overall score of at least 6.5 (with no minimum component scores below 6.0)
• TOEFL (iBT) overall score of at least 92 (with minimum component scores of Reading 22, Listening 21, Speaking 23, Writing 21)

For further information, please visit the Graduate School English Language Information and Entry Requirements webpage.

Your host laboratory will fund the research costs for the project. Travel grants are available to students, up to £500. The from and travel fund policy can be found here.

Students are responsible for paying the academic fees. For 2020/2021 these are: Home/EU students: £4,425 and Overseas students: £24,010.

Students are encouraged to contact supervisors regarding projects of their interest before application. Students are advised to provide two choices of potential research projects. The final choice will be guided by the student’s interest, previous research experience and project availability.

Applications should be made online at http://warwick.ac.uk/pg/apply.

You will apply for the course: RMDA-A35P MSc by Research (Medical Sciences)

Deadline

The deadline for applications is Monday 31^st January 2022 and interviews would likely take place the week beginning Monday 7th February.