MSc Biomedical Science (by research)
| Length | Start dates (semester dates) | |
|---|---|---|
| MSc by research |
1 year full-time |
January or |
This one-year research programme provides an opportunity for graduates with an interest in biomedical science to complete a masters level course during which they carry out a research project in their specific area of interest working under the supervision of an academic member of staff.
Biomedical Science covers the area of basic science which focuses on the study of fundamental biological processes involved in health and disease. Spanning a wide variety of disciplines in the life and physical sciences, biomedical research employs cross-disciplinary approaches with the overall aim to understand and treat disease.
This is not a taught course and does not require completion of specific taught modules. The MSc by research is often a popular choice for those wanting a full-time research experience and can provide a valuable stepping stone to those wishing to embark on a PhD programme.
Therefore, depending on the specific nature of your project, you will have the opportunity to obtain the following academic designations upon completion:
- MSc by Research in Biomedical Science
- MSc by Research in Biomedical Science (Biomedical Technologies)
- MSc by Research in Biomedical Science (Chemical and Structural Biology)
Studying across a range of disciplines you will have access to tailored York Biomedical Research Institute (YBRI) training activities focused on the biomedical sciences and the core YBRI themes:
- Immunology, haematology and infection
- Molecular and cellular medicine
- Neuroscience
Your research
Our MSc by research is the shortest of our research degrees. Consequently, your thesis will be narrower in scope than an MPhil or PhD thesis, although it should still contain some original work. Your thesis can be up to 30,000 words long and will be judged by two examiners, but you are not normally required to attend an oral examination.
Areas of research fall within, but are not limited to, the diverse biomedical portfolio of our academic staff, including neuroscience, molecular and cellular medicine, immunology, haematology, infection, chemical and structural biology, biophysics, and bioengineering.
Working under the supervision of world-leading, research-active supervisors, you will be encouraged to contribute to the development of new techniques, ideas or approaches as you pursue research in biomedical science at an advanced level.
Contact us
York Biomedical Research Institute
biomed-sciences-pgr@york.ac.uk
Department of Biology, Wentworth Way, University of York, York, YO10 5NG
@YBRI_UoY
Funding
Explore funding for postgraduate researchers.
Supervision
YBRI hosts over 90 principal investigators covering a range of disciplines. Search our academics according to their research interests.
Training and support
A dedicated Biomedical Science training and cohort-building programme will draw on the training offered by the collaborating departments, while offering the students on the programme additional training and opportunities to promote collaboration and networking across the programme.
Cohort activities will include: a monthly journal club, an annual research symposium, and other cross-departmental YBRI seminars and events.
Mentoring
All new research students are offered mentorship from within the existing research student community. For those new to York, mentors work in the same research area. Those who have previously studied at York will be offered a mentor working in a different research area. The mentor partnership is a means to explore options and understand more about working as a research student at the University of York.
The York Graduate Research School connects more than 2,000 postgraduate researchers (PGRs) across all disciplines and brings together the support you need to make the most of your research project.
On top of the technical research skills I learnt, a YBRI BMS programme teaches you project management, communication and analysis skills that are vital for any career path. The course gives you the chance to be more independent and continue developing your research skills, almost acting as a stepping-stone before the commitment of a PhD.
Ben, recent graduate, MSc Biomedical Science (by research)
Course location
This course is run by the York Biomedical Research Institute, based in the Department of Biology on Campus West and also includes contributions from the departments of Chemistry, Health Sciences, and Psychology, Hull York Medical School, and the School of Physics, Engineering, and Technology.
Entry requirements
To apply for this course you should hold, or expect to hold, a Bachelors degree in a related subject area for entry into this Masters programme with a 2:2 (or overseas equivalent).
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must provide evidence of your ability.
Check your English language requirements
Applying
You can apply to start a full or part-time MSc (by research) in either January or September.
Please review the list of supervisors and their research interests, and choose up to three supervisors to consider your application. You can either make contact with these supervisors before applying, to discuss potential research projects, or you can describe your interest in the supervisor’s research area on your application form. Please include the names of the supervisors you would like to consider your application in the ‘Research Proposal’ section of the application form.
You do not need to prepare your own research proposal.
Take a look at the supporting documents you may need for your application.
Find information about fees for research degrees.
