Overview

This self-paced 3-week PhD Taster Summer School will give you first-hand an insight into the exciting world of a PhD. Working together as small collaborative teams (with support from our student mentors) you will tackle research questions, analyse data that is tailored to your interests, and share your findings with your fellow Summer School attendees. All whilst in a supportive and encouraging environment, to help you have the best experience.

The mini PhD projects will focus on data science in the biosciences.

"Why data science?" I may hear you say. Well, data science is everywhere and applicable to so many disciplines across the biosciences (as well as beyond). Data-driven decisions play such a big part in society with unbelievable real-world applications from medical breakthroughs to climate change solutions.

As such, it is highly desirable across a multitude of career sectors, so not only will you have a great insight into a PhD but you will also be upskilled during the process.

Feeling a bit apprehensive? Don't worry, we will give you all the tools and training to prepare you, with some additional support readily available if you are finding the pre-training is not quite sinking in. We also have our friendly and enthusiastic students here to help you along the way.

The programme

Self-paced pre-training (1-2 hours) - Wed 11-Wed 18 June

This will ensure you have all the basics at your fingertips and designed for people who are brand new to data science as well as if you have some experience.

Don't worry, if anything is unclear in the training resource, our helpful SWBio DTP students will be on hand!

Our launch event (2 hours) - Mon 23 June (12-2pm GMT)

You will be introduced to the Summer School and meet our students who will take you through preparing for your exciting mini PhD project.

Self-paced 3-week mini PhD project - Mon 23 June-Fri 11 July

You will work in small groups whilst supported by our current students. Using our online platforms you will be able keep in touch with your team and your student mentors throughout.

This has been designed to be self-paced and easily accessible, so can work around other commitments*. We expect the time commitment to be 10-12 hours over the 3 weeks.

* If you are away for a significant amount of time (e.g. a week) and not able to provide any input during that time, we have found that this does significantly impact being able to work effectively with your team and would recommend attending another of our PhD Taster Summer Schools in the future.

Optional support sessions (2 hours)

Alongside support and guidance from your mentors and your team, there is the opportunity to attend support sessions to help ensure you are set up for the days ahead.

Our closing event (2 hours) - Fri 11 July (12-2pm GMT)

You will come together to share what you have found out*, with some guidance about next steps and top tips so you feel confident and equipped to further explore the PhD world if you still wish to.

*importantly, it is completely up to you in what format you do this in and we will show you some different options that suit a range of preferences.

Registration

To support access into bioscience PhDs, those who have attended undertaken a first UK degree at a non-Russell Group/post-92* university will be prioritised.

*Post 92 are organisations that became universities after the Further and Higher Education Act of 1992; the Russell Group is an organisation of universities that have a shared focus on research.

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About the SWBio DTP

This event is delivered by the South West Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (SWBio DTP), a BBSRC-funded interdisciplinary PhD training programme in the biosciences, based at many universities and institutions across the South West and Wales.

Further information about the SWBio DTP >>

We also have other FREE virtual events to support your journey into a bioscience PhD - includes our mailing list to stay up to date with events and when PhD studentships are available to apply to.

Other opportunities with the SWBio DTP to support your journey into a bioscience PhD >>

FREE Virtual PhD Taster Summer School - with the SWBio DTP