Convergence Science PhD
The Convergence Science PhD exposes trainees to research across both institutions through joint supervision from The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and Imperial College London academics.
Funding is available for a number of highly competitive Convergence Science PhD Studentships, which provide a fixed, tax-free annual stipend of £21,000, a budget for research consumables and are inclusive of home fees for a period of four years. Funding for overseas fees is not provided; however, if you are an overseas student you may discuss other options to support the difference in international fees with the prospective supervisors.
Students will be enrolled on the programme will be provided with bespoke training to develop the skills required to work across the boundaries of different disciplines. We asked a selection of our current students what attracted them to this field, their experience of the programme so far, and what their aspirations are for the future. We asked a selection of our supervisors their thoughts on convergence science, their philosophy to mentoring, what attributes they are looking for in a convergence science student, and what key factors prospective students should consider when choosing a PhD. Click here to read perspectives from our current students and supervisors.
Applications for PhDs are invited from talented UK graduates or final year undergraduates.
We consider all applications on merit and have a strong commitment to enhancing the diversity of our students. We look forward to receiving applications from all candidates and will select those who display the potential to become the world leading cancer researchers of the future based on their application and performance at interview. We particularly welcome UK applicants from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds, as they are underrepresented at PhD level within the ICR and Imperial.
Tuition fees are covered for UK students only. International students are invited to apply subject to outlining how they will meet the difference in tuition fees.
Candidates should hold, or expect to gain, either;
Four cross-institutional PhD projects are listed below. All are jointly supervised by the ICR and Imperial supervisors.
All projects available are:
Application menu title: Laminin targeted cancer immunotherapy
The student will be registered at Imperial, leading to the award of a PhD from Imperial College London.
Application menu title: Molecular barcodes for functionalization of cancer heterogeneity
The student will be registered at Imperial, leading to the award of a PhD from Imperial College London.
Application menu title: Accelerating volumetric MR Imaging for Real-Time Adaptive Radiotherapy
The student will be registered at the ICR, leading to the award of a PhD from the University of London.
Application menu title: Live imaging techniques to determine mechanisms of chromosomal drug resistance in breast cancer
The student will be registered at the ICR, leading to the award of a PhD from the University of London.
The ICR and Imperial supervisors work together to develop and submit PhD research proposal in summer/autumn.
The proposals are reviewed by the Training Subcommittee comprising ICR and Imperial academics with convergence science expertise. Successful applications are advertised online in autumn/winter.
This year the round opened on 10th December 2020 - please see project listings in section above.
Applications will close on 3rd January 2021 at 11:55pm UK time.
Your referees should have submitted references by 10th January 2021.
Applications are made through the ICR's Student Application Portal.
Interviews for shortlisted candidates are usually held in January/February each year.
This year remote/online video-based panel interviews will be held on 3rd February 2021.
Funding for studentships will commence in the following autumn (October 2021).
For further detail please visit the ICR How to apply for PhD studentships webpage.
For more information on this opportunity send an email to Dr Garrick Wilson (garrick.wilson@imperial.ac.uk)
The Convergence Science PhDs exposes trainees to research across both institutions through joint supervision from The Institute of Cancer Research, London and Imperial College London academics.
Funding is available for a number of highly competitive Convergence Science PhD Studentships, which provide a fixed annual stipend of £21,000, a research consumables budget and are inclusive of home fees for a period of four years. Funding for overseas fees is not provided; however, offers can be made to overseas students should you secure support for the difference in international fees.
We are looking for proposals suitable for a four year PhD project from ICR and Imperial supervisors working together from distinct disciplines. Proposals must:
If you are interested in applying and would like to connect with academics from both institutions to build research proposals, we are hosting a Supervisor Connection meeting on November 12th at 14.00 - 16.00 to facilitate potential partnerships. Please email to confirm your interest to attend no later than November 10th. At this meeting you will be asked to give a short elevator pitch on your research interest. The elevator pitches will showcase cancer research at the ICR and engineering and physical sciences research at Imperial. Moreover, supervisors will be able to identify where true synergies exist to co-develop a proposal.
The ICR and Imperial supervisors work together to develop and submit PhD research proposals.
Please confirm attendance to Supervisor Connect meeting by November 10th 2020.
The Supervisor Connect meeting will take place on November 12th 2020.
The deadline for submission of proposals is November 23rd 2020.
The proposals are reviewed by the Training Subcommittee comprising ICR and Imperial academics with convergence science expertise. Outcomes will be announced in December 2020. Successful applications are advertised online in autumn/winter.
Interviews for shortlisted candidates are usually held in January/February each year.
Remote/online video-based panel interviews will be held on 3rd February 2021.
Funding for studentships will commences in the following autumn (October 2021).
Training the next generation of
convergence scientists
