Training Structure

PhD Training

As you undertake your independent research project, you have access to a wide variety of training and support opportunities, provided by the faculty you are registered in, Imperial’s award winning Early Career Researcher Institute , as well as MultiSci. You will also have access to the Imperial MRC supplement scheme, which can provide support for internships/placements, high-cost training, exceptional training opportunities, strategic skill development, industry training, outreach, and postdoctoral transition.

Regular MultiSci-cohort training and activities will continue throughout your PhD years, and you will be expected to balance the time-commitment needed to attend these with your research projects.

All MultiSci students will be required to complete, and pass, the following PhD milestone assessments:

• Early-stage review – typically submitted within 9 months of starting your PhD project
• Late-stage review – typically submitted between 18-24 months after starting your PhD project
• PhD thesis and viva voce
• Reflective outcomes statement

MultiSci Cohort Training

MultiSci’s cohort training programme is intended to provide you with training and development opportunities across a breadth of skills and topics. These will complement the academic and scientific training you engage in during your research projects. Topics will vary from year-to-year, and there is flexibility to tailor these to the interests and priorities of each cohort. Examples of previous or upcoming MultiSci training session topics are:

• Research integrity
• Journey of a paper
• How to peer review
• Working with industry
• Podcast design and production

Other Training Opportunities

MultiSci training also aims to empower you with knowledge and tools to build a positive research culture and working environment. To this end, you will receive training and guidance in important topics such as unconscious bias, and being an active bystander.

Where relevant, you will also be required to take part in training designed and/or provided by others at Imperial. Examples of these that are already integrated into MultiSci’s programme are:

Attributes and Aspirations (AA)

AA is an interactive, practical, flexible online short course that supports you in planning your professional future. It will guide you in developing key skills that you’ll be able to use throughout your PhD, and beyond.

Chemical Kitchen

This innovative experience teaches laboratory skills and the scientific method through the parallel discipline of gastronomy and its transformation into a home-based program, using planning, creativity, safe working, precision, dexterity, making and recording observations, and the application of knowledge.