Find out more about how to apply.
Supervisors and project areas
| Supervisor | Department | Research Interests |
|---|---|---|
| Prof Luke Alphey | Biology | Synthetic biology; genetics; vectors; arboviruses; translation |
| Prof Fred Antson | Chemistry | Protein-nucleic acid interactions |
| Prof Daniela Barillà | Biology | Genome segregation, antibiotic resistance, chromosome & plasmid biology, DNA-protein interactions |
| Dr Gavin Barlow | HYMS | Infection; Antibiotics; Antimicrobials; Biomarkers; Prognosis |
| Dr Christoph Baumann | Biology | A variety of cellular processes, including transcription, replication and recombination, involve simultaneous melting and unwinding of the two DNA strands, and translocation of the strands within a DNA-bound protein complex. |
| Dr Jamie Blaza | Chemistry | CryoEM; Electron-tomography; Bacteria; Bioenergetics; Pathogens |
| Dr Dave Boucher | Biology | Inflammasome and protease signalling |
| Dr Katherine Bridge | Biology | Understanding and targeting the hypoxic response in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) |
| Dr Mathieu Cayla | Biology | Parasitology; Trypanosome; Signalling; Autophagy; Differentiation |
| Prof James Chong | Biology | Anaerobic applied systems biology |
| Dr Cecile Crosnier | Biology | Schistosoma; Recombinant proteins; Immunomodulation; Protein interactions; Parasitology |
| Dr Simon Crouch | Health Sciences | Biostatistics; Stochastic Modelling; Predictive Modelling; Big Data; Haematological Malignancies |
| Prof Anne-Kathrin Duhme-Klair | Chemistry | Metal ions in biology and medicine |
| Dr Joana R. Correia Faria | Biology | Gene expression; Nuclear-architecture; Microscopy; Proteomics; Next-generation-sequencing |
| Prof Adele Fielding | HYMS | Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), microenvironment, cancer-associated fibroblasts, clinical trials, biobanking |
| Dr Paul Fogg | Biology | Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT), which is a fundamental and powerful process for the exchange of genes between bacteria. |
| Prof Allison Green | HYMS | Autoimmunity; Type 1 diabetes; Thymic B cells; Immune system ageing; Preclinical and clinical models of disease |
| Dr William Grey | Biology | Stem Cells; Proteostasis; Haematopoiesis; Leukaemia; Cancer |
| Dr Michelle Hawkins | Biology | Bacteria; DNA replication; Helicases; Replication termination; Biochemistry |
| Dr James Hewitson | Biology | Mammalian immune responses to parasitic worm infections. |
| Dr Chris Hill | Biology | Structural biology; RNA biology; Viruses; Gene expression; Translational control |
| Prof Ian Hitchcock | Biology | My group have identified a key interaction between a cell surface receptor and a mutated protein that is essential for myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) development. |
| Dr Daniel Jeffares | Biology | Population and comparative genomics. Incuding quantative genetics, landscape genetics and the evolution of drug resistance. |
| Prof Steven Johnson | School of Physics, Engineering & Technology | Biosensors, Infection, Electrochemistry, Microfluidics, Co-design. |
| Prof Paul Kaye | HYMS | The immunopathology of leishmaniasis, with emphasis both on exploring opportunities for developing novel host-directed therapies and also for gaining new insight into myeloid cell function. |
| Prof David Kent | Biology | The biology of adult blood stem cells and the process by which single blood stem cells are subverted to drive blood cancers such as leukaemia. |
| Dr Ioannis Kourtzelis | HYMS | The study of mechanisms that orchestrate the onset and resolution of sterile and pathogen-induced inflammation. |
| Prof Thomas Krauss | School of Physics, Engineering & Technology | Photonic nanostructures; Optical biosensors; Antimicrobial susceptibility test; Nanofabrication technology |
| Prof Dimitris Lagos | HYMS | The overarching working hypothesis of our work is that modulation of immune responses is a key function of non-coding RNAs in mammals and that coordination of the machineries that control non-coding and coding RNA metabolism is required for optimal mammalian immunity. |
