Information/Q&A sessionfor supervisors of students in year 1

Barry HirstDean of Postgraduate Studies, FMS Graduate School and DTP Director

Dianne FordDTP Director, Newcastle University

Tim CheekDTP cohort coordinator, Newcastle University

20 February 2014

Studentship allocation• 14 partnerships funded• 220 four-year studentships p.a. for three intakes from October 2012• Newcastle University lead research organisation in partnership with

the University of Liverpool and Durham University– Awarded 15 studentships p.a– Matched funding generates 30 studentships p.a.– Allocated on basis of BBSRC income

• 16:11:3 (Newcastle:Liverpool:Durham) for 2012-13– Filled 14:11:4

• 16:13:2 (Newcastle:Liverpool:Durham) for 2013-14– Filled 16:13:3

• 13:14:2 (Newcastle:Liverpool:Durham) for 2014-15

Studentship allocation

World ClassUnderpinning

Bioscience(45%)

Food security (35%)

BasicBioscienceUnderpinningHealth (20%)

World ClassUnderpinning

Bioscience(47%)

Food security (27%)

BasicBioscienceUnderpinningHealth (6%)

Bioenergy & IndustrialBiotechnology (20%)

78%

70%

• Plus “exploiting new ways of working”– cross cutting enabling theme– multidisciplinary and quantitative approaches

ENWW• EXPLOITING NEW WAYS OF WORKING: Enabling innovative working practices in an era of

rapid technological advancement, the next generation internet, and quantitative and computational approaches to bioscience. – This enabling theme is cross-cutting and drives bioscience research in all areas – the need for

researchers to develop and use new bioanalytical, bioinformatic and biological technologies to accelerate discovery and preserve UK world class status. This includes an emphasis on the development and use of systems and modelling approaches to the study and solution of biological problems. The Exploiting New Ways of Working priority embraces multidisciplinary and quantitative approaches and covers the development of research expertise and skills as follows: • Research expertise in and for the development of the next generation of bioanalytical and biological

technologies, in areas including (but not exclusively) bioimaging, ’omics technologies and biomolecular characterisation

• Research expertise in the development of the next generation of computational and bioinformatic tools, and resources to drive data intensive bioscience and tackle the bioscience data deluge

• Research expertise in synthetic biology, an emerging area at the interface of biology, engineering, chemistry and IT that focuses on the design and construction of new biological parts, devices, and systems, and the re-design of existing, natural biological systems for useful purposes

• Boosting skills, across the biosciences, to ensure that all researchers are effective in exploiting new tools and methodologies relevant to their research as they become available

Fit of projects with portfolio agreement

• Ageing and Health MRes • Animal Behaviour MRes • Biosciences MRes • Biotechnology and Business Enterprise MRes • Cancer MRes • Cardiovascular Science in Health and Disease MRes • Diabetes MRes • Epidemiology MRes • Evolution and Human Behaviour MRes • Immunobiology MRes • Medical Molecular Biosciences MRes• Medical Genetics MRes • Medical Sciences MRes • Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine MRes • Molecular Microbiology MRes • Nanomedicine MRes • Neuromuscular Diseases MRes • Neuroscience MRes • Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine MRes • Systems Biology MRes • Toxicology MRes • Translational Medicine and Therapeutics MRes • Transplantation MRes

Training programme structure

MRes programmes• Integrated MRes/PhD– Concession for 3 year

programme• MRes Biosciences in year 1

(Merit required to progress)• Submission within 4 years of

MRes registration– NO additional year for writing

up

Training programme structure

• Integrated MRes/PhD– Concession for 3 year

programme• MRes Biosciences in year 1

(Merit required to progress)• Submission within 4 years of

MRes registration– NO additional year for writing

up

• Ageing and Health MRes • Animal Behaviour MRes • Biosciences MRes • Biotechnology and Business Enterprise MRes • Cancer MRes • Cardiovascular Science in Health and Disease MRes • Diabetes MRes • Epidemiology MRes • Evolution and Human Behaviour MRes • Immunobiology MRes • Medical Molecular Biosciences MRes• Medical Genetics MRes • Medical Sciences MRes • Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine MRes • Molecular Microbiology MRes • Nanomedicine MRes • Neuromuscular Diseases MRes • Neuroscience MRes • Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine MRes • Systems Biology MRes • Toxicology MRes • Translational Medicine and Therapeutics MRes • Transplantation MRes

MRes programmes

PIPS (Professional Internships for PhD Students)

• BBSRC expect ALL DTP students to undertake a PIPS

• 3 months total• Unrelated to PhD research• Different environment• Timing flexible

PIPS (Professional Internships for PhD Students)

• NNedPro Cambridge• Bio-Imaging Unit, Newcastle University• Pfizer, Boston• SCM Pharma, Newcastle• British Science Festival

“My experience was extremely

positive and beneficial.”

“In terms of personal

development I feel I achieved a lot; I

now have a lot more confidence in my

abilities and skills.”

“I was surprised how much I grew as a

person…..This allowed me to come back to

my PhD with an improved attitude

towards work.”

PIPS (Professional Internships for PhD Students)

PIPS (Professional Internships for PhD Students)

Cohort events• 2012/13

– October 2012• Induction and NEPG conference; Newcastle (cohort 1)

– February 2013• PIPS event; Newcastle (cohort 1)

– July 2013 • Debating and PGR conference; Liverpool (cohort 1)

• 2013/14– October 2013

• Induction and NEPG conference; Newcastle (cohort 1, cohort 2)– February 2014

• PIPS event; Newcastle (cohort 1, cohort2)• Research integrity; Durham (cohort 1)

– June 2014• Liverpool (cohort 1, cohort 2)

• 2014/15– October 2014

• Induction and NEPG conference; Newcastle (cohort 3; invited input from students in cohorts 1 and 2?)– February 2015

• PIPS event; Newcastle (or Durham?) (cohort 3; invited input from students in cohorts 1 and 2?)– June/July 2015

• Liverpool (cohort 3; invited input from students in cohorts 1 and 2?)• Ideas for the future

– New cohorts as above– Annual event

• All DTP students• 3 year cycle

– BBSRC strategic priorities?– Scientific communication?– Science policy/impact?

SysMIC• R statistics package• Matlab modelling• Moodle VLE• 3 modules (can select the

appropriate level)– Module 1: 5 taught sub-modules

and mini project (each 20 h; run over 6 months, so 5 h/week)

– Module 2: 7 taught and mini project

– Module 3: All based around project work

• Support from Daryl Shanley– Cohort 1: October 2013-March

2014• Lisa Hindmarsh

– Cohort 2: Begin October 2014• Proposed fortnightly “direct”

support sessions• Preparatory MATLAB training• 12 months?

Training grants

Training grants

Advisory panel• Professor Elena Lurieluke (Procter & Gamble)• Dr Linda Wainwright (Unilever)• Professor Chris Tapsell (KWS UK Ltd)• Dr Andy Blanchard (GlaxoSmithKline)

• Professor Dianne Ford (Newcastle)• Professor Barry Hirst (Newcastle)• Professor Graham Kemp (Liverpool)• Professor Keith Lindsay (Durham)• Dr Nadja Reissland (Durham)• Professor Stephen Rushton (Newcastle)• Professor Jonathan Wastling (Liverpool)

Annual progress review

• Late March/early April 2014• Review of MRes taught module marks• Short report from MRes project supervisor

MRes to PhD transition

• MRes project and assessments complete by end of July 2014

• Students begin PhD research immediately• PhD induction session April 2014

Questions

• How are you supporting (or how will you support) your student in their PIPS?

• How are you supporting (or how will you support) your student in Exploiting New Ways of Working?

• Does you student understand BBSRC and how their project fits into strategic priorities?

• Other points for discussion?• Web questionnaire to follow