British Heart Foundation 4-year PhD Studentships

Duration of Studentship: 4 years

Overview

New developments in cardiovascular basic science, data science and engineering have the potential to significantly reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease. However, true progress will only be made through interdisciplinary collaborations. At UCL we are offering a four-year PhD programme with interdisciplinary cardiovascular research at its core.

This four-year PhD programme provides an exciting opportunity for outstanding graduates with an interest in any aspect of cardiovascular disease. We encourage applications from graduates with previous experience in a range of disciplines, including fundamental and laboratory sciences, engineering, mathematics, physics, data science or epidemiology.

A four-year programme offers a broader and deeper research training opportunity than a traditional three-year PhD scheme and facilitates interdisciplinary research.

At UCL, we have an outstanding track record across fundamental, clinical, and population data science, as well as cardiovascular engineering and mathematics. We also have strong partnerships with some of the largest providers of specialized cardiac care in the UK (St Bartholomew’s, University College London, Moorfields, Royal Free and Great Ormond Street hospitals). Thus, we are ideally placed to offer a truly interdisciplinary PhD programme with multiple opportunities for rapid translation into the clinical environment.

Three studentships are awarded annually by the British Heart Foundation. The first year of the programme provides postgraduate-level tuition in selected relevant topics, training in transferable research skills, and the opportunity to undertake three 12-week research projects, working with different cardiovascular scientists across UCL. These projects provide a basis for you to select a doctoral project and supervisors. During your PhD research, you will be encouraged to present your work at international meetings, and funds will be made available for this. A generous consumables allowance is provided across the studentship.

PhD projects cover the entire range of activity across the UCL campus, so applicants are encouraged to familiarise themselves with our research. As a research student within the Institute of Cardiovascular Science, you will have the opportunity to connect with cardiovascular scientists, and form links with researchers in a wide range of disciplines. You will gain skills suitable for a career in research, the pharmaceutical and medical devices industry and other related fields.

Funding and Eligibility 

Each student receives a stipend based on BHF rates (approximately £22,278 in years 1 & 2, increasing in years 3 & 4) and tuition fees are covered at the UCL home (UK) rate. Non-UK applicants must show evidence of their ability to cover the difference between home and overseas fees for the duration of study and will also need to satisfy UKBA visa requirements. Applicants should hold a minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree (or overseas equivalent) in an appropriate subject, or a recognised taught Master’s degree. Good spoken and written English is expected.

Applications 

Details on the programme and how to apply can be found here .

General enquiries can be emailed to [email protected]

Application deadline: Monday 3rd January 2022 - 5pm 

Proposed interview date: Late January 2022 (tbc)