Year 1

A local institutional induction will be followed by a NLD BBSRC DTP Welcome Event where the whole cohort will gather to learn more about the programme, the range of support available and allow for networking across institutions. As well as starting your project you will attend the North East Postgraduate Conference, Professional Internship Placement Event, a SysMIC Workshop to assist with your successful completion of the online SysMIC programme, an Enterprise Event and Annual NLD BBSRC DTP Conference. All events will provide a great chance for you to network with staff and peers across the cohort as well as the sector as a number of external speakers will be in attendance.

Years 2 & 3

In years 2-4, you will continue to develop your skills and understanding through a bespoke structured programme that emphasises individual training and cohort-based training, in addition to project-specific skills.

For example, you will continue to develop and test research ideas and learn how to:

• Design good experiments
• Analyse and present data
• Communicate your work to other scientists

You will be strongly encouraged to publish your work in leading international journals, attend conferences at home and abroad, and get involved in other activities such as enterprise competitions and public engagement events.

During years 2 & 3 is when most students opt to take part in their Professional Internship Placement and work in industry for 12 weeks or more (indeed this can be split into two or more periods at two or more different places if required) and gain valuable experience of a placement in industry.

Year 4

By the end of four years, you will have become an expert in your research area and be ready to take the next important steps in your career. You will also have the opportunity of attending a Writing Retreat where you will receive support and guidance in how to improve your writing and make the most out of the time spent writing up your work for submission.

Find out more about the PhD projects of our current students.