项目介绍

2021年8月4日

About the course

The DPhil in Pharmacology offers a wide range of cutting-edge research topics within a multi-disciplinary and world-renowned department (ranked number 1 by subject since 2019 in the QS World Ranking), from calcium signalling to cardiovascular pharmacology, neuropharmacology and medicinal chemistry.

In the first instance, applicants are strongly advised to visit the department’s website to identify potential supervisors based on their research area of interest. Selecting the correct research area and discussing possible projects is a hugely important first step, so it is recommended that you contact potential supervisors directly to discuss possibilities before you apply online for a place on the course.

This programme aims to train students in the general areas of:

• Cardiovascular Pharmacology
• Medicinal Chemistry
• Neuropharmacology
• Signalling

Within each areas cutting-edge laboratory research techniques will be used including biophysics of ion channels, electrophysiology, microscopy, molecular biology, systems biology to a broad range of sub-disciplines including cell biology, calcium channels and signalling, chemical tools, medicinal chemistry, drug discovery, vascular pharmacology, circadian rhythms, rare diseases, lysosomal and sphingolipid disorders, neuronal circuits, synaptic plasticity and pharmacology, neuropsychopharmacology and molecular biology.

A typical day/week in each year of the course in the first two to three years will mostly focus on direct research and lab work, but will also require reading of the literature, attendance at departmental seminars, lab meetings and skills training. Once sufficient progress has been made, research will taper off and efforts will be put into data analysis and preparing a thesis.

On the DPhil, your research will be carried out at Oxford under the supervision of a member of academic staff. You will work within their research group on a project at the forefront of the subject.

If you are interested in joining the department as a DPhil student, you are strongly encouraged to look at the Department of Pharmacology’s current research to help identify the most suitable area of research. Selecting the correct research project is a hugely important first step, so it is recommended that you contact potential supervisors directly to discuss possibilities before you apply online for a place on the course.

On starting as a probationary research student, besides regular monitoring undertaken by your supervisor and department, the University checks your progress twice – firstly, your transfer to DPhil status and secondly, the confirmation of your DPhil status.

Supervision

DPhil candidates will be assigned to two supervisors, one acting as the main day-to-day research supervisor and the second as an additional mentor. The allocation of graduate supervision is the responsibility of the Department of Pharmacology and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Department of Pharmacology.

In the case of students who require specific help to adjust to an academic programme or to a new range of skills, supervisors will work with them to ensure that they have additional support.

Assessment

At the end of your time with the department you will produce a doctoral thesis that represents a significant advance in the field.

You will begin your course as a probationary research student (PRS) and near the end of the first year you will write a report to transfer to DPhil (PhD) status. To transfer your status, you must make a formal application which will include a research report and statement of future research plans. You will also take an independent assessment by two assessors. Continuation in the programme is subject to passing the Transfer of Status exam.

After eight terms of study you will need to apply formally to confirm your DPhil status. You will be required to present your on-going work in a formal context where it will be reviewed by two independent assessors. Continuation in the programme is subject to successfully completing the Confirmation of Status.

The length of the programme ranges from three to four years with the exact duration depending on the following factors as judged by your supervisor(s) and assessors:

• focus and rate of your research development and progress
• achievement of acceptable focus and scope of thesis
• publication quality research
• length of available funding

You will be given the opportunity to potentially become an expert in your research area and you will have demonstrated that you are an original and creative thinker capable of independent scientific work at a very high level.

Graduate destinations

According to the department’s last survey, 100% of DPhil students have either gone on to continue their education or are in employment. Departmental academics follow their alumni with interest.

Examples of careers and employers on completion of the DPhil: postdoctoral research, the pharmaceutical industry, the Wellcome Trust, the biotechnology industry, graduate medical study, investment banking and Google UK.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made in circumstances of a pandemic (including Covid-19), epidemic or local health emergency. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.

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