MRes Biomedical Research (Microbiome in Health and Disease)
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 technique
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
- Bacterial Pathogenesis and Infection
- Data Science
- Epidemiology, Evolution and Control of Infectious Diseases
- Microbiome in Health and Disease (this stream)
- Molecular Basis of Human Disease
- Respiratory and Cardiovascular Science
Microbiome in Health and Disease stream
The Microbiome in Health and Disease stream focuses on the multidisciplinary approaches to understanding gut microbiome and developing new targets for disease prevention and treatment.
You’ll perform novel laboratory-based research and learn to exercise critical scientific thought when interpreting the results. You’ll undertake two research projects and gain experience of developing research plans. By the end of the stream, you will be familiar with writing grant applications and will improve your writing, presenting and communication skills when defining research reports.
Is this stream for you?
The microbiome stream is aimed at students with a biochemical, microbiological or biological background interested in pursuing further education in microbiome and nutrition in health and disease, understanding fundamental mechanisms behind disease processes and developing therapeutic targets. It is also for students with a clinical background interested in understanding microbiome in clinical research.
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 current 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.
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 been:
- The role of gut bacteria in the activation of T cells
- Can the vaginal and endometrial microbiota determine IVF outcomes?
- Metabolic investigation of Endobarrier surgery for Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes
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
You can submit one application form per year of entry, and usually choose up to two courses.
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Before you apply
Our MRes Biomedical Research degree has several streams and the application process will differ based on your chosen stream.
The majority of streams are “open streams” meaning you follow the standard online application process (see Making an application in the How to apply section below). Open streams are those not associated with a specific studentship. If you are the recipient of a scholarship or studentship, please specify in your personal statement, regardless of which stream you choose.
All of the MRes Biomedical Research streams are open streams, with the exception of:
- Epidemiology, Evolution and Control of Infectious Diseases (read more about the 1+3)
- Respiratory and Cardiovascular Science (MRC studentships; BHF studentships)
The two streams above are part of 1+3 PhD doctoral training courses. Applicants wishing to apply to these streams must first submit an application for the relevant studentship. It is only after studentships are awarded that successful recipients will be asked to submit an online application.
Please be aware the deadlines for studentships are much earlier than standard course deadlines and you are encouraged to submit an application prior to Christmas 2018 for 2019 entry.
The requirement to hold a studentship applies only to the two streams named above, and Respiratory and Cardiovascular Science does also accept self-funded students.
Making an application
All applicants to our Master’s courses must apply online.