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 molecular medicine and our staff have expertise in hospital acquired infections, antibiotic resistance and the human microbiota and work on a wide range of projects to further our understanding of how microbes cause disease in humans. 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.
• We are engaged in translational research and have strong links with local and regional hospitals as well as Public Health England.
• Collaborate alongside our research groups working on important international and national problems using cutting-edge techniques.

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 research in medical microbiology which include:

• fully automated laboratories with robotic liquid handling systems and equipment for microbial cell culture, molecular biology and gene editing
• advanced bioimaging suite to visualise and process images of biological processes in real time
• 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

Many of our postgraduates continue their scientific research by taking up postdoctoral positions in the UK and overseas. Others have embarked on careers in biomedical laboratories and in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, both in research and development. We support your career development by a mentoring scheme and employability events.