The MRC Epidemiology Unit is pleased to announce the availability of PhD student places to start in 2025/26.

We investigate the causes and prevention of diabetes, obesity and related metabolic disorders. PhD students are encouraged to develop and conduct their own research relevant to any of the department’s nine research programmes:

• Aetiology and Mechanisms of Diabetes and Related Metabolic Disorders of Later Life
• Early Life Aetiology and Mechanisms of Diabetes and Related Metabolic Disorders
• Physical Activity Epidemiology
• Behavioural Epidemiology and Interventions in Young People
• Prevention of Diabetes and Related Metabolic Disorders in High Risk Groups
• Population Health Interventions
• Public Health Modelling
• Global Diet and Physical Activity Research

Closing date:  Thursday 2 January 2025

Provisional date for interviews: Thursday 23 January 2025

We invite applicants to contact potential supervisors directly to discuss your research interests. An illustrative list of PhD projects is provided at www.mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk/work-and-study/studentships/phd-topics/. Alternatively, you are welcome to formulate your own PhD topic, coherent with the overall goal of the Unit and any of our programmes. We provide diverse research training opportunities and training in transferable academic skills. The academic requirement for entry is a first or upper second class degree or equivalent, and a Masters degree, or equivalent training, in an appropriate scientific discipline. You will be registered with the University of Cambridge and belong to one of its colleges.

The MRC Epidemiology Unit is a department in then the Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine. Our programmes cover a wide scope of research designs and skills, including the aetiology and mechanisms of diabetes and related metabolic disorders using large-scale genomics, proteomics and metabolomics resources, and objective and self-report measures of nutrition and physical activity; and informing and evaluating targeted and whole population approaches to disease prevention, drawing on systems, behavioural and social sciences with a focus on physical activity and dietary behaviours. Students join one of our research programmes, and many also collaborate with researchers in other programmes, other University departments, and beyond.

PhD studentship funding is available from a number of sources. You can select other funding sources when you apply via the university’s Postgraduate Admissions Portal. We strongly advise that you select all funding sources for which you are eligible. We also encourage students to consider funding sources outside the University. We will ‘top up’ external stipend awards (currently to £21,122 per annum).

To apply, please visit the University’s Postgraduate Admissions Portal. Please upload a full CV, two academic references, and a covering letter detailing:

1. Your eligibility for Home or Overseas University fees
2. Which funding sources you are applying to
3. An outline of your research interests and, if relevant, your proposed research topic