Asset 1arrow-down-smallarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-right IconSet_Comment This work is licensed under the Adobe General Terms of Use http://www.adobe.com/legal/general-terms.html. Adobe Systems Incorporated icon-error settingshamburger info member IconSet_Pinned Post Asset 5share 1Artboard 1 copy 2 IconSet_SoundsuccessIconSet_Tag
Postgraduate Research Course

PhD Molecular Medicine

PhD Molecular Medicine
The details
Molecular Medicine
October 2025
Full-time
3 - 4 years
Colchester Campus

Research in our School of Life Sciences covers a wide spectrum of biology from genes to ecosystems, and this broad-based structure provides opportunities for developing novel ideas and inter-disciplinary projects. We offer supervision in all areas of staff expertise in molecular medicine and our research is at the basic-clinical interface and we employ a range of techniques for studying diseases at the molecular and cellular level. We have current projects on cancer and stem cell biology, viruses and infection, basic and reproductive immunology, translational and clinical proteomics, drug design, and genomics and computational biology. Many projects are in collaboration with the NHS and regional hospitals.

As a research student at Essex, you will work at the heart of our internationally acknowledged, well-resourced and well-connected research community. We offer world-class supervision and training opportunities, and encourage you to engage with other researchers, professionals, practitioners and research users, where possible, for example using the generous funding from Proficio to attend conferences and training courses.

Part-time research study is also available. You can start this degree in October, January or April. An MPhil and MSD are also available.

Why we're great.
  • We have an international reputation for outstanding teaching and research, with the latter reflected in the large number of publications in high-profile journals.
  • We are engaged in translational research and have strong links with local and regional hospitals as well as Public Health England.
  • Collaborate alongside our research groups working on important international and national problems using cutting-edge techniques.

Our expert staff

Within our School of Life Sciences, you will be allocated a supervisor whose role it is to guide you through the different stages of your research degree. In some cases, you may be jointly supervised.

The support provided by your supervisor is a key feature of your research student experience and you will have regular one-to-one meetings to discuss progress on your research. Initially, your supervisor will help you develop your research topic and plan.

Twice a year, you will have a supervisory board meeting, which provides a more formal opportunity to discuss your progress and agree your plans for the next six months.

Your technical and intellectual development will be enhanced by becoming part of a Research Group, and participating in School Seminars.

Specialist facilities

Our School provides a comprehensive range of facilities for molecular medicine research which include:

  • fully automated laboratories with robotic liquid handling systems and equipment for cell culture, molecular biology and gene editing
  • high performance computing cluster with 368 CPUs, 5.4 Tb of RAM and 700 Tb of storage for analyses of large biological data sets
  • advanced bioimaging suite to visualise and process images of biological processes in real time
  • X-ray crystallography and macromolecular interactions facilities for the biophysical characterisation of proteins and other macromolecules
  • advanced bioimaging suite to visualise and analyse images of biological processes in real time
  • a range of facilities for cell and microbial culture
  • next-generation sequence analysis facilities

A dedicated study room allows all our postgraduate research students to have access to a desk and a computer outside of the research laboratories. This provides a focal point for our postgraduates, facilitating reading and writing as well as good communication and a sense of community.

Your future

Many of our postgraduates continue their scientific research by taking up postdoctoral positions in the UK and overseas. Others have embarked on careers in biomedical laboratories and in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, both in research and development. We support your career development by a mentoring scheme and employability events.

At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.

Find out more

The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include, but are not limited to: strikes, other industrial action, staff illness, severe weather, fire, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack (whether declared or not), natural disaster, restrictions imposed by government or public authorities, epidemic or pandemic disease, failure of public utilities or transport systems or the withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications. The University would inform and engage with you if your course was to be discontinued, and would provide you with options, where appropriate, in line with our Compensation and Refund Policy.

The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.

Related courses

Ask us a question
Ask us a question

Want to quiz us about your course? Got a question that just needs answering? Get in touch with us on live chat!

Live Chat Software Click4Assistance