Joint Doctoral Program of the University of St Andrews and the University of Bonn

Individual funding

The University of St Andrews and the University of Bonn are pleased to offer a scholarship funded by both institutions, to support exceptional students undertaking doctoral research in the following fields:

Submission deadline

March 31 or June 15, 2023 — depending on project

Geography and Sustainable Development

Mega-infrastructure in Northern Kenya

Mega-infrastructure has returned to the global political and research agenda, with numerous large dams, roads, ports, irrigation schemes, and other ‘development’ projects planned or under construction, particularly in the Global South. These projects are now often framed as sustainable or green development, in contrast to previous modernist and nationalist discourses of the 20th century. (For complete project descriptions see Downloads.)

Water politics in Northern Kenya

Stakeholder participation in water management continues to be a key public policy objective worldwide. Likewise, understanding how and why conflicts about water emerge, and how they can be mitigated or resolved in the face of diminishing water security is one of the most important priorities for water research today. In Kenya, stakeholder participation has been formalised through the 2002 Water Act, which calls for the establishment of Water Resources User Associations (WRUAs) within the country’s river basins. (For complete project descriptions see Downloads.)

Funding conditions

Geographical criteria
No restrictions.

Domicile for fee status
No restrictions.

Level of study
Postgraduate Research (Doctoral).

Year of entry
2023–2024 academic year.

There is flexibility in designing the project plan including the periods to be spent at each institution within the overall requirements outlined under the duration of award section below. The project will, however, begin at Bonn.

The student may start their degree at any point in the academic year 2023-2024 prior to a final entry date of May 27, 2024 subject to agreement with the supervisory team.

Additional criteria
Applicants must not already (i) hold a doctoral degree; or (ii) be matriculated for a doctoral degree at either the University of St Andrews or the University of Bonn (or another institution).

Duration of award
Up to 3.5 years. The student will be expected to spend approximately half of the award term at the University of St Andrews and half at the University of Bonn. The successful candidate will be expected to have completed the doctorate degree by the end of the award term. The award term excludes the continuation period and any extension periods.

Value of award
The funding comprises a scholarship equivalent of a full-fees award and stipend for a period of up to 3.5 years. It is expected that the student will spend half of the scholarship term at the University of St Andrews and half at the University of Bonn:

  • For the period spent at the University of St Andrews, the scholarship will comprise a full fees award and a stipend paid at the current UK Research Council rate (£17,668 each year in 2022–2023).
  • For the period spent at the University of Bonn, the scholarship will comprise a monthly maintenance grant of €1,500. The University of Bonn does not charge any tuition fees, but students must pay a so-called social contribution once per semester (currently €315 per semester).

Tuition or maintenance award
Tuition and maintenance.

Applicants should submit their application to the co-supervisors by March 31, 2023.                Please send your application to Dr Christopher Schulz (St Andrews) and Professor Detlef Müller-Mahn (Bonn) at the following email addresses:

Your application should include the following:

  • Statement why you are the right candidate for the project (max. 500 words)
  • More specific project proposal (overview/context, research questions, methods, outcomes and impact, project timeline, statements on ethics and risk, max. 2000 words)
  • CV
  • 2 Reference(s) (these can be sent by the referees or by the applicant)

Please indicate in your application that you wish to be considered for this Global PhD Scholarship St Andrews and Bonn (reference Schulz-Müller-Mahn).

Terms and conditions

Please read the University of St Andrews scholarships terms and conditions (opens in new tab). These are applicable during the St Andrews duration of the award; please consult the partner institution for their terms and conditions relating to scholarships.

Contact

Please contact us should you have any questions regarding the scholarship: pgscholarships@st-andrews.ac.uk

Informal enquiries regarding this scholarship may be addressed to the co-supervisors Dr Schulz at christopher.schulz@st-andrews.ac.uk and Professor Müller-Mahn at mueller-mahn@uni-bonn.de

Submission deadline: March 31, 2023

The student may start their degree at any point in the academic year 2023-2024 prior to a final entry date of May 27, 2024 subject to agreement with the supervisory team.

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You will be notified of the outcome of your application by April 30, 2023. Awards are subject to final signatures of contractual relationships between the parties, and are not an indication of admission to the doctoral programme. Successful scholarship applicants must apply to both institutions and meet all relevant entry requirements for admission including any immigration requirements that may be in place.

Next steps
Once notified, successful candidates should proceed to fulfil the application requirements for each University and must meet all normal entry requirements for admission – please see the advice on applying for research degree programmes. Applications should indicate that the applicant is the recipient of a Global PhD Scholarship St Andrews and Bonn (reference Schulz-Müller-Mahn).

