EngBio CDT

Interested in the Engineering Biology CDT? 🌟
Join our webinar on Fri 14 Nov, 12:30 PM (GMT) to learn about the course, 2026 entry, and the application process.
Register by Thu 13 Nov, 12 PM: bit.ly/4noQx2U
We look forward to seeing you!

... the seminar will take place on at 3pm on Tuesday 25th November in the Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building.

Sign up to attend here:
forms.office.com/e/vRq9JNZtmw

The second student-led seminar this academic year will be hosted by Cecilia Gallego Rubio.
Cecilia has invited Dr Jenny Molloy, University of Cambridge, to deliver a talk in Oxford.Titled 'DNA Parts to Partnerships: Open Source Tech to Accelerate Synthetic Biology and Local Reagent Manufacturing'...

Jack presented a fantastic poster showcasing his work, impressing both judges and attendees. It was also a great opportunity for Jack to make meaningful connections with biomanufacturing companies, VCs, and consultants.

Well done Jack! 🥳

Congratulations to student Jack from Cohort 1 for winning Best Poster at the Future Talent Competition during the TechBio UK Conference, organised by the BioIndustry Association (BIA)! 🏆
#TechBioUK

A picture of Emma, with text reading "Emma Gregory, Administrator, Engineering Biology CDT"

Meet the team!👋 Emma Gregory

Emma is our CDT Administrator, based at University of Oxford. She is the main point of contact for Oxford home base students

"The best thing about working with the students is hearing all their amazing work. I can’t wait to see where their research will lead them!"

This weekend, Cohort 1 students, Natasha & Cecilia, swapped their lab coats for running shoes to take on Oxford's Half Marathon🏃‍♀️
Running through Oxford’s most historic & scenic streets, crowds lined the route, bringing lots of energy to the city.
Huge congratulations to everyone who took part! 👏

No matter what the challenge, everyone deserves support. You can find more information on each universities wellbeing page regarding mental health support here:

University of Oxford: bit.ly/4q938Kk

University of Bristol: bit.ly/4qboqXN

#WorldMentalHealthDay #WMHD25 🤗

A logo for World Mental Health Day from the Mental Health Foundation. The logo is a smiling Earth, with a green ribbon wrapped around it stating "World Mental Health Day 10 October."

Today is World Mental Health day! Here are some resources we would like to share:

🗺️University of Bristol have a wellbeing map with mindfulness tips and cosy spots to visit here bit.ly/46YObl9
📚University of Oxford have recommended many supportive books, apps, podcasts and more here bit.ly/3L4nC6H

If you've been inspired by our recent posts and would like to join the EngBio CDT, applications for Sept 2026 entry are open!
The deadline for Bristol is 13th Jan 2026
bit.ly/EngBioCDTBrist
The deadline for Oxford is 8th Jan 2026
bit.ly/EngBioCDTOx
More course details on our webpages 🔬

A picture of Jennifer, with text reading "Professor Jennifer McManus. Co-i, EDI Champion"

Meet the team!👋 Professor Jennifer McManus

Jennifer is our Co-i and EDI Champion, based at University of Bristol

Jennifer's research looks at how inter-molecular protein interactions direct protein assembly to form crystals, gels and demixed liquids

Find out about her research: bit.ly/3KX1ACQ

Congrats to James Bridson (Cohort 1) for winning a poster prize at the 16th European Nitrogen Fixation Conference! James said “I got some really constructive feedback… about the challenges of my work, major roadblocks to implementation in the field, & potential future directions.” Well done, James!

Time is flying 🚀 Students have wrapped up their second Welcome Week at Oxford & are nearly through week 1 of foundation training!

Cohort 2 met supervisors, toured labs & sorted out building access. They're now split into two groups, Biology and Maths—before reuniting soon for a new project!

Belmont focuses on environmental restoration, sustainable food production, climate action and the reconnection of people to nature, food, and one another. Thank you to Martin for his insightful tour and use of the beautiful space at Belmont, and to Viv and Mireia, our RRI training leads.

Home Regenerating land, reversing biodiversity loss and reconnecting communities to nature and each other. Discover how you can join the journey.

What if nature was a stakeholder in our research? Can we give nature a voice in our work? How can we be good ancestors?

