Institute of Integrative Biology: Training requirements
Updated for Academic Year 2014-15
The Institute requires that PhD students take the mandatory University training modules (See Year Development (code APRS xxx), Poster Day or Poster Day Online (code APRC xxx), Careers Development (code APPR xxx)).
In addition, the Institute requires students to undertake the following subject specific training.
Year 1
The Institute requires students to attend an Induction Event to include an introduction to the Institute and its procedures (BIOR501), Introduction to central resources (BIOR503) and safety induction (BIOR505). PhD students intending to undertake teaching (demonstrating) in undergraduate practical or fieldwork modules, classes or workshops should attend the University’s Graduate Teaching Assistant training course and specific training for each module/class/workshop (BIOR507). Students should attend training in research ethics and integrity (BIOL609). Students are expected to attend Institute seminars both relevant to their research and more broadly (BIOR605) for the duration of their PhD studies.
Students should discuss their proposed training with their supervisors at the start of their registration for PhD. The Institute requires that PhD students take 3 M-level modules (or equivalent) of training to support their research projects. These should be selected from modules available within the University or equivalent training from external organisations. Students are strongly advised to take LIFE707 Advanced Statistics for Biological Research unless they already have Master’s level (or higher) training in statistics. The module BIOL763 Statistics for Biological Research is available to those with no previous training in statistics. Further advised modules are listed below, but many others are available. Students moving into the biological sciences with a background in mathematics, computing, physics or medicine may be advised to take undergraduate modules that provide suitable background. Students can request exemption if they have already have equivalent background training but are encouraged to seek advanced specialist training outside the University (industry, scientific organisations or societies). Other training can be recorded (BIOR607).
Within 3 months of registration, all PhD students must provide a short literature survey and project outline (‘3 month report’ BIOR601). After 9 months registration (i.e. towards the end of Year 1), students must provide a short report on their progress and attend a viva with their Assessors (BIOR603). This forms part of the University’s Annual Progress Review of each PhD student.
Students must also submit an annual portfolio of activities that include all training and development undertaken (PDRR001).
Component Code / Component NameLIFE707 / Advanced Statistics for Biological Research
BIOL721 / Informatics for Life Sciences
BIOR501 / Intro and Institute procedures
BIOR503 / Intro to Central Resources
BIOR505 / Safety induction
BIOR507 / Demonstrator training
BIOR601 / Literature survey and project outline
BIOR603 / End of year review
BIOR605 / Seminar programme
BIOR607 / Other training
BIOR609 / Research Ethics Training
PDRR001 / PGR Portfolio of Activities
Subject specific training modules
Modules are provided by the Institute in a limited number of areas. PhD students can take useful modules delivered by any other Department or Institute in the University, with agreement from that Department/Institute. Training in some languages is also available. Supervisors may be aware of modules that are particularly useful for your project area. Topics like statistics and bioinformatics pervade most areas of modern biology and will continue to be important during your career. We encourage all PhD students to improve their skills in these areas and offer several modules:
LIFE707 Advanced Statistics for Biological Research. Includes introduction to the R programming language. Advised for those who already have some familiarity with statistics (e.g. Year 2 or 3 in B. Sc. degree)
BIOL763 Statistics for Biological Research Advised for those with little prior knowledge of statistics
BIOL721 Informatics for Life Sciences. Introduces major areas of informatics and what they can do for you. Introduces you to staff in IIB expert in these areas, and to current PhD students who are using particular tools in their projects
LIFE708 Post-genomics Bioinformatics (in Semester 2, pre-requisite BIOL721) Following an overview of genome and proteome bioinformatics, select 3 topics on applications to protein structure & function, unusual protein structures, phylogeny, genomics, proteomics or omic data analysis.
BIOL733 Programming for Life Sciences. Based on perl and useful for anyone who wants to learn a programming language, handle large datasets and/or develop their own scripts.
LIFE731 Research Methods and Applications in Biological Sciences Includes training in scientific writing styles, ethics, experimental design & hypothesis testing and industrial applications. Select further topics from proteomics, genomics, modelling, meta-analysis, transcriptomics and microarrays, advanced microscopy, molecular ecology.
LIFE743 Advanced Topics in Animal Behaviour(in Semester 2). Using evolutionary theory to understand animal behaviour. Developing knowledge and understanding of the complexity of animal behaviour.
LIFE713 Advanced Topics in Cell Signalling Cellular responses to external signals – receptors, cyclic nucleotides, calcium, phosphorylation and the kinome. Cell strategies for processing signal information. Applications in biochemistry and biomedicine.
Training in several languages is also available at the University and is advised if your research project will take you to countries where they are spoken.
Beginners and Intermediate Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Arabic, French, German, Italian, Spanish: University Continuing Education, see pages 44 – 49 in prospectus at
Beginners and Intermediate Mandarin Chinese: University Confucius Institute, see
English classes for EU and International students in Year 1 PhD in Faculty of Health and Life Sciences: This class covers conversational as well as written scientific English and helps prepare for presentations etc. Enquiries to ELC reception (). See also
In addition, training from advanced specialist courses provided outside the University that supports your project is encouraged. Your supervisor is best-placed to advise you.
Year II
After 21 months of study, (i.e. towards the end ofYear 2), students must provide a short report on their progress and attend a viva with their Assessors (BIOR604). This is part of the University’s Annual Progress Review of each PhD student.
Students are strongly encouraged to participate in Enterprise competitions (e.g. EnvironmentYES, BiotechnologyYES) to develop awareness of enterprise, entrepreneurship, and social responsibility in the biological sciences. These also fulfil the University’s Careers Development requirement.
Component code / Component nameAPPR002 etc / Poster Day or Poster Day On-line
BIOR604 / End of Year Review
BIOR610 / Attendance at scientific meetings
APRC xxx / Career Development – several possible activities
Year2 - Notes
Core Training / Skills Developed
APPR xxx / Poster Presentations (in person or online) for second year PGRs. Development of presentation skills
BIOR604 / 2nd-year report
2nd-year report (20 pages) / Scientific writing
Viva with 2 assessors / Preparation for thesis viva
Other activities recorded as training: / Academic modules; Seminar attendance; visits to Research Institutes; Presentations at National and International Workshops; Presentations at Scientific Conferences or Meetings.
Year III
Students must undertake the University’s mandatory Career Development (APRC xxx) unless already completed.
MGJ 04/26/20141