Earth and Environmental Sciences

A new proxy for ocean circulation and its impact on rapid climate change

The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) plays a fundamental role in transporting heat from the tropics to NW Europe. The finding that AMOC can rapidly weaken, resulting in major cooling in the Northern Hemisphere, remains one of the most fascinating yet enigmatic results in the study of past climates, with critical lessons for our rapidly warming world. The potential impacts of a future shutdown in Atlantic overturning are closely informed by these changes in the past, as recently highlighted in the IPCC’s AR6. However, despite its critical importance, our ability to reconstruct past changes in ocean circulation remains rudimentary. (For complete project description see Downloads)

Funding conditions

Geographical criteria
No restrictions.

Domicile for fee status
No restrictions.

Level of study
Postgraduate Research (Doctoral).

Year of entry
2023–2024 academic year.

The successful student will initially spend 18 months at Bonn, where they will work with Professor März as part of the Environmental Geology group. The student will work on compilation and examination of sediment core, pore water, and seawater data. They will also initiate work with the sedimentary redox model to examine mechanistic controls on redox elements in sediments.

The student will then move to St Andrews, to take advantage of the state-of-the-art laboratory facilities in Rae’s and Burke’s research groups that will allow them to make new analyses to test hypotheses emerging from their modelling. With improved understanding of the fundamentals of the proxy, they will then make analyses on sediment cores spanning the rapid climate change events of the last ice age, to better understand the critical role of ocean circulation.

It is expected that the student will begin the degree at the University of Bonn. The student may start their degree at any point in the academic year 2023-2024 prior to a final entry date of May 27, 2024 subject to agreement with the supervisory team.

Additional criteria
Applicants must not already (i) hold a doctoral degree; or (ii) be matriculated for a doctoral degree at either the University of St Andrews or the University of Bonn (or another institution).

Duration of award
Up to 3.5 years. The student will be expected to spend approximately half of the award term at the University of St Andrews and half at the University of Bonn. The successful candidate will be expected to have completed the doctorate degree by the end of the award term. The award term excludes the continuation period and any extension periods.

Value of award
The funding comprises a scholarship equivalent of a full-fees award and stipend for a period of up to 3.5 years. It is expected that the student will spend half of the scholarship term at the University of St Andrews and half at the University of Bonn:

  • For the period spent at the University of St Andrews, the scholarship will comprise a full fees award and a stipend paid at the current UK Research Council rate (£17,668 each year in 2022–2023).
  • For the period spent at the University of Bonn, the scholarship will comprise a monthly maintenance grant of €1,500. The University of Bonn does not charge any tuition fees, but students must pay a so-called social contribution once per semester (currently €315 per semester).

Tuition or maintenance award
Tuition and maintenance.

Applicants should submit their application to the co-supervisors by March 31, 2023.                Please send your application to Dr James Rae and Dr Andrea Burke (St Andrews) and Professor März (Bonn) at the following email addresses:

Your application should include the following:

  • Statement why you are the right candidate for the project (max. 800 words)
  • CV
  • References(s) - CONTACT INFO FOR REFEREES (important to avoid having them submit the references themselves) 
  • Other (please specify): Academic transcript

Please indicate in your application that you wish to be considered for this Global PhD Scholarship St Andrews and Bonn (reference Rae-Burke-Maerz).

Terms and conditions

Please read the University of St Andrews scholarships terms and conditions (opens in new tab). These are applicable during the St Andrews duration of the award; please consult the partner institution for their terms and conditions relating to scholarships.

Contact

Please contact us should you have any questions regarding the scholarship: pgscholarships@st-andrews.ac.uk

Informal enquiries regarding this scholarship may be addressed to Dr Rae at jwbr@st-andrews.ac.uk

Submission deadline: March 31, 2023

It is expected that the student will begin the degree at the University of Bonn. The student may start their degree at any point in the academic year 2023-2024 prior to a final entry date of May 27, 2024 subject to agreement with the supervisory team.

Aufklapp-Text

You will be notified of the outcome of your application by April 30, 2023. Awards are subject to final signatures of contractual relationships between the parties, and are not an indication of admission to the doctoral programme. Successful scholarship applicants must apply to both institutions and meet all relevant entry requirements for admission including any immigration requirements that may be in place.

Next steps
Once notified, successful candidates should proceed to fulfil the application requirements for each University and must meet all normal entry requirements for admission – please see the advice on applying for research degree programmes. Applications should indicate that the applicant is the recipient of a Global PhD Scholarship St Andrews and Bonn (reference Rae-Burke-Maerz).

Biology

Untying the knot: genome-wide recognition and remodelling of G4 structures by the NER machinery- implications in human DNA repair and regulatory pathways

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Smoking, alcohol, and/or UV light can lead to mutations within genomic DNA and drive cancer development. In healthy cells, DNA repair mechanisms exist to prevent mutations and disease generation. To better understand the molecular origins of cancer and improve diagnostic and therapeutic applications an enhanced understanding of repair is required. (For complete project description see Downloads)

Funding conditions

Geographical criteria
No restrictions.

