Yorkshire-wide doctoral training partnership in the biosciences launches

A collaboration across nine universities

Launched this autumn, the YBDTP is a collaboration of nine universities: the University of Leeds, Leeds Beckett University, the University of Sheffield, the University of York, Sheffield Hallam University, Teesside University, the University of Bradford, the University of Huddersfield and the University of Hull.

It has been established to train the bioscience researchers of the future, and to make sure they are fully equipped to address fundamental and strategic biological questions of national and global importance.

Building on the success of the previous White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership in Mechanistic Biology, the collaboration has attracted major investment from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and from the partner institutions.

The partnership will offer cutting-edge research projects in bioscience and biotechnology, complemented by an interdisciplinary training programme and professional placements to give students the variety of skills needed for the UK bioeconomy.

Building a community

The first cohort of PhD students recently attended a multi-day induction event at the YHA National Forest in Derbyshire, which provided training and opportunities to build networks across the partnership.

Professor Gary Jones, Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange in the School of Health and Leeds Beckett's representative on the YBDTP management board, said: "The YBDTP offers Leeds Beckett students researching in the area of biomedical sciences a wonderful opportunity to access world class facilities across partner institutions across the Yorkshire region. Six students from biomedical sciences joined the first cohort of the YBDTP and were actively involved in the successful inaugural residential. We look forward to growing our participation in the YBDTP over the next five years."

Training was delivered by representatives from the University of Leeds, Sheffield Hallam University and the University of York and focused on some of the key elements of PhD research, including:

• The nature and expectations of PhD research training
• Experimental design and data generation for publication
• Effective project and time management

During the residential, students also had the opportunity to play an active role in shaping the future of the partnership, taking part in creative workshop sessions to explore the development of YBDTP's identity as well as team-building activities that enabled them to explore their own research projects and build connections with their peers.

Further information

Applications for entry to projects for 2026 are now open. For further information, including how to apply, visit the, YBDTP website.