Pharmacology MSc (Res)

University of Oxford

MSc by Research

The MSc by Research in Pharmacology aims to train students in one of the following areas: cardiovascular pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, drug discovery, and neuropharmacology & signalling.

Applicants are strongly advised to identify potential supervisors based on their research area of interest. Selecting the correct research project is a hugely important first step, so it essential that you contact potential supervisors directly to discuss possibilities before applying.

If accepted, you will be admitted directly to a particular research area led by departmental members appointed as MSc by Research supervisors. MSc by Research students will not normally do laboratory rotations. You will be based in a specified research laboratory and undertake research on a subject agreed with your supervisor.

There are no taught courses examined by written papers, but you will have access to a wide range of lecture courses at a taught master’s level and foundation or preliminary level, as appropriate. Lecture modules include: Cardiovascular Pharmacology, Cell Signalling, Neuropharmacology, Neurodegeneration, Psychopharmacology, Drug Discovery. If you have changed fields, this will enable you to fill in gaps in your background knowledge. There is also a wide range of courses and workshops you will be able to attend to acquire skills that will be necessary for the pursuance and presentation of your research, as well as your professional development as a research scientist.

DPhil

The DPhil in Pharmacology offers a wide range of cutting-edge research topics within a multi-disciplinary and world-renowned department (ranked number 1 by subject since 2019 in the QS World Ranking), from calcium signalling to cardiovascular pharmacology, neuropharmacology and medicinal chemistry.

This programme aims to train students in the general areas of:

• Cardiovascular Pharmacology
• Medicinal Chemistry
• Neuropharmacology
• Signalling.

Within each area, cutting-edge laboratory research techniques will be used including biophysical approaches to the study of ion channels, electrophysiology, high resolution microscopy, molecular biology, systems biology all across a broad range of sub-disciplines including cell biology, calcium channels and signalling, medicinal chemistry, drug discovery, vascular pharmacology, circadian rhythms, rare diseases, lysosomal and sphingolipid disorders, neuronal circuits, synaptic plasticity and pharmacology, neuropsychopharmacology and molecular biology.

A typical day/week in each year of the course in the first two to three years will mostly focus on direct research and lab work, but will also require reading of the literature, attendance at departmental seminars, lab meetings and skills training. Once sufficient progress has been made, laboratory research will taper off and efforts will focus on data analysis and thesis preparation.

For a DPhil, your research will be carried out at Oxford under the supervision of a member of academic staff. You will work within their research group on an agreed project at the forefront of the subject.

If you are interested in joining the department as a DPhil student, you are strongly encouraged to look at the Department of Pharmacology's current research to help identify the most suitable area of research. Selecting the correct research project is a hugely important first step, so it is recommended that you contact potential supervisors and the Director of Graduate Studies to discuss possibilities before you apply online for a place on the course.