Domicile for fee status
No restrictions.

Level of study
Postgraduate Research (Doctoral).

Year of entry
2023–2024 academic year.

It is planned that the successful student will spend the first year at Bonn to initiate the genomic research and move to St Andrews during the second year to translate genomic information to molecular-level studies. The third year will be divided in two 6-month placements first at Bonn and then at St Andrews to allow iterative development of the project and complete research at both institutions.

It is expected that the degree will begin at the University of Bonn. The student may start their degree at any point in the academic year 2023-2024 prior to a final entry date of May 27, 2024 subject to agreement with the supervisory team.

Additional criteria
Applicants must not already (i) hold a doctoral degree; or (ii) be matriculated for a doctoral degree at either the University of St Andrews or the University of Bonn (or another institution).                  We encourage applicants with a cellular or molecular biology backgrounds. Some previous experience in biophysics or microscopy methods is desirable but not required and training will be provided.

Duration of award
Up to 3.5 years. The student will be expected to spend approximately half of the award term at the University of St Andrews and half at the University of Bonn. The successful candidate will be expected to have completed the doctorate degree by the end of the award term. The award term excludes the continuation period and any extension periods.

Value of award
The funding comprises a scholarship equivalent of a full-fees award and stipend for a period of up to 3.5 years. It is expected that the student will spend half of the scholarship term at the University of St Andrews and half at the University of Bonn:

  • For the period spent at the University of St Andrews, the scholarship will comprise a full fees award and a stipend paid at the current UK Research Council rate (£17,668 each year in 2022–2023).
  • For the period spent at the University of Bonn, the scholarship will comprise a monthly maintenance grant of €1,500. The University of Bonn does not charge any tuition fees, but students must pay a so-called social contribution once per semester (currently €315 per semester).

Tuition or maintenance award
Tuition and maintenance.

Applicants should submit their application to the co-supervisors by March 31, 2023.                Please send your application to Professor Carlos Penedo (St Andrews) and Professor Dr. rer. nat. Katrin Paeschke (Bonn) at the following email addresses:

Your application should include the following:

  • Statement on why you are the right candidate for the project (max. 1000 words)
  • CV
  • Reference(s)

Please indicate in your application that you wish to be considered for this Global PhD Scholarship St Andrews and Bonn (reference Penedo-Paeschke).

Terms and conditions

Please read the University of St Andrews scholarships terms and conditions (opens in new tab). These are applicable during the St Andrews duration of the award; please consult the partner institution for their terms and conditions relating to scholarships.

Contact

Please contact us should you have any questions regarding the scholarship: pgscholarships@st-andrews.ac.uk

Informal enquiries regarding this scholarship may be addressed to Professor Paeschke at paeschke@uni-bonn.de and Professor Penedo at jcp10@st-andrews.ac.uk

Submission deadline: June 15, 2023

It is expected that the degree will begin at the University of Bonn. The student may start their degree at any point in the academic year 2023-2024 prior to a final entry date of May 27, 2024 subject to agreement with the supervisory team.

Aufklapp-Text

You will be notified of the outcome of your application by April 30, 2023. Awards are subject to final signatures of contractual relationships between the parties, and are not an indication of admission to the doctoral programme. Successful scholarship applicants must apply to both institutions and meet all relevant entry requirements for admission including any immigration requirements that may be in place.

Next steps
Once notified, successful candidates should proceed to fulfil the application requirements for each University and must meet all normal entry requirements for admission – please see the advice on applying for research degree programmes. Applications should indicate that the applicant is the recipient of a Global PhD Scholarship St Andrews and Bonn (reference Penedo-Paeschke).

Medicine

Dissecting genetic risk factors for mental health disorders through data-driven approaches

The WHO estimates that at least 1 in 8 people in the world lives with a mental disorder. Several risk factors have been associated with psychiatric traits, but we know very little about why any particular person would develop a mental disorder, while others appear to be resilient. Advances in genetic research have started to give us some insights into this question. Family and twin studies showed that most psychiatric traits have a genetic basis, but it was not until recently that we were able to pinpoint specific genetic factors leading to the development of early risk predictors, i.e. polygenic risk scores (PRS). (For complete project description see Downloads)

Funding conditions

Study level
Postgraduate

Domicile for fee status
No restrictions.

Schools
Medicine

Application Assessment
Academic merit

Available to
Prospective Students

Mode of study
Full time

Geographical criteria
No restrictions.

