MRes Biomedical Research (Bacterial Pathogenesis and Infection)
MRes
Duration: 1 year full-time
Overview
Our one-year full-time course provides broad training to prepare you for a career in biomedical research.
The programme provides an excellent background in biomedical research, and will integrate chemical, biological and physiological aspects in a unified approach.
This course teaches a mechanistic approach to the problems encountered in molecular and cellular biomedical science.
It also emphasises an investigative and empirical approach to the practical problems encountered in experimental and human biomedical science.
Study programme
The course is made up of a general stream and number of specialist streams.
All of our biomedical research streams have the same course structure. The taught elements and research project are determined by your chosen stream.
Over 12 months, you complete two five-month research projects (4.5 days per week) and a core programme (0.5 days per week) including grant writing, technical workshops, journal clubs and transferable skills.
The research projects incorporate cutting-edge developments in the field. You will experience some of the most technologically advanced approaches currently being applied to biomedical research.
Streams
Whichever stream you choose, the emphasis is on a research-orientated approach made up of both theoretical and practical elements.
You will acquire an understanding of modern molecular and cell science in world class biomedical research laboratories through both theory and practical exposure.
You will also demonstrate practical dexterity in both commonly employed and more advanced practical techniques.
You have the option of choosing our general biomedical research stream, or one of eight specialisms in the following areas:
- General Biomedical Research
- Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care (this stream)
- Bacterial Pathogenesis and Infection
- Data Science
- Epidemiology, Evolution and Control of Infectious Diseases
- Microbiome in Health and Disease
- Molecular Basis of Human Disease
- Respiratory and Cardiovascular Science
Bacterial Pathogenesis and Infection stream
This specialist stream provides research training in fundamental aspects of:
- bacterial pathogenesis
- host immunity
- the microbiota
- antibiotic resistance and persistence
The emphasis is on molecular approaches to understanding infection, immunity and antibiotic susceptibility at the host-pathogen interface.
This research-orientated approach to training in biomedical sciences comprises both theoretical and practical elements.
Through two five-month research projects and a series of lectures and technical workshops, you will be exposed to the latest developments in bacterial pathogenesis, host immunity, antibiotic resistance and the microbiota by applying technologically advanced approaches to biomedical research questions.
In addition, we focus particular attention on the scientific and professional acumen required to establish research independence.
MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection
This stream is based in the MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection (CMBI), a cross-faculty, multidisciplinary research centre.
It comprises over 55 academic and postdoctoral research staff and 35 postgraduate students.
The overall goals of the CMBI are to understand the biology of infectious diseases with an emphasis on bacterial infections and to translate this information into novel strategies for preventing and treating microbial disease.
Is this stream for you?
This stream is designed for students who wish to pursue a career in bacterial pathogenesis and infection research, whether it be in academia, industry or government. To date, the vast majority of our graduates have gone on to study for a PhD.
Careers
Our MRes in Biomedical Research is designed for students looking to pursue a career in biomedical research, whether in academia, industry or government. The overwhelming majority of graduates, who have wanted to continue on to PhD study, have done so.
The course will equip you with the key skills needed to plan, conduct, publish and obtain funding for successful research.
The programme offers training in a vast array of laboratories across the Faculty of Medicine (approximately 700 world leading research groups) and an opportunity to learn from leaders in the field.
Structure
Modules shown are for the 2019-20 academic year and are subject to change depending on your year of entry.
Please note that the curriculum of this course is currently being reviewed as part of a College-wide process to introduce a standardised modular structure. As a result, the content and assessment structures of this course may change for your year of entry. We therefore recommend that you check this course page before finalising your application and after submitting it as we will aim to update this page as soon as any changes are ratified by the College.
Find out more about the limited circumstances in which we may need to make changes to or in relation to our courses, the type of changes we may make and how we will tell you about changes we have made.
You take all of the modules below.
- Grant Writing Exercise
- Project 1
- Project 2
You have a wide range of research projects available to you, and complete two projects during your studies.
The projects available to you are determined by your chosen stream.
You can also choose projects from other streams, though will only have priority within your own stream.
Past projects from students of this stream have included:
- Host cell membrane targeting of Salmonella integral membrane effector proteins
- The Type VI Secretion System: Effector Proteins for Host Cell Subversion
- Does combination therapy reduce the emergence of antibiotic resistance?
Teaching and assessment
Teaching methods
- Computer tutorials
- Journal Clubs
- Laboratory/computational experience
- Research supervision
- Technical workshops
- Tutorials and Seminars
Assessment methods
- Laboratory/computer based research
- Oral presentation
- Poster presentation
- Research reports
- Viva voce
Entry requirements
We welcome students from all over the world and consider all applicants on an individual basis.
Minimum academic requirement
Our minimum requirement is a 2.1 degree in an appropriate subject.
International qualifications
We also accept a wide variety of international qualifications.
The academic requirement above is for applicants who hold or who are working towards a USA qualification.
For guidance see our Country Index though please note that the standards listed here are the minimum for entry to the College, and not specifically this Department.
If you have any questions about admissions and the standard required for the qualification you hold or are currently studying then please contact the relevant admissions team.
English language requirement (all applicants)
All candidates must demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency for admission to the College.
For admission to this course, you must achieve the standard College requirement in the appropriate English language qualification. For details of the minimum grades required to achieve this requirement, please see the English language requirements for postgraduate applicants.
How to apply
.
Making an application
All applicants to our Master’s courses must apply online.