Applicant information
What happens after you apply to Bristol?
Physiology and Pharmacology
| Awards available | PhD MSc by Research |
|---|---|
| Duration of programme | MSc: One year full-time PhD: Three years full-time; six years part-time |
| Number of places | 10-15 |
Page contents
Programme overview
The School of Physiology and Pharmacology has an international reputation for research excellence in neuroscience, cell signalling, and cardiovascular biology. The School is highly committed to training the next generation of scientists from both the UK and overseas taking great pride in the standard of our postgraduate provision. New students enter an exciting and vibrant research environment where we support and challenge our postgraduates to excel. All postgraduates receive extensive research and transferable skills training. The School is well supported by programme and project grants, particularly from the MRC, BBSRC, Wellcome Trust, CRUK and British Heart Foundation. This has enabled the School to provide a vibrant environment for research in which we have over 90 PhD students at various stages in their research projects.
The majority of our postgraduate students through the course of their studies develop into highly productive researchers, publishing in leading peer-reviewed biomedical journals. Most go onto postdoctoral research in academia and industry, both in the UK and abroad. Other students use the skills gained during their study to enter postgraduate-level employment. The School is also committed to promoting the advancement of women in science, and is the recipient of an Athena Silver SWAN award for our work in this area.
Research groups
The School of Physiology and Pharmacology encompasses internationally recognised research groups with interests extending from the whole animal, cell signalling and neuropharmacology to cardiovascular/respiratory function, synaptic plasticity and the study of sensory and sensorimotor systems in the intact brain. The diversity of this research is reflected in the wide range of postgraduate projects available.
A number of research groups use the worldclass Wolfson Bioimaging Facility which contains the latest state-of-the-art light and electron microscopes. The School has strong links with the pharmaceutical industry and possesses a number of collaborative research programmes with several companies. The School also has numerous collaborations with clinical colleagues through which we aim to translate our basic science discoveries into the clinic, in the treatment of a wide array of diseases from neurological and neuropathic disorders to cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Entry requirements
An upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject.
For information on international equivalent qualifications, please see the International Office website.
Admissions statement
Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.
Key research interests
Cardiovascular Science
Professor Mark Cannell, Cardiac excitation-contraction coupling.
Professor Jules Hancox, Physiology and pharmacology of native and recombinant cardiac ion channels.
Dr Andy James, Adaptations of cardiac atrial electrophysiology to elevated blood pressure and the susceptibility to atrial arrhythmias.
Professor Sergey Kasparov, Physiological genomics of central cardiovascular control.
Dr Chris Neal, Physiology of small arterial blood vessels.
Professor Clive Orchard, Studies of cardiac excitation-contraction coupling, its regulation and the role of the t-tubules.
Professor Julian Paton, Molecular studies of CNS regulation of cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
Dr Tony Pickering, Integrative sensory and autonomic neuroscience.
Dr Rebecca Sitsapesan, Ryanodine receptors.
Dr Anja Teschenmacher, Mechanisms and roles of central catecholamine release.
Cell Signalling and Cell Biology
Dr Chrissy Hammond, Regulation of cartilage and bone homeostasis in development and disease.
Professor Graeme Henderson, Opioid tolerance and dependence.
Dr Eamonn Kelly, Receptor desensitisation, second messengers; genetic engineering.
Professor Paul Martin, Tissue repair and inflammation.
Dr Stuart Mundell, G-Protein-coupled receptor trafficking and platelet function.
Professor Catherine Nobes, Regulation of cancer cell invasion by Eph receptor/ephrin signalling.
Professor Alistair Poole, Signal transduction in platelets and thrombosis.
Dr David Shepherd, Molecular mechanisms of CFTR dysfunction in cystic fibrosis.
Dr Paul Verkade, Correlative light electron microscopy of intracellular transport.
Neuroscience
Professor Richard Apps, Structure-function studies of the cerebellum and its role in movement and cognition.
Dr Michael Ashby, How early life experience guides the formation of synapses and circuits in the neocortex.
Dr Nina Balthasar, Genetic studies of the neuronal pathways controlling energy homeostasis and obesity-induced hypertension.
Professor Zafar Bashir, Synaptic plasticity in the perirhinal cortex and hippocampus.
Dr Zuner Bortolotto, Synaptic plasticity and epilepsy.
Dr Peter Brennan, The vomeronasal system as a model to study how sensory input drives social behaviour.
Professor Malcolm Brown, Neural correlates of recognition memory.
Professor Graham Collingridge, Plasticity in the hippocampus.
Professor Max Headley, General physiological processes of sensitisation.
Dr Rich Helyer, Mammalian auditory system.
Dr James Hodge, Potassium channels and behaviour.
Professor David Jane, Excitatory amino acids.
Dr Matt Jones, Electro physiological recording of neuronal network activity during cognitive behaviours and in psychiatric disease models.
Professor Sally Lawson, Analysis of DRG neurone function in chronic pain sensation.
Professor Bridget Lumb, Electrophysiology and functional anatomical approaches to investigate the neuronal pathways controlling pain.
Professor Neil Marrion, Ion channel coupling and CNS disease states.
Dr Jack Mellor, Plasticity in the hippocampus and cortex.
Professor Elek Molnar, Receptor function and localisation in neuronal and non-neuronal cells.
Dr Emma Robinson, Neural and neurochemical mediators of behaviour and their role in psychiatric disorders.
Dr Maria Usowicz, Calcium channel pharmacology; synaptic transmission in CNS.
Dr Clea Warburton, Neural and cellular substrates of learning and memory.
Professor David Wynick, Role of galanin in central and peripheral nerve regeneration and Alzheimer's disease.
Application deadline: Not fixed
Get in touch
In the first instance please contact potential supervisors directly (see Department of Physiology and Pharmacology website) to discuss potential projects and studentships available.
Subsequently:
Dr Stuart Mundell, Postgraduate Tutor
Phone: +44 (0)117 331 1440
Email: s.j.mundell@bristol.ac.uk
Web: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/fmvs/gradschool/
International students
English-language requirements: 6.5 overall, with 6.5 in each band, in addition to the standard entry requirements.
Find information for international students on eligibility, funding options and studying at Bristol.
Fees and funding
2014/15 fees
Full-time: UK/EU £3,939;
overseas £17,000 (lab-based), £28,900 (clinical)
Fees quoted are provisional, per annum and are subject to annual increase
Funding options
UK/EU students may apply for research council funding. Further information on funding for prospective UK, EU and international postgraduate students is available from the Student Funding Office website.
Research Assessment Score
Unit of Assessment 15 applies. See Complete RAE listings for University of Bristol for further details.
Student views
Having gained extensive training and specialisation on the programme, I feel confident of my competitiveness on an international scale for employment.
Minos
Useful further information
Accommodation
Our Accommodation Office helps all postgraduate students find accommodation.
Living in Bristol
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