Wellcome Trust Doctoral Training Programme in Genomic Epidemiology and Public Health Genomics

Programme structure

Students on the programme will embark on a PhD project that fits under at least one of the programme themes.

Theme 1: Genomics for Drug Development and Pharmacogenetics

Drug target discovery, target validation, drug repurposing, enabled with established partnerships with leading pharmaceuticals

Theme lead: Professor Louise Wain

Theme 2: Genomics for Precision Medicine in Underserved Populations

Unique opportunities for novel research with our collaborators in South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Brazil and India

Theme lead: Professor Martin Tobin

Theme 3: Genetically Informed Causal Inference and Risk Prediction

Methods exploiting genetic data to strengthen causal inference in observational research, and to predict individual risk of disease

Theme lead: Professor Frank Dudbridge

Theme 4: Ethical, Legal and Social Implications of Genomics and Genomic Epidemiology Studies

Bringing together our expertise in sociology, psychology, health services research, medical law, and ethics

Theme lead: Dr Tracey Elliott

Ways to study

The programme offers two different routes to a PhD. Find out about both routes below.

4-year PhD

Candidates wishing to apply for this route will have the opportunity to select an available project at the time of application, and can select up to three in order of preference.

Projects offered will reflect a wide scope in the areas of health and social sciences.

  • Quantitative projects (Themes 1-3) will be suited but not limited to those with an academic background that included an element of statistics, maths and/or computer science, combined with elements of biological sciences, biomedical sciences and/or genetics. Candidates who wish to undertake a project under Themes 1-3 but may wish or need to develop their quantitative skills can choose to apply to the Programme via the 1+4-year route (see page 9). This provides the opportunity to study a relevant Master’s degree, such as the MSc Medical Statistics, before embarking on the 4-year PhD.
  • Qualitative projects (Theme 4) will be suited but not limited to those with an academic background in law, ethics and social sciences. Candidates who wish to undertake a project under Theme 4 but may wish or need to develop their health research skills can choose to apply to the Programme via the 1+4-year route (see page 9). This provides the opportunity to study a relevant Master’s degree, such as the MRes Applied Health Research, before embarking on the 4-year PhD.

Candidates are welcome to contact the Programme team to discuss their suitability for the 4-year PhD before applying.

Alternatively, candidates may propose their own project. In this case, it is essential that candidates have discussed their proposed project with the intended supervisor before submitting an application.

The 4-year PhD may also be undertaken on a part time basis for students who have family or other commitments (UK applicants only).

Students will receive a PhD fee waiver and a stipend for all four years (or part time equivalent) of the PhD.

1+4-year PhD

Each year, the Programme offers up to two candidates the option to study an MSc Programme for one year and then go on to study their PhD for the subsequent four years.

Candidates wishing to apply for this option should apply for the PhD, and make it clear in their application the wish to pursue this option. There is no requirement to choose a project at this stage, but rather a project will be defined under expert guidance during the course of the 1-year MSc.

MSc Programmes available include:

The 1+4-year route is ideal for but not limited to candidates who:

  • Have not yet studied at Master’s level and wish to develop relevant expertise (e.g. quantitative skills) before embarking on a PhD
  • Hold an Undergraduate or Master’s degree in a maths, physics or computer science field but wish to develop more relevant expertise in health research before embarking on a PhD
  • Hold an Undergraduate or Master’s degree in a biological science, biomedical science or genetics but wish to develop their quantitative skills before embarking on a PhD

Students will receive a postgraduate tuition fee waiver for Year 1, a PhD fee waiver for Years 2-5 and a stipend for Years 2-5. Please note that due to funding limitations, funding for the 1+4 route can only be offered at UK rates, and is therefore not available for candidates requiring an overseas fee waiver.

Hear from Charlotte Fawcett, a current student on the 1+4 year PhD programme

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