The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology is a vibrant biomedical research centre which brings together discovery science with early-stage clinical research to develop new therapies for chronic inflammatory and musculoskeletal diseases. Every October, upcoming DPhil projects are listed on the Institute’s website and prospective students begin to apply for them. The Kennedy Institute offers fully-funded four-year nonclinical projects and three-year clinical projects, with outstanding academic supervision, excellent mentoring and career support, a strong interdisciplinary research environment, world-class technologies, and strategic links with industry.
This October, together with the neighbouring IDRM, the Kennedy Institute hosted its first Open Day for prospective DPhil students. Attendees were able to get an idea of what it would be like to study for a DPhil at the Institute. Over the course of the day, prospective students networked with current students, postdoctoral researchers and PIs, attended taster lectures, technology showcases, and student-led building tours.
Director of Graduate Studies Professor Kim Midwood said: ‘It was fantastic to welcome so many prospective PhD students to the Kennedy Institute last week. We enjoyed meeting everyone and taking the opportunity to show why we think the Institute is a very special place to do your DPhil – from excellent science using our cutting edge in house technology platforms to our links with industry and entrepreneurship to our patient partners, taking on bespoke training in the lab and beyond, there is no better place to come perform discovery research that can have real impact on people living with chronic inflammatory and musculoskeletal diseases’.
Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with 100% of respondents rating the day as excellent, exciting, and informative. One prospective student said that '[the day was] expertly organised, I really liked it - thank you'. Another said 'the tour was really insightful to see what the institute looked like with all its facilities. [I felt] warmly welcomed by the staff, and this gave a good impression'.
Applications to study for a DPhil at the Kennedy Institute close on December 3rd, 2024. Attendance of the Open Day is by no means a requirement – we welcome all applications. If you are thinking of applying and have questions about the process, please contact the Kennedy Institute’s Director of Graduate Studies at dgs@kennedy.ox.ac.uk.