POSTGRADUATE STUDIES IN CHEMISTRY

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POSTGRADUATE STUDIES IN CHEMISTRY
Professor Martin Wills Director of Postgraduate
Studies Department of Chemistry Secretary Mr
Jeremy Ireland.
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POSTGRADUATE STUDIES IN CHEMISTRY
Contents What postgraduate programmes are
available? Why do postgraduate research? What are
the entry requirements? What Subject? How do I
apply? How do I get funding?
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What type of postgraduate degrees can I do?

• Masters degrees, MSc (1 year).
• Taught masters Instrumental and Analytical
  Methods in Biological and Environmental Chemistry
  (IAMBEC)
• Research masters MSc by research.
• Doctor of Philosophy, PhD (3 - 4 years).
• Research (Chemistry) 3-3.5 years.
• Research with additional taught courses.
  (Chemistry with Industrial collaboration).
  Funding not now available.
• Molecular Organisation and Assembly in Cells
  (MOAC) a four year degree.

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Why undertake Postgraduate study?

• I really enjoy my subject and want to learn more.
• I wish to have a career in research in the
  chemical industry
• I wish to have a career in any aspect of the
  chemical industry
• I dont wish to have a career in chemistry but it
  will get me a
• better job
• 5) I dont know what to do at this stage and
  would like to keep my options open.

PGs are also sought for their level of skills
which transfer into a range of sectors not just
those in chemical research.
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A Good Reason to NOT Undertake Postgraduate study
I havent been able to get a job, so I might as
well do a PhD because I need the money
Research is hard work, with no promise of
success, and only you can get the results! If
you are not motivated then dont do it.
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What are the entry requirements?
PhD entry requirements BSc First or 21
degree MChem First, 2.1 or 22 degree
Special case has to be made. BSc 22 degree
followed by MSc MSc entry requirements BSc Fi
rst, 21 or 22 degree
Think carefully before you apply for a PhD direct
from BSc
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Research areas at Warwick
        Chemical Biology Studying the chemical basis for a vairety of biological problems and developing new chemical methods for the study of biological systems.
        Materials Design, synthesis application of macromolecular assemblies. Development of chemical and strucural imaging techniques for micro-nanoscale systems.
        Physical Chemistry and Chemical Physics Focussing on the structure, properties and reaction dynamics of clusters and biomacromolecules in the gas-phase.
        Synthesis and Catalysis Wide ranging research bridging organic, organometallic and inorganic chemistry.
        Theory and Computational Developing and applying methods for the calculation of the properties and reactivities of matter.
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How do I apply to Warwick?

• Decide what type of degree to apply for.
• Decide who you would like to work for (with?).
• Fill in application forms online,
• Accept formal offer.

Be sure to talk to current PhD students as well
as supervisors for a true reflection of the
Warwick PG experience. Note Warwick system
offers studentship without automatic link to
funding you should discuss this with supervisor
and/or Director of Graduate Studies.
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Funding your studies

• Determine the area of research that interests you
• Identify academics who have grants.
• Or
• Apply for Warwick Postgraduate Studentship (first
  round closing date is 30th Nov 2009).
• Or any other scheme you may know of.

From October 2010 WPRS Grant will pay EPSRC
level stipend pa ALL fees also covered.
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PhDs at Warwick
Normal intake PhD 30-35, MSc 8-12
Different grants available Government research
councils (EPSRC/BBSRC) 10-12 Industrial
sponsored grants (CASE, ChemD) 2-7 Warwick
Sponsored grants (WPRS) 1-2 Self
funded any no. Charities, EU any no.
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PhD progression and monitoring

1. Assigned supervisor (day to day supervision)
2. Assigned advisory committee (monitors progress
   independently)

Progress monitored by First year 3 month
report, then full report/viva at end of
year. Second year 1 report/viva at end of year,
poster presentation. Third year lecture to
department.
Vivas with advisory committee of 2 members of
staff in field of study (not supervisor).
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Taught Masters Instrumental and Analytical
Methods in Biological and Environmental
Chemistry (IAMBEC) Changing to a new course in
2010.

• Eight Taught 2 week modules on different
  analytical techniques
• Five month research project in the area of
  Analytical Chemistry
• Modules examined by written exams
• Research project examined by thesis
• Typical funding 5-6 EPSRC grants of ca. 12,000
  plus fees
• Apply online

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Interdisciplinary Science degrees at the Warwick
Doctoral Training Centres

• MSc and PhD at interfaces between disciplines
• MOAC (Mathematical Biology and Biophysical
  Chemistry)
• Systems Biology
• Complexity Science
• 10 studentships available for 2010 for UK
  students

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Professor Alison Rodger a.rodger_at_warwick.ac.uk (no
t Dr. Alison Roger)
The interface between Physical, Mathematical and
Biological Sciences is one of the key
development areas of modern science. Crossing the
interface, the Molecular Organisation and
Assembly in Cells (MOAC) PhD Programme at Warwick
provides the opportunity to combine the abilities
and knowledge of several disciplines into one
multidisciplinary research project, with a one
year MSc programme also available.
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Essence of a DTC

• Train Research Students with integrated
  MScPhD (4 year) programmes
• resulting in MSc after year 1 and PhD after year
  4
• Multi/Cross/Trans Disciplinary each PhD
  supervised across 2 depts discipline
  hoppers.
• Significant emphasis on Transferable Skills
  Team building, communication of science,
  decision making, leadership, ethics, finances,
  research proposals, careers
• Research and training community
  

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Training Structure
8 taught modules Oct-March
TransferableSkills - core module
MSc one year
Miniprojects April-Sept in different disciplines
2 x 12 weeks (Systems Biology, Complexity)
3 x 8 weeks (MOAC)
W Int-Disc. Sci.TransferableSkills
Certificate 60 CATS
PhD project topic chosen by students towards
the end of MSc year Cross-department (2
supervisors) Monitored by DTC examined on
thesis
PhD three years
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MOAC Scientific theme

• Emphasise quantitative methodologies
• Core MOAC research tools requires broad-based
  scientists
• Structure is key to function
• Research activity across disciplines
• Expect to see increasing activity
• Current technologies are not adequate
• Potential for significant collaboration with
  Systems Biology and Complexity