Program Overview

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Research in our School of Life Sciences covers a wide spectrum of biology from genes to ecosystems, and this broad-based structure provides opportunities for developing novel ideas and inter-disciplinary projects. We offer supervision in all areas of staff expertise in cell and molecular biology including cancer and stem cell biology, immunology, medical microbiology, biochemistry, structural biology, chromatin structure and epigenetics and cell signalling. As a research student at Essex, you’ll work at the heart of our internationally acknowledged and well-connected research community. We offer world-class supervision and training opportunities, and encourage you to engage with other researchers, professionals, practitioners and research users, where possible for example using the generous funding from Proficio to attend conferences and training courses. Part-time research study is also available. You can start this degree in October, January or April. An MPhil and MSD are also available. Why we're great.

• We have an international reputation for outstanding teaching and research, with the latter reflected in the large number of publications in high-profile journals.
• You will be part of our collaborative Research Groups that work on important international and national problems using cutting-edge techniques.
• We provide a supportive research and training environment. In particular, the Annual Graduate Forum provides an opportunity to showcase your findings as a poster, presentation or by organising the event at the end of your first, second and third year, respectively.

Our expert staff

Within our School of Life Sciences, you will be allocated a supervisor whose role it is to guide you through the different stages of your research degree. In some cases, you may be jointly supervised. The support provided by your supervisor is a key feature of your research student experience and you will have regular one-to-one meetings to discuss progress on your research. Initially, your supervisor will help you develop your research topic and plan. Twice a year, you will have a supervisory board meeting, which provides a more formal opportunity to discuss your progress and agree your plans for the next six months. Your technical and intellectual development will be enhanced by becoming part of a Research Group, and participating in School Seminars.

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Specialist facilities

Our School provides a comprehensive range of facilities for cellular and molecular biology research which include:

• fully automated laboratories with robotic liquid handling systems and equipment for cell culture, molecular biology and gene editing
• high performance computing cluster with 368 CPUs, 5.4 Tb of RAM and 700 Tb of storage for analyses of large biological data sets
• advanced bioimaging suite to visualise and analyse images of biological processes in real time
• range of facilities for cell and microbial culture
• X-ray crystallography and macromolecular interactions facilities for the biophysical characterisation of proteins and other macromolecules
• next-generation sequence analysis facilities

A dedicated study room allows all our postgraduate research students to have access to a desk and a computer outside of the research laboratories. This provides a focal point for our postgraduates, facilitating reading and writing as well as good communication and a sense of community.

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Your future

Our graduates go on to a range of careers. Many choose to continue their scientific research taking up postdoctoral positions in the UK or overseas. Others go on to work in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries or governmental and non-governmental organisations. We support your career development by a mentoring scheme and employability events.