| Prof Alison Layton | HYMS | Acne; Scarring; Clinical Trials; Antimicrobial resistance; Psycho-dermatology |
| Prof Mark Leake | Biology & School of Physics, Engineering & Technology | Biophysics; Single-molecule; Bioimaging; Super-resolution; Single-cell |
| Dr Amanda Mason-Jones | Health Sciences | Sexually transmitted infections; Epidemiology; Violence; Public health prevention; Children and young people. |
| Dr Sean Meaden | Biology | Phage-bacteria interactions; phage defence systems; metagenomics; soil microbiome; microbial ecology. |
| Prof Jeremy Mottram | Biology | Molecular genetics, cell biology and biochemistry of Leishmania, the parasitic protozoan that causes the neglected tropical disease leishmaniasis |
| Dr Elmarie Myburgh | HYMS | My research focusses on the complex interplay between pathogens and their hosts, with a particular interest in the kinetoplastids Leishmania and African trypanosomes. |
| Prof Rob Newton | Health Sciences | Cancer; Infections; Africa; HIV; Immunity |
| Dr Samadhan Patil | School of Physics, Engineering & Technology | Point-of-care diagnostics; Bio-sensors; Metabolomics; Antimicrobial resistance; Bio-mechanics |
| Dr Damian Perez Mazliah | HYMS | B cells; Antibodies; Parasites; Chagas disease; Trypanosoma |
| Dr Michael Plevin | Biology | Biomolecular recognition and the structural and chemical features that define interaction surfaces of proteins and nucleic acids. |
| Dr Natalie Prow | HYMS | Vaccinology; Skin delivery; Immunogenicity; Efficacy |
| Dr Kim Robinson | HYMS | Innate immunity; Skin biology; inflammatory skin disease; Inflammasome; 3D skin organotypics |
| Prof Eve Roman | Health Sciences | Haematological malignancies; Childhood cancers; Epidemiological methods; Adverse reproductive events |
| Dr Nathalie Signoret | HYMS | Chemokines and their receptors have emerged as essential controls for the trafficking and activation of immune cells, in both homeostatic and inflammatory conditions. Our research aims to define how these molecules influence immune responses and establish the mechanisms by which they exert their activity. |
| Prof Alex Smith | Health Sciences | Epidemiology; Leukaemia; Lymphoma; Myeloma |
| Prof Gavin Thomas | Biology | The Thomas group has two main interests that are linked by the bacterium Escherichia coli. We are interested in the mechanisms used by different bacteria, mainly huma |
| Prof Reidun Twarock | Biology & Maths | The structure and assembly of viruses. Viruses have a protein shell that encapsulates and hence provides protection for the viral genome. |
| Dr Katrien van Boxclaer | HYMS | Skin drug delivery; topical formulation development; skin models; cutaneous leishmaniasis |
| Prof Marjan Van der Woude | HYMS | Current projects are centred around molecular biology of bacterial pathogens. One centres around AT3 proteins, and work to elucidate specific molecular pathways involved in biofilm formation in Staph aureus (Pearson C et al, Newman K et al). A project to link to our Bottery et al publication can be discussed. |
| Dr Pegine Walrad | Biology | Kinetoplastid parasites which cause human disease worldwide; afflicting the poorest of society. |
| Prof James Walsh | School of Physics, Engineering & Technology | Biofilms; reactive oxygen species; cold plasma; antimicrobial resistance; decontamination |
| Prof Tony Wilkinson | Chemistry | Structure function analysis of proteins relevant to (i) disease processes and drug discovery in parasites and (ii) cell fate and virulence in spore-forming bacteria |
| Dr Laurence Wilson | School of Physics, Engineering & Technology | Imaging; Bioinformatics; Parasitology; Biological physics; Motility |
| Prof Gavin Wright | Biology & HYMS | The Wright Laboratory is interested in identifying new therapeutic targets for both genetic and infectious diseases by using systematic large-scale protein-based approaches to discover extracellular receptor-ligand interactions that are essential for cellular recognition processes. |
| Dr Miko Yamada | HYMS | Molecular pathology in skin; clinical trial; transdermal delivery; imaging; Biomarker discovery in skin diseases |
