MPhil in Basic & Translational Neuroscience 2025/26 – Call for Projects Now Open!

The Cambridge Neuroscience MPhil in Basic and Translational Neuroscience has accepted its 9th cohort of students due to start in October 2025. The course has proved very successful in its first few years (with almost 100 excellent students!), with many students remaining in Cambridge to complete a PhD. Our 2024/25 cohort are currently enjoying a tremendous year, and due to submit their final projects in July 2025. Please note the earlier deadline for request for project abstracts of July 1st 2025. 

Submit your project abstract here!

About the course:

• This taught MPhil programme is an 11 month full time degree.
• While the MPhil programme is hosted by the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience (each student must have a ‘home’ department), the course is intended to be cross school and interdisciplinary in nature and is run under the auspices of Cambridge Neuroscience.
• The Course Directors are currently Professors Jeff Dalley (Psychology) and Ole Paulsen (PDN) and is organised, managed and coordinated by Dr Dervila Glynn. For the academic year 2025/26, we are delighted to welcome incoming Course Directors Dr Elisa Galliano (PDN) and Dr David Bulmer (Pharmacology).
• For more information, see directory and Cambridge Neuroscience.

Students:

1. Attend lectures and workshops covering the themes of Cambridge Neuroscience.
2. Complete courses in statistics and research methods (weighted at 5%).
3. Write one extended essay not exceeding 5000 words (weighted at 25%).
4. Complete a 2-term research project and written report not exceeding 10,000 words (weighted at 70%).
5. Complete 3 out of a potential 7 research method modules
6. Attend interdisciplinary seminars, journal clubs and research skills sessions.

A cohort of excellent students have been offered places to start in October, each holding a first class honours degree from a wide variety of backgrounds so hopefully will make an excellent addition to any lab. It is hoped that some of these students will decide to stay in Cambridge and pursue a PhD here following their MPhil.

We are looking for project proposals that we can offer the students from across all themes of Cambridge Neuroscience.

Submit your project abstract here!  

Please note the following:

1. Projects will be for 2 terms (starting in Lent term 2026). There is a possibility that students may be able to start in late Michaelmas term 2025 subject to availability.
2. Please complete the form if you wish to submit a project abstract.
3. PIs who offer an MPhil project are expected to act as an assessor on other projects (max one project) in this programme if required.
4. PIs must offer a supportive environment for students, providing mentorship, supervision, training and access to regular meetings.
5. We encourage PIs to host students in their lab ‘in real life’ or in a hybrid manner – remote projects do not benefit students in the same way – please contact Dervila Glynn if you have questions on this.
6. PIs must allow their students to attend the required modules of their MPhil programme, while a student in their lab.
7. PIs can claim ~£2,500 towards consumables – eligible costs include laboratory consumables, facility charges, as well as students’ attendance at relevant courses and conferences.
8. PIs offering a project must be a member of Cambridge Neuroscience
9. Post Doctoral Research Associates may act as co-supervisors, provided they have the full agreement, support and guidance of their Principal Investigator. You will be asked to confirm that the primary supervisor (and the Principal Investigator if the primary supervisor is more junior) will provide adequate supervision, guidance and feedback for the duration of the student’s time in the laboratory.
10. Questions can be directed to Dervila Glynn,
11. Please complete the form and return to Dervila Glynn by Tuesday July 1st 2025 – PLEASE NOTE THE EARLIER DEADLINE FOR THIS YEAR!

Submit your project abstract here!

Posted on 22/05/2025