How to apply

IMPORTANT: The requested statements in section D are the only part of your application the shortlisting panel will see prior to interview selection. Please make sure all the information you want taken into consideration is included and you stay within the word limits. We operate an anonymous scoring system so please do NOT state the name of your awarding organisation anywhere in this section.  Non-anonymised statements will be discounted.  We have included some examples of academic, research and skills statements to guide you  - please note these are not prescriptive and shouldn't be treated as a template. We want to hear why your interests, skills and experience make you a good fit for the projects applied for and have potential to be an excellent PhD candidate. 

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Academic qualifications: 

Use this section to summarise your academic qualifications using the format below. Do NOT state the name of your awarding institution.  
 

Use the following example to guide you: 
 

Undergraduate Degree: 

• Degree Title: BSc (Hons) Biochemistry

• Mode of study: Full time

• Class/Grade (if awarded): 2:1

• Start and End dates: October 2020 - June 2023 

Postgraduate Degree:

• Degree Title: MSc Genomic Medicine 

• Mode of study: Full time 

• Class/Grade if awarded: Distinction. Please state 'Pending' if not yet awarded.  

• Start and End dates: October 2023 - June 2024
   

Relevant Employment Experience (Academic or Research-Related Only)

• Job Title: Research Assistant

• Organisation: University of Sheffield, Department of Molecular Biology.  
  (please note that you need to anonymise your awarding institution/s only, not your place of work even if these happen to be the same).  

• Start and End dates: December 2024 - ongoing.
   

(Candidates can duplicate these fields as many times as needed). 

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Academic Statement: 150 words maximum Use this space to highlight any notable academic achievements or experience that demonstrates your academic excellence and suitability for doctoral-level study. This might include: Academic awards or scholarships, High marks in key or relevant modules, Participation in research projects, summer schools or internships, conference presentations or publications (if any). 

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Academic statement example: 

I graduated with a 2:1 in BSc (Hons) Biochemistry, achieving high module marks in Genetics (75%) and Biochemistry (79%). I was awarded the departmental prize for best undergraduate research project for my work on gene regulation in metabolic pathways. I was awarded a Distinction for my MSc in Genomic Medicine, where I received a prize for the best  poster presentation prize at the Faculty seminar series for my research on genomic variants in rare diseases. I also volunteered for public engagement events. Since December 2024, I have been a Research Assistant in the Department of Molecular Biology at the University of Sheffield, gaining hands-on experience in molecular techniques, next-generation sequencing, and bioinformatics. I actively participate in journal clubs and seminars, sharpening my critical analysis and communication skills. These achievements demonstrate my academic rigor and research experience, confirming my readiness for doctoral study in genomic medicine.

 

Research statement: 300 words maximum.

Please describe your research interests and explain how they align with the projects you are applying to. This statement will help us assess your interest in and commitment to the research, as well as your preparedness and motivation for doctoral study. 

In your response, address the following: How your previous academic, research or professional experience has prepared you for these PhD projects.  Your reasons for applying to these particular projects and your understanding of the proposed research areas.  Your motivation for pursuing a PhD in this area. You will need to write one research statement that covers both projects. 

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Research statement example 1: 

My research interests centre on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underpin female reproductive health and disease - both projects I am applying to aim better the lives of women by addressing this research area. I am particularly interested in how cellular and molecular mechanisms and their dysregulation contributes to conditions such as heavy menstrual bleeding, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids, and how these pathways might be targeted to improve treatment outcomes. I am motivated by the clear clinical need for better, fertility-preserving therapies. Ultimately, I aim to contribute to translational research that connects mechanistic understanding with novel, patient-focused interventions to improve women’s health via my chosen PhD projects.
 

My academic and research experience has provided a strong foundation for pursuing this project. During my BSc in Reproductive Biology, I completed an honours project investigating mechanisms underlying heavy menstrual bleeding. This introduced me to endometrial physiology and gave me first-hand experience of how basic research can directly inform clinical understanding. During my MSc, I undertook two substantial research projects: one examining male fertility, and another developing complex uterine assembloids to model endometriosis. I gained skills in cell culture, molecular analysis, and confocal imaging, plus experience handling large experimental datasets. These experiences have strengthened my technical ability and my confidence in conducting independent, hypothesis-driven research.
 

I am deeply motivated to pursue a PhD in this area because I believe there is an urgent need for improved, conservative treatments for uterine disorders. I am eager to apply my scientific training to research that addresses a clear clinical need and has the potential to improve quality of life for patients. I am committed to a career in reproductive science and view a PhD as an essential step in developing the expertise, independence, and critical thinking required to make a meaningful contribution to the field.

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Research statement example 2: 
My passion for science was first ignited in GCSEs and A-Levels, where I attained straight As and A*s. During this time, I became captivated by biology and chemistry, which led me to pursue a four-year integrated Master’s degree in biochemistry (MBiochem). Throughout my degree, I consistently achieved top grades, particularly in immunology/haematology (89%), cancer cell biology (86%), and chemistry of disease (87%), graduating with first-class honours (with distinction, 84% overall) and receiving the Royal Society of Biology’s 2023 “Top Student Award.”

During my undergraduate studies, I became fascinated by immuno-oncology. I vividly recall second-year lectures on immune checkpoint inhibitors and antibody–drug conjugates that inspired me to attend external research seminars and select advanced immunology and oncology modules. This interest, coupled with my passion for translational research, led to my current position as a Patient Safety Scientist at AstraZeneca, specialising in early-phase oncology biologics. Here, I have gained valuable insight into how molecular mechanisms uncovered in the lab translate into therapies that improve patient outcomes.

Through a DiMeN PhD, I aim to apply and expand my multidisciplinary background to address fundamental biological questions underpinning disease and therapeutic response. This multidisciplinary focus underpins the projects I have applied for, building on my biochemical and biological experience to apply amber-codon mutant technology and chemical biology approaches to probe disease mechanisms. These methods offer unprecedented control over protein labelling and modification, enabling precise dissection of molecular interactions that underpin cancer progression and drug resistance.

The DTP’s emphasis on collaboration, cutting-edge facilities, and career development aligns with my ambition to become a research leader bridging molecular biology, and translational science. The cohort model and training opportunities in the DiMeN network offer an ideal environment to refine my research independence and establish skills essential for developing innovative approaches to transform patient outcomes.

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Skills statement:  200 words maximum.  Please describe a situation where you have gathered evidence, how you used this to devise a conclusion and inform actions. This answer could include a situation from research experience, employment, voluntary work, committees or previous education. 

Skills statement example:
In my current role as a research assistant, I aimed to identify an alternative lysis method for small-scale yeast samples to enable early-stage antigenic analysis of expressed virus like particles (VLPs). Standard protocols use a cell disruptor which requires large sample volumes. A suitable small-scale method would reduce resource consumption, both in the lab and at an industrial scale, and allow quick screening of multiple expression conditions. 
 

I began by researching potential reagents and methods for small-scale yeast lysis. After unsuccessful attempts with several commercial reagents, such as Cell-Lytic Y and Y-PER, I learned from a colleague’s success using zymolase to create spheroplasts. By optimizing the zymolase protocol with carefully selected buffers to maintain PV VLP stability, a comparative analysis (n=3) between the zymolase method and standard cell disruptor techniques revealed that the adapted protocol effectively preserved native antigenicity across large-scale yeast samples. By successfully scaling the protocol to small-scale yeast samples, I validated the zymolase method as a robust approach for early-stage antigenic evaluation.

This exercise resulted in a novel protocol for antigenic assessment of small-scale VLP samples, providing a quicker and more resource-efficient approach for early-stage vaccine candidate screenings.

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