Molecular and Cell Biology PhD - Structure-based drug discovery and design

University of Leicester

The Department of Molecular and Cell Biology provides infrastructure and a supportive environment for more than 30 active and dynamic research groups, forming a coherent research community with established strengths in four areas of fundamental and translational scientific research. We are part of the College of Life Sciences. The Department is almost wholly accommodated within the Henry Wellcome Building and contiguous with the Institute for Structural and Chemical Biology, with a number of MCB principal investigators also being core members of the Institute. We host a vibrant teaching community, including a group of teaching-focused academics, which contributes to undergraduate and post-graduate taught degree courses, particularly within the School of Biological Sciences. We offer PhD and supervision in Molecular and Cell Biology in areas compatible with the research interests of our academic staff: Biochemistry Cancer and Cell Biology Cell Physiology and Pharmacology Cell Signalling and G Protein-coupled Receptor Molecular Pharmacology Mechanisms and Principles of Gene Expression Molecular Physiology of the Cardiovascular System Structure, Dynamics, and Assembly of Macromolecular Complexes Structure-based Drug Discovery and Design Structure-function Relationships in Ion Channels and Receptors PhD students complete an independent research project under the guidance of a supervisory team. The research is normally completed over a maximum period of 3.0-3.5 years (full-time) or 6.0-6.5 years (part-time). A fourth year (full-time) or seventh year (part-time) or the remaining part of this can be used to prepare the thesis for examination. The thesis should not normally exceed 50,000 words and must make an original contribution to knowledge and contain work of publishable quality. The thesis must then be defended in a viva voce (oral) examination before a degree can be awarded.

Department of Molecular and Cell Biology