Additional criteria

  • The successful student will spend the first part of the project in Bonn and will then complete the project in St Andrews. Therefore, it is expected that the student will spend significant time at both institutions.
  • The student may start their degree at Bonn at any point in the academic year 2023-2024 prior to a final entry date of May 27, 2024 subject to agreement with the supervisory team.
  • Applicants must not already (i) hold a doctoral degree; or (ii) be matriculated for a doctoral degree at either the University of St Andrews or the University of Bonn (or another institution).

Duration of award
Up to 3.5 years. The student will be expected to spend approximately half of the award term at the University of St Andrews and half at the University of Bonn. The successful candidate will be expected to have completed the doctorate degree by the end of the award term. The award term excludes the continuation period and any extension periods.

Value of award
The funding comprises a scholarship equivalent of a full-fees award and stipend for a period of up to 3.5 years. It is expected that the student will spend half of the scholarship term at the University of St Andrews and half at the University of Bonn:

  • For the period spent at the University of St Andrews, the scholarship will comprise a full fees award and a stipend paid at the current UK Research Council rate (£17,668 each year in 2022–2023).
  • For the period spent at the University of Bonn, the scholarship will comprise a salary according to TV-L EG13 (65%). The University of Bonn does not charge any tuition fees, but students must pay a so-called social contribution once per semester (currently €315 per semester)..

Tuition or maintenance award
Tuition and maintenance.

Applicants should submit their application to the co-supervisors by March 31, 2023.                Please send your application to both Dr Silvia Paracchini (St Andrews) and Jun-Prof. Dr. Andreas Forstner (Bonn) at the following email addresses:

Your application should include the following:

  • Statement why you are the right candidate for the project 
  • CV
  • Reference(s)

Please indicate in your application that you wish to be considered for this Global PhD Scholarship St Andrews and Bonn (reference Paracchini-Forstner).

Terms and conditions

Please read the University of St Andrews scholarships terms and conditions (opens in new tab). These are applicable during the St Andrews duration of the award; please consult the partner institution for their terms and conditions relating to scholarships.

Contact

Please contact us should you have any questions regarding the scholarship: pgscholarships@st-andrews.ac.uk

Informal enquiries regarding this scholarship may be addressed to Dr Paracchini at sp58@st-andrew.ac.uk and Jun.-Professor Forstner at forstner@uni-bonn.de

Submission deadline: March 31, 2023

The student may start their degree at Bonn at any point in the academic year 2023-2024 prior to a final entry date of May 27, 2024 subject to agreement with the supervisory team.

Aufklapp-Text

Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed online during the week commencing on April 10, 2023.

You will be notified of the outcome of your application by April 30, 2023. Awards are subject to final signatures of contractual relationships between the parties, and are not an indication of admission to the doctoral programme. Successful scholarship applicants must apply to both institutions and meet all relevant entry requirements for admission including any immigration requirements that may be in place

Next steps
Once notified, successful candidates should proceed to fulfil the application requirements for each University and must meet all normal entry requirements for admission – please see the advice on applying for research degree programmes. Applications should indicate that the applicant is the recipient of a Global PhD Scholarship St Andrews and Bonn (reference Paracchini-Forstner).

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Doctoral Research at St Andrews

As a doctoral student at the University of St Andrews you will be part of a growing, vibrant, and intellectually stimulating postgraduate community. St Andrews is one of the leading research-intensive universities in the world and offers a postgraduate experience of remarkable richness.

St Leonard’s Postgraduate College is at the heart of the postgraduate community of St Andrews. The College supports all postgraduates and aims to provide opportunities for postgraduates to come together, socially and intellectually, and make new connections.

St Leonard’s Postgraduate College works closely with the Postgraduate Society which is one of the most active societies within the Students’ Association. All doctoral students are automatically welcomed into the Postgraduate Society when they join the University.

In addition to the research training that doctoral students complete in their home School, doctoral students at St Andrews have access to GRADskills – a free, comprehensive training programme to support their academic, professional, and personal development.

Doctoral Research at the University of Bonn

As a doctoral student at the University of Bonn you will be part of a vibrant and intellectually stimulating academic community. The University of Bonn is one of the leading research-intensive universities in the world. It is one of only 11 German Universities of Excellence and the only German university with six Clusters of Excellence.

In addition to the research training that doctoral students complete in their home Department, doctoral students at the University of Bonn have access to the Bonn Graduate Center, which is the central service department for doctoral candidates. It offers guidance on training and funding opportunities and offers a free and comprehensive training programme to support their academic, professional, and personal development.

Contact

Avatar Odenthal

Tina Odenthal

+49 228 73-6190

Partnerships and International Researchers

1.003

Poppelsdorfer Allee 102

53115 Bonn (Germany)

+49 228 73-6190

Funded by the Federal and State Governments as part of the German Excellence Strategy

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