Year one training will embed Wellcome Scholars in SCHARR’s interdisciplinary, team-based research culture. The cohort will develop interdisciplinary grounding and methodological skills through taught masters modules. Students will receive generic research skills training, engage with public health decision-makers, and ‘road-test’ potential supervisors and topics during three research attachments. Finally, together with the programme directors they will select a supervisory panel and generate a detailed research proposal outlining the planned PhD work for years two to four.
Induction, mentors and training needs analysis (month one)
There will be an induction session at the start of the programme to ensure students are aware of the range of University services available to them. There will also be a social event so students can meet each other, Programme Directors and potential supervisors.
All students will be assigned two Programme Directors to support them in Year One. With their tutors, students will discuss their aspirations and expectations, undertake a formal training needs analysis and devise a personal timetable of four taught masters modules, generic skills training, and research attachments. Training for students from mathematical disciplines will focus on public health, while students with health-related backgrounds will focus on economics and mathematical modelling.
To assist students in deciding with whom they would like to undertake their research attachments, a series of seminars will be held for potential supervisors to introduce their research area to students.
Research attachments
Students will undertake three eight-week research attachments with different potential supervisors, joining their teams, projects or groups when not in lectures and seminars. Students will explore a number of potential PhD research topics and plans in each attachment.
Research proposals
Towards the end of year one, students will develop a detailed research proposal in one of the topic areas they explored, and supervisors and tutors will be available to provide guidance in topic and supervisory panel choice.
