POSTGRADUATE STUDIES IN CHEMISTRY

Director of Postgraduate Studies (Department of Chemistry): Professor Martin Wills

PG Co-ordinator (Research students): Emma Bain

Director of MOAC and Analytical Doctoral Training Centres; Professor Alison Rodger.

Director of AS:MIT MSc programme: Dr Claudia BlindauerDirector of Polymer MSc course: Dr Andrew Dove

MSc co-ordinator; Christina Forbes.

POSTGRADUATE STUDIES IN CHEMISTRY

Contents:

What postgraduate programmes are available?Why do postgraduate research?What are the entry requirements?What subject?How do I apply?How do I get funding?

What type of postgraduate degrees can I do?

Taught Masters degrees, MSc (1 year). 1) Analytical Science (AS:MIT); Claudia Blindauer.2) Polymer Chemistry; Remzi Becer.

Doctor of Philosophy, PhD (3 - 4 years).1) Research (PhD in Chemistry) 4 years maximum registration

but funding may be for less than this depending on source. Could involve an industrial collaborator.

2) Molecular Organisation and Assembly in Cells (MOAC), Analytical Science and other DTCs – a four year degree based on a 1+ 3 year model.

3) BBSRC DTG studentships (3 or 4 years).4) Research with additional taught courses (Chemistry with

industrial collaboration) – rare.

Why undertake Postgraduate study?

1) I really enjoy my subject and want to learn more.2) I wish to have a career in research or in academia.3) I wish to have a career in any aspect of the chemical industry4) I don’t wish to have a career in chemistry but it will get me a

better job/better prospects.5) I don’t know what to do at this stage and would like to keep

my options open.

PG’s are also sought for their level of skills which transfer into a range of sectors not just those in chemical research.

A Good Reason to NOT Undertake Postgraduate study

‘I haven’t been able to get a job, so I might as well do a PhD because I need the money’

Research is hard work, but very rewarding, but only you can get the results!

If you are not motivated then don’t do it.

(Be careful what you ask for)

What are the entry requirements?

PhD entry requirements

BSc: First or 2:1 degreeMChem: First, 2.1 or 2:2 degree** Special case has to be made.

BSc: 2:2 degree followed by MSc

MSc entry requirementsBSc: First, 2:1 or 2:2 degree

Think carefully before you apply for a PhD direct from BSc…

Research areas at Warwick

        Chemical Biology

        Interfaces and Materials

        Analytical Science and Instrumentation.

        Synthesis and Catalysis

        Theory and Simulation

Polymer Chemistry.

MORE DETAILS ONLINE.

For PhD the application process and the funding processes are different. First, how do I apply (this is simple)?

1) Decide what type of degree to apply for.2) Decide who you would like to work for (with?).3) Fill in application forms online. 4) Accept formal offer when you are ready.

Be sure to talk to current PhD students as well as supervisors for a true reflection of the Warwick PG experience.

Note – Warwick online application system offers a studentship place without automatic link to funding (other than Chancellors Schoalrships) – you should discuss this with supervisor and/or

Director of Graduate Studies.

Funding your studies (this is complicated!)

1) Determine the area of research that interests you2) Identify academics who have grants.

Or

Apply (nothing to lose) for a Warwick Chancellors Scholarship (CS) or Chancellors International Scholarship (CIS) (note closing date is 13th January 2014).

Or any other source you may know of – Doctoral Training Centres have own funding, staff members may have funding etc. scholarships?

PhD’s at Warwick

Normal intake PhD 40-45, MSc 20+

Different grants available

Government research councils (EPSRC/BBSRC) 15-20

Industrial sponsored grants (CASE, ChemD) 4-8

Warwick Sponsored grants (WPRS) 3-4

Self funded any no.

Charities, EU any no.

PhD progression and monitoring in Chemistry

1) Assigned supervisor (day to day supervision)2) Assigned advisory committee (monitors progress independently)

Progress monitored byFirst year: 3 month report, then full report/viva at end of year.Second year: 1 report/viva at end of year, poster presentation.Third year: lecture to department.

Vivas with advisory committee of 2 members of staff in field of study (not supervisor).

Taught Masters

AS:MIT replaced IAMBEC from Oct 2010.

Taught modules on different analytical techniquesFive month research project in the area of Analytical Chemistry

Modules examined by written examsResearch project examined by thesis

1 year MSc in Polymer Chemistry started October 2012.Taught components in first half of course.

Project for second half of course.Similar assessments as for AS:MIT

Interdisciplinary Science degrees at the Warwick

Doctoral Training Centres

MSc and PhD at interfaces between disciplines

– MOAC (Mathematical Biology and Biophysical Chemistry)

– Systems Biology– Complexity Science

Typically ~10 studentships available for 2011 for UK students

The interface between Physical, Mathematical and Biological Sciences. Opportunity to combine the abilities and knowledge of several disciplines into one multidisciplinary research project.

www.warwick.ac.uk/go/moac

Why MOAC?

How does a 1 ng/10 μm bag of molecules end up being a

thinking moving creative human being?

Yet an almost identical bag of molecules end up a cauliflower?

Or even a salmonella

Essence of a DTC

• Train Research Students• 1 year MSc including chemistry, mathematics, biology etc. plus 3

year PhD• Yr 1 prepares you to choose your PhD research and to manage it thereafter • Multi/Cross/Trans Disciplinary

each PhD supervised across 2 depts; discipline hoppers.

• Significant emphasis on Transferable Skills Team building, communication of science, decision making, leadership, ethics, finances, research proposals, careers

• Research and training community

Scientific themes

Biological Fibres and their Interacting Proteins

Biological Fibres and their Interacting Proteins

Intercellular Communication Processes

Intercellular Communication Processes

Protein Structure and Function

Protein Structure and Function

Cellular Structure and Function

Cellular Structure and Function

Molecular Interactions with Membranes & DNA

Molecular Interactions with Membranes & DNA

ANALYTICAL SCIENCEExperimental design and data analysisModel buildingInstrument design and development

A new doctoral training centre based at Warwick.

Will be advertising before Christmas. People can apply to PhD in Analytical Science and specify the CDT in their long paragraph. It will get to the right place without an application fee.

Essence of MASC

• Train Research Students with integrated 4 year MSc+PhD programmes

• Year 1: MSc 50% taught, 50% 2 research projects• Year 2–4: PhD Yr 1 prepares them to choose PhD research and to manage it thereafter • Multi/Cross/Trans Disciplinary

each PhD supervised across 2 disciplines• Significant emphasis on Transferable Skills:

Team building, communication of science, decision making, leadership, ethics, finances, research proposals, careers

• Research and training community• Integrate theory and experiment• Significant collaboration with industry to develop exciting game changing projects

“As you know - we can measure anything! (or at least will give it a good try!)”

Pat Unwin

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wcas/