| Supervisor | Department | Research Interests |
|---|---|---|
| Dr Jon Agirre | Chemistry | Structural biology; protein glycosylation; post-translational modifications; method development; alphafold. |
| Dr Kofi Appiah | Computer Science | Computer Vision; Embedded Systems; Machine Learning; Deep Learning; Medical Imaging |
| Dr Simon Baker | Biology | Epithelial; Carcinogenesis; Transcriptomics; Genomics; Mutational signatures |
| Dr Gonzalo Blanco | Biology | Understanding the mechanisms underlying muscle plasticity |
| Dr Will Brackenbury | Biology | Ion channels, membrane excitability and cancer |
| Prof Nia Bryant | Biology | Control of Intracellular Membrane Traffic |
| Prof Marek Brzozowski | Chemistry | Structural endocrinology; Membrane proteins; Development of methods for protein crystallisation |
| Dr Manish Chauhan | School of Physics, Engineering & Technology | Soft robotics (for biomedical applications); Microbiology; Robot-assisted medical devices; Optical fibre technology (spectroscopy); Medical diagnostics and therapeutic interventions |
| Dr Victor Chechik | Chemistry | Magnetic nanoparticles; Nanoparticle drug delivery; Reactive oxygen species; Free radicals; EPR spectroscopy |
| Prof Dawn Coverley | Biology | Cell cycle; Nuclear architecture; Early detection of cancer |
| Prof Gideon Davies | Chemistry | Structural enzymology and carbohydrate chemistry |
| Dr Helen Davies | Environment and Geography | Asthma triggers; In-vitro lung cell/gas exposure experiments; Asthma alarmin expression; Lung Chemistry Modelling; Indoor Air Chemistry Modelling |
| Dr Martin Fascione | Chemistry | Chemical glycobiology and glycomedicine |
| Prof Paul Genever | Biology | Stem cells and regenerative medicine. Repair and regeneration of skeletal tissues |
| Dr Yvette Hancock | School of Physics, Engineering & Technology | Label-free methods; Biomolecular stratification; Biomarkers; Clinical translation; Raman spectroscopy |
| Dr Andrew Holding | Biology | How cells respond to steroid hormones, both in cancer and in healthy tissues, with a focus on breast cancer |
| Prof Neil Hunt | Chemistry | Physical chemistry |
| Prof Roland Kroger | School of Physics, Engineering & Technology | Ex situ and In situ Transmission Electron Microscopy; Bone and Teeth Structure; Composition and Properties; Raman Spectroscopy |
| Dr Chris MacDonald | Biology | Membrane trafficking; Cell surface membrane proteins; Yeast genetics; Fluorescence microscopy; Biochemistry |
| Dr Andrew Mason | Biology | Cancer; Bioinformatics; Functional Genomics; Endogenous Retroviruses |
| Dr Agnes Noy | School of Physics, Engineering & Technology | Molecular modelling; DNA supercoiling; DNA:protein recognition; 3D genomics; gene therapy |
| Prof Peter O'Brien | Chemistry | Fragment-based drug discovery; SARS-CoV-2; chemical biology; medicinal chemistry; organic synthesis |
| Prof Betsy Pownall | Biology | Embryonic development orchestrates the proliferation and differentiation of many hundreds of cell types that will interact to form tissues, underpinning organ and organismal function |
| Prof Tarl Prow | HYMS | Transdermal drug delivery; Skin cancer detection; Cutaneous oncology; Nanoparticle drug delivery; Drug delivery devices |
| Dr Paul Pryor | HYMS | Lysosome biogenesis; Autophagy; Ageing; Cell biology; Membrane traffic |
| Prof Jenny Southgate | Biology | Human epithelial tissue homeostasis and regulation of differentiation versus regeneration in health and disease, including cancer |
| Dr Chris Spicer | Chemistry | Bioconjugation and biomaterials for tissue engineering. We are particularly interested in developing new methods to functionalise materials with proteins in a controlled and specific way |
| Dr Lianne Willems | Chemistry | Chemical Biology of Carbohydrates and Carbohydrate-Processing Enzymes |
| Supervisor | Department | Research Interests |
|---|---|---|
| Dr Daniel Baker | Psychology | Visual neuroscience; Binocular vision; Computational modelling; Amblyopia; Autism |
