BBSRC Yorkshire Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership (YBDTP)
This prestigious Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) funded Doctoral Landscape Award will support the next generation of researchers equipping them with the skills for careers in academia, industry, policy and civic society and developing the UK bioeconomy.
A thriving bioeconomy transforms the way we produce food, chemicals, materials, energy/fuel, and tackle health and environmental challenges.
YBDTP brings together world-class bioscience research and innovation, as well as excellence in doctoral supervision, across the region. YBDTP will fund postgraduate researchers at the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield, York, Bradford, Hull, Leeds Beckett, Sheffield Hallam and Teesside forming a strong regional training partnership.
In YBDTP you'll benefit from a regional doctoral training programme that has interdisciplinary collaboration at its core. The aim is to enable you to develop a range of research skills in biological, biotechnology and biochemical areas as well as equip you with core data analysis and professional skills that are necessary for bioscience research and related non-academic careers.
At York, YBDTP brings together researchers from the Departments of Biology and Chemistry spanning different research centres:
- Biological Physical Sciences Institute
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products
- Jack Birch Unit for Molecular Carcinogenesis
- York Structural Biology Laboratory
- York Environmental Sustainability Institute
- York Biomedical Research Institute
Open to International (including EU) and UK (home) students.
You can apply if you have, or are expecting to gain, at least an upper second class honours degree or equivalent. 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. If you're an international student, you should check if you meet the entry requirements for your country.
We aim to support the most outstanding applicants from outside the UK and are able to offer a limited number of bursaries that will enable full studentships to be awarded to international (EU and non-EU) applicants. These full studentships will only be awarded to exceptional quality candidates, due to the competitive nature of this scheme.
The Yorkshire Bioscience DTP is committed to recruiting extraordinary future scientists regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or career pathway to date. We understand that commitment and excellence can be shown in many ways and have built our recruitment process to reflect this. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, particularly those underrepresented in science, who have curiosity, creativity and a drive to learn new skills.
Not all projects will be funded; a limited number of candidates will be appointed via a competitive process.
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 6 January 2025, 11.59pm GMT
To submit your application, click on the link to the Expression of Interest form on any of your chosen projects. You can apply for up to 3 YBDTP projects (which can be at different universities).
We would advise you to read the questions in the form before submitting your application. Inside the form there is a link to a document for you to see the questions in advance.
If you have any questions about the application process please email wrdtp
If you have any questions about the project you are interested in, please email the project supervisor (details inside the project description).
Shortlisting will take place as soon as possible after the closing date and successful applicants will be notified promptly.
If you're shortlisted you'll be invited for an interview on a date to be confirmed in February 2025. As part of the interview process, you'll be asked to make a seven to ten minute presentation on a research project you've undertaken.
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 you must complete your PhD in four years.
You'll receive the minimum doctoral UKRI stipend per year for your living costs, which is paid to you in regular instalments. The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) stipend is tax free and does not need to be paid back.
International students will need to have sufficient funds to cover the costs of their student visa, NHS health surcharge, travel insurance and travel to the UK as these are excluded from UKRI funding.
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 through 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 YBDTP programme you are expected to attend all mandatory induction, meetings and training sessions scheduled by YBDTP and by the lead Department.
YBDTP offers projects aligned with the BBSRC strategic priorities in food security, bioenergy and industrial technology, and world class bioscience and aimed at bioscience and biotechnology underpinning the bioeconomy. YBDTP is a development from the White Rose DTP in Mechanistic Biology and you can discover the range of PhD projects undertaken in this previous DTP.
Please try to identify YBDTP research projects that suit you, ensuring a match between your research interests and your prospective supervisors. We would encourage informal discussions with different project supervisors to help you decide which project to apply for. Contact details for academic staff can be found in each project description below.