MPhil in Biological Sciences (Developmental Biology) by advanced study

University of Cambridge

The MPhil in Biological Sciences provides students with an opportunity to undertake a period of study and research in Developmental Biology, one of the Faculty’s key research pathways.

Developmental biology is a remarkably cross-disciplinary area of biomedical research that spans traditional departmental boundaries and many different technologies, such as molecular biology, genetics, epigenetics, cell and stem cell biology, imaging and bioinformatics. This field is increasingly significant in the era of readily available genome sequences, because functional studies of development are essential to decipher the roles of many genes, and will be invaluable if we are to reap the benefits of this wealth of new information. A major challenge now is to find more powerful, systematic and quantitative ways of investigating how this genetic information is translated into morphogenetic instructions, and to analyse how these instructions generate and are modulated by the forces that shape tissues and organs. This course embraces the challenge and offers a powerful opportunity to explore processes and mechanisms across a range of developmental model systems.

The course will draw upon the breadth and international strengths in developmental biology within the University of Cambridge and associated research institutes; notably the Departments of Biochemistry, Genetics, Pathology, Physiology Development and Neuroscience, Plant Sciences, Zoology, the Gurdon Institute, the MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, the Sainsbury Laboratory and the Wellcome-MRC Stem Cell Institute.

The MPhil is offered by the Faculty of Biology as a full-time period of study and research and introduces students to research skills and specialist knowledge in Developmental Biology.

The MPhil course adopts interactive and discussion-based teaching, much of which is seminar-style where student participation and discussion are strongly encouraged. This is complemented with extensive lab-based training during a research project (up to 32 weeks + 6 weeks writing up time) with students integrated into one of the many participating research groups (selected after starting the MPhil, having been introduced to projects and groups).

The main aims are to give students with relevant experience at first-degree level the opportunity:

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• to carry out focussed research in the discipline under close supervision;
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• to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests;
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• to be introduced to the skills of experimental design, project management and time management that are needed in research;
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• to become familiar with the practicalities of laboratory research, including record keeping, data handling and professional laboratory practice;
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• to learn analytical techniques needed to understand and contextualise their research;
• to familiarise themselves with scientific writing and presentation skills.