Introduction

The BBSRC DTP Programme invites applications for Targeted projects for the 2020 cohort. The Targeted scheme offers the opportunity for all Partners to participate in the Programme and Co-funded Targeted projects allow the Programme to fund additional studentships.

Funding for all BBSRC DTP studentships is dependent on the successful DTP3 grant application, the outcome will not be known until October 2019.

Application Form

Please email the completed form to: bbsrcdtp@admin.cam.ac.uk by 30 August 2019.

• Targeted Studentship application form

Application Guidance

All departments and partner institutes can bid for targeted studentships. Targeted Studentships will be allocated by the BBSRC DTP Research Committee and assessed using one or more of the following criteria:

1. The project has agreed co-funding for example, from a Departmental studentship (A minimum of 50% of a full studentship is required, ~£50,000 over 4 years)
2. the supervisor is an early career researcher and/ or new to the university/ partner institute
3. the project provides training in vulnerable skills (https://bbsrc.ukri.org/skills/enhancing-skills/vulnerable-capabilities/ ) and/or involves transformative technology
4. the project is interdisciplinary and/or involves a collaboration between 2 University departments or with a University Department and Partner Institute
5. the department or DTP Partner has not received any students from the previous year’s cohort

Priority in allocation will be to projects that meet both criteria 1 and one or more of criteria 2-5.

Projects that do not meet criteria 1 will be considered only if the programme has received funds from external sources to provide the co-funding for example from a college or VC award.

Student Training

Targeted students complete DTP Programme training courses (Statistics, Computational and Systems Biology and Research Skills) and are invited to Programme events. They undertake one rotation project in their PhD laboratory and a second rotation project in a lab of their choosing. On successful completion of the above, they proceed to their PhD project. Students must complete a three-month internship (PIPS), usually after their Departmental First Year Assessment and before the last six months of the Programme.

All aspects of the DTP Programme must be completed within 48 months of their start date.

Recruitment Process

• June - 30 August 2018: Call for projects
• September: Research Committee decides on projects
• September/ October: Successful Supervisors are notified as soon a funding from BBSRC DTP3 bid is confirmed
• October 2019 - Decemebr 2019: Projects are advertised and candidates recruited
• October 2020: Studentship begins