BBSRC White Rose DTP (WR DTP) in Mechanistic Biology: Diverse Talent Scholarships

Open to UK (home) students only.

You can apply if you have, or are expecting to gain, first-class or 2:1 honours degree in your undergraduate study (or a Merit or above in a Masters degree). Due to the interdisciplinary nature of this programme we welcome applications if your background is in any biological, chemical or physical science or mathematics and are interested in using your skills in addressing biological questions.

The White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) is committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive environment within its postgraduate research programme. We are working to increase diversity and are encouraging applications from candidates of all backgrounds with outstanding potential to apply.

English language

If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. For more information see our Postgraduate English language requirements.

Application deadline: Monday 2 October 2023, 3.20pm BST

For this studentship, you apply to the programme, not to a specific project. PhD projects are available at the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York. Links to projects at Leeds and Sheffield are now available from the White Rose Mechanistic Biology DTP Diverse Talent Scholarship webpage. Projects at York will be listed below along with a link to the primary supervisor’s research pages. Take some time to read through the lists and learn about the labs that are offering projects. Once you identify some projects that interest you, apply through the university that lists your top choice.

In order to widen access to postgraduate research to those who may not have previously considered a PhD as a viable option, we are working to improve the recruitment and selection process for applications to the White Rose DTP. As part of this, you will have the opportunity to provide a ‘contextual statement’ of about 150 words so you can tell us any details of your personal circumstances that you think are relevant. This information will help us with the decisions made by our selection panel during the short-listing for interviews. You may like to tell us about any of the following circumstances: your ethnicity; if you are in the first generation of your family to go to university; if you are from a low-income background or single-parent home; if you have received a means-tested scholarship; if you have a disability; or anything else you wish to disclose. We would also like to know about your motivation and what science excites you; so we also ask you to write about 250 words about your research interests.

As part of our efforts to improve the diversity of our postgraduate research students, we are also carrying out a separate survey to collect data about the socio-economic and ethnicity of all of our applicants. This is an anonymous survey that is not associated with your application nor will it impact your application in any way. We would appreciate it if you would help us by completing this survey.

Your application will include your undergraduate transcript, and other details of your academic background, as well as your statement of research interests and a contextual statement. We will also request references from two people (usually academics) who can support your application by telling us about your potential. A DTP selection panel representing the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York will assess these documents during shortlisting and invite the best candidates for interview.

If you're shortlisted you'll be invited for an interview in April 2023. You'll be notified as soon as possible after the interview dates whether your application has been successful, placed on a reserve list or unsuccessful. If you are successful, you'll be required to confirm your intention to accept the studentship within 10 days.

The studentships are fully funded for four years and it is expected you will complete your PhD in four years. 

You'll receive a minimum ‘stipend’ of £17,668 per year for your living costs, which is paid to you in regular instalments. The stipend is a kind of salary for postgraduate students that is tax free and does not need to be paid back. It is what you use to pay your rent and food and other living expenses. Your tuition fees and lab costs are also paid for by this scholarship.

As a member of the York Graduate Research School, you'll study throughout the whole year, working for at least 35 hours per week, and will have a usual annual leave entitlement (normally 30 days over the year plus public holidays). You are encouraged to make use of your leave and have a responsibility to discuss the timing of this with your supervisor (for longer periods of holiday) and recording leave taken throughout the year. Students working in collaboration with non-academic partners are expected to bear in mind their obligations to those partners in planning leave.

You must adhere to the University’s regulations, policies and guidance regarding research degree programmes. 

As part of the York White Rose DTP programme you are expected to attend all mandatory meetings and training sessions scheduled by the DTP and by the lead Department.