Page 9 - Periodic Issue 02

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entres for Doctoral Training:

A New Model for Graduate Chemists

The Department of Chemistry has been awarded funding The taught components of
for two new Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs), with the these new centres promise
first cohort of students beginning in October 2014. These intensive training in the core
are the latest in a string of CDTs to be established over the chemical background of their
past decade in the University of Oxford in fields ranging from respective areas. Students on
systems biology to cyber security. the TMCS CDT will then spend
six weeks carrying out research
A representation in ‘oxDNA’ in either Bristol or Southampton oxDNA Team (Natalie Johnson, Ryan M
(a coarse-grained model of followed by a second rotation in Harrison)
DNA developed in Oxford) of Oxford, and graduates on both On the oxDNA team, we heart
an iconic nanostructure which CDTs will have the opportunity DNA. Sometimes, through (very
first appeared on the cover of rare) thermal fluctuations, it hearts
Nature in 2006. The structure to complete a secondment in us back.
is formed using DNA origami, industry. These close links to
a widely used experimental industry are a common element of CDTs across the country
method for creating such and provide students with valuable experience and contacts.
nanostructures.

A unique and potentially controversial feature of the Synthesis
The Doye group
CDT is its adoption of an ‘open access’ model: in order
to promote transparency and open sharing of data, there
CDTs are an approach to studentships promoted by the is an agreement that none of the direct research outputs
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council from CDT-funded projects will be patented. Apart from
(EPSRC) to provide young researchers with broad, accelerating knowledge transfer from the university to
interdisciplinary training in fields that exist at the interface applications in industry and the public domain, this model
between traditional disciplines. Although programmes vary, also ensures that students can publish their research,
students are funded for four years, the first of which contains present it at conferences, and discuss it openly and freely.
taught courses and often short-term research rotations.
By bringing together students from diverse academic As with any funding model, the CDTs are not without
backgrounds and giving them a thorough grounding in a contention. For example, there is a concern that
broad range of subjects, CDTs aim to produce versatile and consolidating funding and expertise in universities with
highly scientifically literate graduates. This training ensures training centres may hinder research from progressing in
each cohort is capable of tackling global challenges, which groups outside those select institutions. However, the CDT
often require a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach. model shows great promise and it will be interesting to
observe its effects, both internally and within the UK research
Partnering with the Universities of Bristol and Southampton, arena, over the coming years.
the new CDT in Theory and Modelling in Chemical
Sciences (TMCS) will equip DPhil students with the skills
and knowledge required to understand modern theoretical Life at the Systems Biology CDT
challenges and develop powerful theory and software
solutions. The CDT in Synthesis for Biology & Medicine Andrew Bissett, Fletcher Group
(SBM) is also focused on fundamental science and will @_byronmiller.
train DPhil students in synthetic chemistry with an in-depth
appreciation of its application to biology and medicine. The taught component of the training centre is a whirlwind
of new ideas and experiences. Effectively you are put in a
room with a group of chemists, mathematicians, biologists,
engineers, and computer scientists for six months, where
you marinate in each other’s diverse ways of thinking. A
typical course module runs for a week or a fortnight; at the
start of the course most students have little to no knowledge
of the subject matter, and by the middle of the week they
are capable of reading and understanding current literature
in the area. Mathematicians spend weeks carrying out
oxDNA Team (Ryan M Harrison) bench chemistry, while experimentalists build computational
Strongly bent DNA can deform through kinking, a structural defect localized models of metabolic processes. It’s a microcosm of the
to one site (arrow), and/or continuously. Understanding and exploiting Oxford experience: you are surrounded by brilliant students
these two mechanisms helps scientists build evermore complex DNA with different perspectives on subjects old and new, and it’s
nanotechnologies. utterly inspirational.

9
Periodic
The Magazine of the Department of Chemistry