There can be multiple reasons for why you decide on which PhD to pursue. Such as the research project, the PhD programme it is part of, the facilities and expertise available, the supervisory team and the research environment.
To help you with making that decision, find below an insight into the supervisory team and the research environment you will be part of. We appreciate that this is only a snapshot, and that supervisory support will change over your PhD journey as you grow in experience as a researcher, but we hope that you can use this information to help you when having conversations.
Click on the supervisor name below to find out more about them and their research group.
Just to note:
- These are the supervisors as listed on our ‘projects available‘ webpage under our 3 research areas (i.e. the listed main supervisor for the project).
- Supervisor profiles make reference to their supervisor style. You can view the diagram this makes reference to here.
Research Group website >>How day-to-day research training and support is provided: You will receive training and ongoing day-to-day support in experimental techniques mainly from post-doctoral researchers and the more experienced PhD students in the lab. I will be accessible to you on a daily basis, and we will meet weekly to discuss progress and plans.
Supervision style: Directive support: B / Training structure: 9
How often PhD students see you in a timetabled group meeting: At least once a week
Other research groups that PhD students will have the opportunity to frequently interact with: We share lab space with two other developmental biology groups and interact with several others on the same corridor. There are monthly meetings with an epigenetics focus and opportunities to interact with collaborators from other institutions.
How often you meet with your PhD students 1-1 formally outside of group meetings (i.e. meetings of >30 minutes): At least once per week; Mixture of virtual and in person.
Expected working pattern (based on a full-time student): Usually within core hours with other time to be managed around this. When experiments dictate, it may be necessary to work on some weekends. Writing and data analysis may be done at home.
How the second supervisor supports the PhD project: The second supervisors will join progress meetings every 1-2 months, usually virtually, and there will be opportunities to visit their lab during the PhD.
Notice needed for feedback on work (based on a 5000 word report): 1-2 weeks
Communication: Available to e-mail every day, I usually respond within mins-hours during working hours. I may contact you outside of working hours but I do not expect responses outside working hours. Welcome to drop by my office or arrange a brief video call, as appropriate.
Research Group website >>How day-to-day research training and support is provided: You will initially be trained by the supervisors (Bailey & Corey) alongside the labs' postdoctoral assistant & 2 current PhD students (Bath) and 2 PhD students (Bristol) all performing similar techniques. Further day-to-day experimental support to be provided by the current labs' research team and the supervisors.
Supervision style: Directive support: A / Training structure: 6
How often PhD students see you in a timetabled group meeting: At least once a fortnight
Other research groups that PhD students will have the opportunity to frequently interact with: We have a joint weekly 'journal club' meeting with other GPCR research groups in Bristol. We have regular meetings (approximately fortnightly) with other neuropharmacology research groups in Bath (Sarah Bailey; Steve Husbands). There is a very supportive research culture at the University of Bath. Pharmacology PhD students share office space and have regular discussions about science and general progress. The Department of Life Sciences also has a very active student-run society organising seminar series and social events.
Regular (at least monthly) meetings with student and the wider supervisory team (Chris Bailey, Robin Corey, Eamonn Kelly, Steve Husbands).
How often you meet with your PhD students 1-1 formally outside of group meetings (i.e. meetings of >30 minutes): At least once per week; Mixture of virtual/in person.
Expected working pattern (based on a full-time student): PhD students are responsible for managing their own time, although there’s a preference for core hours (11-3). There is flexibility but also an expectation to attend meetings and seminars. Although experimental work requires onsite working, working from home for other tasks (reading papers, data analysis, writing papers) is possible. Very occasionally, evening or weekend work may be required for specific experimental tasks.
How the second supervisor supports the PhD project: The student will split their time working the core supervisory team (Chris Bailey, Robin Corey, Eamonn Kelly) and will be fully part of all those research groups. When performing research in Bristol, meetings between student and Bristol-based supervisor will be at least weekly, with daily contact.
Notice needed for feedback on work (based on a 5000 word report): 1-2 weeks
Communication: Open-door policy during work hours and I share my calendar with members of the lab so they will know when I am likely to be in my office. Also always happy to book in specific time for meetings. I generally visit the lab / PhD office every day for informal chats. Always available by email during working hours. I do sometimes send emails outside of normal working hours but do not expect a reply until you're ready.
Research Group website >>How day-to-day research training and support is provided: In my lab, you will receive extensive initial training from me, with further day-to-day experimental support provided by myself and the broader lab e.g. our local research assistant and other PhDs.
Supervision style: Directive support: B / Training structure: 87
How often PhD students see you in a timetabled group meeting: At least once a month
Other research groups that PhD students will have the opportunity to frequently interact with: We have local zebrafish group meetings, currently comprising the Gurevich, Kelsh and Ingham labs. There is the opportunity to be physically based in their lab when undertaking aspects of your PhD aligned with their research area.
