Course summary

The DPhil in Interdisciplinary Life and Environmental Science provides innovative training for graduates from a wide range of academic backgrounds who wish to conduct leading-edge bioscience, environmental science and archaeological science research.” The DPhil in ILESA offers the opportunity to undertake research across the full breadth of biological and environmental science, from cellular mechanisms and crop science, through to climate change and dynamic earth processes. It provides innovative training for graduates from a life science, physical science or computational and mathematical science background who wish to conduct leading-edge bioscience and environmental science research. The course is led by the University of Oxford in partnership with five world-class research organisations: 1. The Pirbright Institute, which provides the UK’s national capabilities for the study and control of viral diseases of livestock 2. Oxford Brookes University 3. The Open University 4. Diamond Light Source 5. ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Diamond Light Source and ISIS Neutron and Muon Source are based at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, and provide the UK’s national capabilities for synchrotron science and neutron science. The course is also supported by researchers in a much broader range of public and third sector organisations as well as industrial partners. Based in the University of Oxford’s innovative Doctoral Training Centre (DTC), you will undertake an in-depth programme of cohort-based, experiential learning that:

• Provides a strong foundation in the computational and quantitative techniques that underpin interdisciplinary research;

• Further develops these skills in a research context through rotations and team projects;

• Builds connections within and between themes, supporting learning, sharing best practice and inspiring interdisciplinary innovation;

• Develops communication skills and connections with broader communities through teaching, outreach and policy engagement;

• Provides work experience through internships that provide an opportunity for you to engage with the real-world applications of research and embed transferable skills in a non-academic context;

• Fosters an entrepreneurial spirit through an innovative entrepreneurship training programme;

• Connects you with business to co-create industrially relevant projects through an Open Innovation Industrial Consortium.