Studying for a DPhil at NDORMS – from the perspective of a supervisor and a student!

'During my times in NDORMS I’ve had the privilege of supervising 15 DPhil or MSc students to completion, both national and international students, from clinical and non-clinical backgrounds. One of the joys of supervising within the department is the wealth of expertise that enables us to provide a support structure that suits each individual student and their project – whether that be ensuring awareness of the clinical relevance of a problem, providing specialist knowledge in inflammatory signalling or cutting edge knowledge on computational methods. I thoroughly enjoy working with each student and seeing them and their research flourish during their DPhil. It has been hugely rewarding to see students finish their DPhils and progress in their careers, taking with them the skillsets that come from spending 3-4 years working and communicating with biologists, engineers, bioinformaticians, clinicians and more!' Assoc Prof Sarah Snelling

'My interest in orthopaedics came from my undergraduate studies in Biomedical Sciences and working as a research assistant, where I became curious about the molecular pathology of bone diseases. The DPhil at NDORMS has given me the opportunity to train in both laboratory based molecular biology and bioinformatics, and I’ve been able to tailor the project to my interests. I really enjoy the flexibility to come up with my own ideas and test them out in an academic way. I have four supervisors, covering cell biology, advanced molecular biology, clinical orthopaedics and data analysis, all who are very understanding and supportive. The department has a strong network of support for DPhil students with advisors to help at each milestone, and the opportunity to take practical classes such as bioinformatics, scientific writing and presentations. I’m confident that the scientific thinking skills I’ve developed alongside the laboratory and technical analysis will put me in a strong position for the future.' Chinemerem Ikwuanusi.

'I have had the privilege of working with Prof Snelling since 2016. Not only has she been incredibly supportive during my DPhil (2016-2019), but she has stayed an outstanding mentor ever since. After my DPhil, I started to work on an interdisciplinary project with Sarah and several of her core collaborators including Prof Adam Cribbs and Dr Matthew Baldwin, which allowed me to expand my experience and skillset. Throughout this process, she supported several fellowship applications, which means that I am now able to work on my own academic projects. Sarah’s investment in people’s journeys, both throughout their degrees and beyond, has allowed me to be where I am today.' Dr Jolet Mimpen

'I began the NDORMS DPhil after my first year of training in orthopaedic surgery. I have a deep passion for orthopaedics and I was drawn to the opportunity to do cutting edge research in musculoskeletal sciences. A particular strength of the DPhil programme here is its multidisciplinary nature. I’m fortunate to have four supervisors, each bringing a unique expertise to my project: molecular biology, computational biology, orthopaedic surgery and medical ethics (social sciences). This interdisciplinary supervision strengthens my research by incorporating diverse perspectives and introduces me to new fields I hadn’t encountered before starting this journey, offering a robust and holistic approach to my research. Beyond the technical skills, I’ve learned valuable interpersonal skills, as I integrate knowledge from different disciplines.

For anyone considering a DPhil in this field, I encourage you to pursue your interest. It's a chance to generate creative ideas and push the boundaries of scientific discovery. While the journey can be challenging, it's very rewarding—you’ll tackle problems important to you and collaborate with brilliant minds working on cutting edge science.' Tracy Boakye Serebour.