No further applications are being accepted for this course.

Recent advances, particularly in molecular biology and nanotechnology, have blurred the boundaries between the traditional sciences (biology, chemistry, physics and engineering). As a result there is a need for multidisciplinary scientists who are comfortable working at the physical/life sciences interface.

To ensure continued excellence in research in these areas in the UK, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) has funded a number of special 'Doctoral Training Centres', of which this, the White Rose DTC, is one.

The new style PhD offered here is designed to train physical and engineering scientists to work effectively alongside biologists. To do this we bring in a range of specialists not only from different disciplines, but also from two of the leading universities in the UK.

Drawing on the resources of both Leeds and Sheffield Universities allows us to offer an unrivalled choice and variety of multi-disciplinary research projects.

More about the courses on offer.

Above right: Two images of a DNA loop; the circular structure is torsionally stressed and so undergoes a buckle instability to form a highly writhed (or supercoiled) state. Understanding the thermodynamic driving forces behind these structural transitions has important implications for the way in which DNA is packaged within the cell nucleus. The red and green blobs are at equivalent places around the circle/supercoil and act as a guide to the eye. (You may have to click on the image to view the buckled form).