| Dr Heidi Baseler | HYMS | To understand the neural mechanisms specialised for processing central and peripheral vision, and how these mechanisms respond to sensory loss (visual or auditory) |
| Dr Scott Cairney | Psychology | Sleep; Memory; Emotion; Mental Health; Polysomnography |
| Dr Sangeeta Chawla | Biology | Transcriptional regulation of neuronal plasticity-associated and antioxidant genes |
| Dr Han-Jou Chen | Biology | Why do proteins aggregate and how that contributes to neurodegenerative diseases? |
| Prof Simon Duckett | Chemistry | Organometallic chemistry and reaction mechanisms |
| Dr Peter Ellison | Electronics | Bionics, medical devices, medical informatics, decision support tools |
| Dr Gareth Evans | Biology | Protein kinase signalling in neuronal development and neurological disorders |
| Dr Karla Evans | Psychology | Visual Awareness, Visual Neuroscience, Perceptual expertise in Radiology, Visual Long term memory |
| Prof Richard Gale | HYMS | Ophthalmology; Medical Retina; Neuroimaging; Macular Degeneration; Eye Disease |
| Prof Gareth Gaskell | Psychology | Sleep; Memory consolidation; Polysomnography; Development, Language |
| Dr Elena Geangu | Psychology | Infancy; Emotion; EEG; EMG; Eye-tracking |
| Dr Silke Göbel | Psychology | Developmental cognitive neuroscience; Numeracy development; Functions of the parietal lobe; Dyscalculia, Dyslexia |
| Dr Ines Hahn | Biology | Neurodegeneration; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Cytoskeleton; Microtubule Dynamics; Drosophila primary neurons |
| Dr David Halliday | Electronics | Computational Neuroscience, Neural signal processing |
| Dr Noemie Hamilton | Biology | Translational Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Immunology, Zebrafish in vivo models, Live imaging |
| Dr Tom Hartley | Psychology | Hippocampus, Dementia, fMRI, Computational modelling, Neural networks |
| Prof Lisa Henderson | Psychology | Development, Language, Disorders, Autism, Sleep |
| Dr Hannah Hobson | Psychology | Autism; developmental language disorder; mental health; language and communication; psychology |
| Dr Aidan Horner | Psychology | Memory; Dementia; Hippocampus; fMRI; MEG |
| Dr Clara Humpston | Psychology | Schizophrenia; Mental health; Neuropsychiatry; Pharmacology; Neurochemistry |
| Dr Rebecca Jackson | Psychology | Computational modelling; Semantic cognition; Executive control; fMRI; MEG |
| Prof Beth Jefferies | Psychology | Semantic; fMRI; MEG; TMS; Memory |
| Dr Kenji Kobayashi | Psychology | Decision-making; Information Seeking; Computational Modelling; Functional MRI; Multivoxel Pattern Analysis (MVPA) |
| Dr Fiona McNab | Psychology | Working Memory; Distraction; fMRI; Ageing |
| Prof Tony Morland | Psychology | fMRI; Visual Neuroscience; psychophysics; evoked potentials and field; transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) |
| Dr Adar Pelah | School of Physics, Engineering & Technology | Visual-perception; Sensory-motor; Locomotion; Virtual-reality-biofeedback; Rehabilitation |
| Dr Alex Pike | Psychology | Mental health; Eating disorders; Anxiety disorders; Computational psychiatry; Neuroimaging |
| Dr Steven Quinn | School of Physics, Engineering & Technology | Single-molecule spectroscopy; Alzheimer’s disease; Fluorescence, FRET, Model-membranes |
| Prof Stephen Smith | School of Physics, Engineering & Technology | AI and Machine Learning; Intelligent medical devices; Neurodegenerative conditions; Cell tracking, Characterisation and classification; Analysis and characterisation of Raman spectra |
| Prof Sean Sweeney | Biology | Min neurons, the endosome regulates signals controlling synapse growth. Appropriate regulation of synaptic growth is a key mechanism in refining the fidelity of synaptic communication |
| Prof Christina Van Der Feltz-Cornelis | HYMS & Health Sciences | Psychiatry; Epidemiology; Translational research; Inflammation; Microbiome |
| Prof Alex Wade | Psychology | Vision, Attention, fMRI, EEG, Neuroimaging |
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Next steps
Contact us
York Biomedical Research Institute
biomed-sciences-pgr@york.ac.uk
Department of Biology, Wentworth Way, University of York, York, YO10 5NG
@YBRI_UoY