These were some of the questions at the centre of last Friday’s Responsible Research training session with Cohort 1 EngBio students at Belmont Estate belmont.estate

Discovery Day Discovery Day is your chance to explore science and research in fun, hands-on ways – all for free!

We worked with artist RTiiiKA (rtiiika.com) to create printed artefacts from these imagined futures, which are featuring in FUTURES Festival. Our cohort will be on hand to talk with visitors about the implications of engbio for the futures of Bristol and beyond.

Tickets here: tinyurl.com/4jur2vpv

Earlier this year, the CDT cohort worked with young people from Bristol Cathedral Choir School to imagine the possible futures of engbio. Together they explored what the city could look like in 20, 50, 100 years and how some applications from engineering biology could be part of our day-to-day life.

Come and join us on Saturday 27th September at FUTURES: A Festival of Discovery! futuresnight.co.uk

This Saturday, the EngBio CDT will have an exhibition from 10am-4pm at We The Curious @wethecurious.bsky.social as part of Discovery Day. Tickets are free!

Tickets here: tinyurl.com/4jur2vpv

Now, all Cohort 2 students will be heading to @ox.ac.uk for a Welcome Week there and EngBio Foundation Training.

That’s a wrap on Welcome Week at @bristoluni.bsky.social!

Students have taken part in:
🧫 a visit to @sciencecreates.bsky.social
💭 an introduction to innovation and responsible research
🗣️ a poster event with Cohort 1 students and supervisors

Welcome to Cohort 2 of our EngBio CDT!

The 2025 academic year has kicked off in Bristol and we’re very pleased to welcome another group of enthusiastic students onto the programme.

A picture of Dr Jonathan Bath, with text reading "Dr Jonathan Bath, Co-i and EDI Champion"

Meet the team!👋 Dr Jonathan Bath

Jonathan is our Co-i and EDI Champion, based at the University of Oxford.

Jonathan's work involves making molecular machines using DNA as a construction material.

To find out more about Jonathan's research, visit his staff profile here; bit.ly/41MfehV

A picture of Mireia Bes Garcia, with text reading "Mireia Bes Garcia, Responsible Research and Innovation Training Lead"

Meet the team!👋 Mireia Bes Garcia

Mireia is our Responsible Research & Innovation Lead, based at University of Bristol

She is one of our RRI training leads, covering environment, engagement and inclusive research through bespoke sessions for our students

More about Mireia's work:

bit.ly/4oWjDsw

Congratulations to our first cohort of students who are coming to the end of their taught units. We can’t believe how quickly this last year has gone! 👏

September will see the start of their PhD/DPhil projects and we’ll be welcoming Cohort 2 to the programme. 🌟

A picture of Kerstin, with text reading "Dr Kerstin Kinkelin, Innovation Manager"

Meet the team!👋 Dr Kerstin Kinkelin

Kerstin is our Innovation Manager, based at the University of Bristol.

Kerstin works with partners across the innovation ecosystem to identify opportunities for collaborative research and training.

Find out more about Kerstin's work here: bit.ly/45kuogz

One of the reasons we love living in Bristol? The annual Bristol Balloon Fiesta of course! The event takes place every summer when the city sees hundreds of balloons take to the skies. Our CDT Administrator Cat took this photo from her balcony last weekend 😍

Hi Noah! Please could you message us your email address? We'll happily pass it on to our student for them to get in touch with you

Our students are part way through their second Short Research Project. They're looking into research areas such as:

- characterising the phase-transition profile of haemoglobin in sickled RBCs 🩸
- using reinforcement learning to understand protein expression 🧑‍💻

It’s been a productive summer so far!

A picture of Vivienne Kuh, with text reading "Vivienne Kuh, Responsible Research and Innovation Training Lead"

Meet the team!👋 Vivienne Kuh

Viv is our Responsible Research & Innovation Lead, based at University of Bristol

Viv is one of our RRI training leads, covering environment, engagement and inclusive research through bespoke sessions for our students

Find out more about Viv's research:
bit.ly/4eBExbs

A picture of Professor Antonis Papachristodoulou, with text reading "Professor Antonis Papachristodoulou. Co Director, Teaching Lead"

Meet the team!👋 Professor Antonis Papachristodoulou

Antonis is our Co-Director, based at University of Oxford.

Antonis is part of the SYSOS group, who develop tools based on modern control theory for biological and technological systems.

Find out more about his research here: bit.ly/4lyJxzT