How often you meet with your PhD students 1-1 formally outside of group meetings (i.e. meetings of >30 minutes): At least once per week; In person.
Expected working pattern (based on a full-time student): At least within core hours (10:00-17:00) and other time to be managed around this. Some rota work with other members of the research group. Due to the nature of the research, there may be some weekend and evening working.
How the second supervisor supports the PhD project: Meeting between both supervisors every 2 months, with the student to spend some time during their PhD with second supervisors' research group.
Notice needed for feedback on work (based on a 5000 word report): < 1 week
Communication: Available to e-mail every day. I have odd working hours but there will be a member of the team you can e-mail every day. I may contact you outside of working hours but I do not expect responses outside working hours. Meetings will need to be arranged in advance. Welcome to drop in if my door is open, but encourage a meeting to be arranged first (even if for later that day).
Research Group website >>How day-to-day research training and support is provided: PhD students receive day to day technical training from academic staff (supervisors and other members of research groups/centres), PDRAs and technical staff – as well as more senior PhD students (when relevant).
Supervision style: Directive support: D / Training structure: 4
How often PhD students see you in a timetabled group meeting: At least once a month
Other research groups that PhD students will have the opportunity to frequently interact with: Monthly CNEM meetings. Centre for Excellence in Water Based early Warning Systems for Health Protection meetings. NERC Centre for Doctoral Training in Real-Time Digital Water-Based Systems (RED-ALERT CDT) meetings and events. GW4 FRESH Doctoral Training Centre (NERC Centre for Doctoral Training in Freshwater Biosciences) meetings and events.
How often you meet with your PhD students 1-1 formally outside of group meetings (i.e. meetings of >30 minutes): At least once per week; In person.
Expected working pattern (based on a full-time student): Typical hours would be 9-5pm but with flexibility as required – especially if the research includes new studies using human volunteers as study participants.
How the second supervisor supports the PhD project: Meeting between both supervisors at least fortnightly (outside rotation projects). The student would spend time working in both research groups as an inherent part of this project (i.e., lab and equipment access).
Notice needed for feedback on work (based on a 5000 word report): 1-2 weeks
Communication: Available to email every day unless travelling. Students will also be able to contact me by mobile phone in the event of an emergency (e.g., lab issue, or an important deadline). I may email outside core hours but would not expect a reply outside core working hours.
Research Group website >>How day-to-day research training and support is provided: You will be trained by the main supervisor of the lab you are in at any given time and supported by other researchers within that team. For example in the Mehrban lab you will be trained by Mehrban and the Senior Post-Doctoral Researcher with further day-to-day experimental support delivered by the Post-Doc. For specialist departmental equipment (e.g. core equipment) you will be trained by the relevant technical staff member. The main supervisor for each of the labs will be available on a daily basis (either in person or via email) to address any issues you may have.
Supervision style: Directive support: A / Training structure: 7
How often PhD students see you in a timetabled group meeting: At least once a fortnight
Other research groups that PhD students will have the opportunity to frequently interact with: My group work closely with the Lovell and Mason groups who also work with peptides with all three groups sharing equipment (such as a robot peptide synthesiser and analysis equipment) and expertise. I also host a fortnightly joint meeting with members of the Jones lab (technologies to counteract urinary tract infections) and Gurevich lab (regenerative medicine in zebrafish). Prof Paul Verkade has strong links to other departments in Bristol (e.g. chemistry) and externally with the UK imaging community. Dr Soraya Caixeiro actively collaborates with the Nano and biophotonics group at Bath as well as the Centre for Photonics and Photonic Materials (the latter includes weekly meetings with other centre members and external seminars). The student will have the opportunity to interact with all collaborative groups listed.
How often you meet with your PhD students 1-1 formally outside of group meetings (i.e. meetings of >30 minutes): At least once per fortnight; In person.
Expected working pattern (based on a full-time student): As this is a ‘wet lab’ based project, for a FT PhD student there is an expectation that the student will work core hours unless otherwise agreed. They will interact with other researchers across all three groups and work in a paired system if out of hours work is necessary (please note out of hours working is not the norm across any of the supervisory groups but on occasion, depending on the student’s schedule, brief periods to feed live cells may be necessary).
How the second supervisor supports the PhD project: The student will have an opportunity to spend time with all three groups. While informal chats do not need to be pre-arranged and are encouraged, more formal 1-to-1 meetings will be held weekly in person with the appropriate supervisor. They will also attend fortnightly group meetings, depending on which group they are with, and a monthly project progress/ update meeting with all three supervisors (the latter will be conducted via Teams/ Zoom).
Notice needed for feedback on work (based on a 5000 word report): < 1 week
Communication: Available to e-mail every day (I may contact you outside of working hours but I do not expect a response outside of normal working hours). When I am not teaching or engaged in meetings I am also available in-person for 'drop in' sessions as required. At all other times a member of the research team is always available in person to answer scientific questions. Formal meetings will need to be arranged in advance.
Research Group website >>How day-to-day research training and support is provided: I will train you in mycology, mycotoxins, and molecular biology, and will be your main point of contact throughout this PhD. Prof Pedro Estrela will provide training in electrochemistry and biosensor development. Dr Helen Fones (Eyles) and Prof Barbara Kasprzyk-Horden will provide training in field sampling and analytical chemistry. Initial training will be directly provided by lead supervisors, coupled with follow-on shadowing by experienced team members (PhD/Postdocs) until independence is obtained. The supervisory team will have frequent lab meetings with you, and they promote open-door policies for day-to-day guidance.
Supervision style: Directive support: B / Training structure: 8
How often PhD students see you in a timetabled group meeting: At least once a week
Other research groups that PhD students will have the opportunity to frequently interact with: You will have constant interdisciplinary opportunities for collaboration and training across our research team, including molecular mycology and mycotoxins in my lab, electrochemistry and biosensors in Prof Estrela's lab, field agronomy and crop diseases in Dr Fones (Eyles)'s lab, and analytical chemistry and water-based surveillance in Prof Kasprzyk-Horden's lab. You will also participate in meeting within the Food Security Domain and Milner Centre for Evolution in the Department of Life Sciences, plus the Centre for Bioengineering & Biomedical Technologies (CBio), Centre of Excellence in Water Based Early Warning Systems for Health Protection, and the GW4 AMR alliance. This will provide excellent opportunities learn about other research fields and expand your collaborative network.
How often you meet with your PhD students 1-1 formally outside of group meetings (i.e. meetings of >30 minutes): At least once per week; In person.
Expected working pattern (based on a full-time student): Core working hours are from 10-4pm. However, the supervisory team have a track record in being supportive of flexible working arrangements, acknowledging differences in family, culture, and faith commitments. Due to the nature of working with plant-pathogen interactions and environmental sampling, there will be some requirements for evening/weekend working. However, we always aim to reduce this impact of this through collaboration across our research teams.
How the second supervisor supports the PhD project: Prof Estrela (Department Electrical Engineering, Bath) is the Second Local Supervisor and will provide training in electrochemistry and biosensor development. The student will spend Rotation Project 1 in their lab. The student will subsequently continue their research and training in the Biosensors lab through their PhD. Dr Fones (Eyles) (Biosciences, Exeter) is the second supervisor and will provide in field training in agronomy and crop pathology, in addition to additional laboratory training on molecular Fusarium diagnostics using DNA and antibody approaches. The student will spend Rotation Project 2 in HFE’s lab and be provided opportunities to interact with farming communities and industry (Agrii, Velcourt). Beyond the rotation projects, all supervisors and student will meet bimonthly to review progress and training needs.
Notice needed for feedback on work (based on a 5000 word report): 1-2 weeks
Communication: The supervisory team are available for the student to email every day and we will do our best to provide a timely response. You may be emailed out-of-hours, but you are not expected to reply at these times. We promote open door policies, for drop in day-to-day guidance, but in busy academic periods scheduling meetings in advanced is recommended. Due to the spread of the supervisory team, across departments and institutions, some communication, meetings, and data sharing, will take place on Microsoft Teams.
Research Group website >>How day-to-day research training and support is provided: You will initially shadow and be trained by various members of my research group. Our research assistant will teach you peptide synthesis and synthetic chemistry. Our PhD students will teach you intact protein mass spectrometry and microbiological techniques. You will work directly with me to develop your data analysis skills.
Supervision style: Directive support: B / Training structure: 8
How often PhD students see you in a timetabled group meeting: At least once a week
Other research groups that PhD students will have the opportunity to frequently interact with: In addition to being full members of the Lovell, Laabei and Van den Elsen labs, you will also share a lab with the Mehrban group and be adjacent to the Mason lab, both labs focus on peptide discovery and form a cluster of research groups focused on protein and peptide research. You will also have a chance to work in the Cresswell lab at Bath, which focuses on synthetic methodology. This is a good option if you are interested in synthetic chemistry.
How often you meet with your PhD students 1-1 formally outside of group meetings (i.e. meetings of >30 minutes): At least once per week; Mixture of virtual and in person.
Expected working pattern (based on a full-time student): The expected working pattern is 9am-5pm. Weekend work is not recommended unless absolutely necessary.
How the second supervisor supports the PhD project: As well as completing a rotation project in the Laabei lab, you will join all Laabei group meetings. In addition, you will meet with Lovell, Laabei and Van den Elsen together once per month to discuss project progress.
Notice needed for feedback on work (based on a 5000 word report): < 1 week
Communication: I'm available by e-mail every working day and will try to respond within a few hours. My office door is open for drop-ins between 9am and 5pm.