Wellcome Biomedical Vacation Scholarship

UK students will gain experience and training to enhance their career in science.

Applications for the Wellcome BVS Summer Programme 2024 are now open.

A Wellcome Biomedical Vacation Scholarship will enable students to be hosted in a research group associated with the Integrated Cell Mechanisms (iCM) Wellcome  PhD programme to undertake research projects that develop expertise in both biological and quantitative sciences. No previous research laboratory experience is necessary. 

Wellcome BVS projects are designed to offer benefits in terms of confidence, skills and experience that will enhance any future postgraduate or job application. Individuals from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds are particularly encouraged to apply.

The deadline for applications is Monday 25th March 2024, 12 noon (GMT).

 

A total of six places are available for the Wellcome BVS projects

The eight-week projects will run from Monday 1 July 2024.  Six undergraduate students preparing for their final year of university will be selected as a cohort to start their summer internships and undertake research projects that develop expertise in both biological and quantitative sciences in an interactive and interdisciplinary environment. Cell Mechanism projects cover topics such as:

  • anti-microbial resistance,
  • stochastic heterogeneity,
  • epigenetic and chromatin-based regulation,
  • control of gene expression,
  • non-coding RNA and RNA processing,
  • chromosome structure and segregation,
  • cell-cycle and
  • cell growth regulation.

The definition of ‘quantitative’ is broad and includes Computational Data Sciences, Mathematics, Biophysics, Structural Biology, Chemical Biology and Biomaterials. You will be based in one research group and will be expected to work full time in Edinburgh for the duration of your project. See the projects section for more information about choosing a project. While working on your project, you will receive regular supervision from an academic member of staff, post-doctoral staff and/or current PhD students.

The summer programme also incorporates a range of additional activities to enhance your overall experience. You will meet and work with our researchers, academic staff, and graduate students and have the chance to experience some of what Edinburgh offers its students. We hope that everyone who takes part will gain benefits in terms of confidence, skills and experience that will enhance both their CV and any future postgraduate applications.

While carrying out your project you will have the option to live in University accommodation and experience life as a graduate student in Edinburgh.

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Candidate selection

Six students will be selected. The criteria we take into consideration when selecting applicants include academic merit and potential, socio-economic information and contextual information as indicated in the submitted applications, candidates will not be interviewed.  Successful applicants will be informed by 12 April 2024.

We regret that we cannot respond individually to unsuccessful applicants and no feedback will be given.

Key Dates

Application deadline

Monday 25th March 2024, 12 noon (GMT)

Internship start date

Monday 1st July 2024

Internship end date

Friday 23rd August 2024

PhD Programme Administration

Four Year PhD Programme in Integrative Cell Mechanisms

Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology

Contact details