MRC BSU PhD Studentship

RFCSR; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 22,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully funded PhD studentship

Travel budget

Training budget

Job summary

The Medical Research Council (MRC) Biostatistics Unit (BSU) at the University of Cambridge invites applications for a 3-year fully funded PhD studentship commencing January 2027. The position references SL49643 and includes departmental funding for travel and training.

Open to UK applicants with a strong degree in mathematics, statistics or related quantitative discipline; applicants should be eligible to live and study in the UK and demonstrate proficiency in quantitative methods for biomedical

Qualifications

• Strong quantitative, statistical, and mathematical background.
• Interest and aptitude for developing and applying innovative statistical and data science methodologies to real-world biomedical and public health challenges.
• Proficiency in quantitative problem-solving and motivation for doctoral-level research.

Responsibilities

• Apply innovative statistical methods to real biomedical problems within public health contexts.
• Develop and evaluate data-science driven approaches for biomedical research questions.
• Contribute to doctoral-level research in biostatistics at the MRC BSU, Cambridge.

Skills

Strong quantitative background

Statistical methods

Mathematical background

Data science interest

Quantitative problem solving

Education

Strong degree in mathematics, statistics, biostatistics, data science, or related quantitative discipline

Job description

The Medical Research Council (MRC) Biostatistics Unit (BSU) at the University of Cambridge is one of the largest groups of biostatisticians in Europe, as well as a major centre for research, training, and knowledge transfer in biostatistics. The Unit develops, applies, and promotes innovative statistical and data science approaches to advance biomedical science and human health.

The current research portfolio of the MRC BSU is organised into five main themes spanning the scientific research spectrum from basic science to population health, responding directly to scientific needs in biomedicine. The Unit welcomes applications from students who wish to apply innovative statistical methods to real biomedical problems in order to deliver key insights into human health and disease.

Award Duration: 3-year fully funded PhD studentship starting from January 2027.

Position Reference: SL49643.

Departmental Benefits: Departmental funding includes a generous travel and training budget.

Inclusion & Diversity

The Unit is actively seeking to increase diversity among its doctoral students, promoting equitable representation and encouraging applications from under-represented groups, including women and ethnic minorities.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to UK applicants (Home fee status).

Candidates must meet the academic entry requirements for postgraduate doctoral study at the University of Cambridge.

Applicants must hold, or expect to obtain, a strong relevant degree in mathematics, statistics, biostatistics, data science, or a related quantitative discipline.

Candidates must be eligible to live and study in the UK.

Required expertise/skills

Strong quantitative, statistical, and mathematical background.

Interest and aptitude for developing and applying innovative statistical and data science methodologies to real-world biomedical and public health challenges.

Proficiency in quantitative problem-solving and motivation for doctoral-level research.

Salary details

Fully funded (covers full University tuition fees and provides an annual student stipend).

Application Deadline

21st September 2026