Industrial CASE studentships
The aim of the MRC Industry CASE awards is to provide PhD students with a first rate, challenging training experience within the context of a mutually beneficial collaboration between academic and non-academic partner organisations e.g. industry and policy making bodies.
The Medical Research Council is committed to developing and sustaining a close and productive alignment with industry in the UK. As part of that commitment the MRC will fund approximately 30-35 individual Industrial CASE PhD studentships each year. We aim to award at least five of these to Small & Medium Sized Enterprises, which we successfully exceeded in the last two years following the introduction of more flexible requirements for SME partners.
Each Industrial CASE student will have two committed PhD supervisors, one academic and one from the non-academic partner. Both partners will make an important contribution to the training of the student: they will offer their outstanding student an experience of two research cultures and access to a wider than usual range of technology, facilities and expertise. The student will benefit from a diversity of experimental approaches, while undertaking cutting-edge hypothesis driven research with a translational and perhaps clinical dimension.
On completing their PhD, the student will have gained advanced research and generic skills that should enhance their future employability. Many will become research leaders in the future.
Open to applications from scientists within:
- UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs),
- Research Council Institutes,
- Independent Research Organisations (IROs),
- Companies with an established UK-based research and/or commercial production capability,
- Other non-academic partner organisations able to provide students with distinctive research training and experience not available in an academic setting.
Funding for MRC studentships is provided to research organisations, such as universities, who select outstanding candidates for projects with leading researchers. We do not fund students directly, so prospective students should contact the institution at which they wish to study.
Applications must demonstrate a relevance to MRC’s health mission
Non-Academic Partner Commitment
All Industrial CASE studentships are based at the academic institution, but must spend part of their time with the non-academic partner. This must be for a minimum cumulative period of three months during the studentship. This 3 month period can be at any point during the studentship and may consist of a number of shorter visits if appropriate. The non-academic partner is required to ensure that sufficient time is allocated during the placement to fulfil all aspects of the training being provided. Further non-academic partner responsibilities are listed in the. Industry CASE competition Guidance Notes.
Submitting Your Application
Applicants should ensure that they have read the MRC Industrial CASE Scheme Guidance Notes before completing their application.
Proposals should be submitted through the Joint electronic Submission (Je-S) system.
Proposals also require a number of document attachments:
- Company details: exactly 1 – please ensure to use the template provided
- Case for support form: exactly 1 – please ensure to use the template provided
- A covering letter may also be submitted if desired
Closing date: Summer 2013 (exact date TBC)
Contact
If you experience difficulties using Je-S or have questions regarding its use, the helpdesk can be contacted Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm UK time (excluding Bank holidays and other holidays).
Email: JeSHelp@rcuk.ac.uk
Tel.:+44 (0)1793 444164 [out of hours please leave a voicemail message]
MRC contact: For other queries relating to the requirements of the competition please email
Email: GPSD@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk
