Information for Students
Interested in the social implications of genomics and life science research?
About the ESRC Genomics Network
Spanning five of the UK’s leading universities, with over hundred researchers, the ESRC Genomics Network (EGN) is one of the largest social science investments in the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), current portfolio .
Comprising three research centres, Egenis, Cesagen and Innogen, and the Genomics Policy and Research Forum, the EGN is growing into the largest concentration of multi-disciplinary social scientific research in genomics in the world.
- Cesagen, the ESRC Centre for Economic and Social Aspects of Genomics, is based at the University of Cardiff and the University of Lancaster. For more information about the Masters courses and PhD opportunities at Cesagen, please follow this link .
- Egenis, the ESRC Centre for Genomics in Society, is based at Exeter University. For more information about the Masters courses and PhD opportunities at Egenis please follow this link.
- Innogen, the ESRC Centre for Social and Economic Research on Innovation in Genomics, is based at the University of Edinburgh and the Open University. For more information about the Masters courses and PhD opportunities at Innogen, please follow this link.
Funding & Applications
Most EGN PhD projects are funded by the ESRC. Please follow this link to find out more about ESRC PhD Funding. However, there are other funding options available. If you are interested in doing a PhD with us, please contact the relevant centre (links above) to discuss application procedures and funding.
Supporting Postgraduates
Students are a vital part of the EGN. Since 2002, over thirty students have completed their doctoral degrees and gone on to do further research in this area. Dr Rebecca Hanlin, a PhD student in Innogen Phase 1, is now Director of Health Innovation at Innogen. Dr Adam Bostanci, former Egenis PhD student is now a lecturer at the University of Cambridge. Find out more about:
We also support the Postgraduate Forum for Genetics in Society, The PFGS is a volunteer postgraduate forum which seeks to bring together researchers interested in how biosciences and society intersect.
2010 Summer Internship Scheme
The ESRC Centre for Economic and Social Aspects of Genomics (Cesagen) require second, third or completing final year undergraduates (preferably with an interest in postgraduate study) to carry out short research projects for a six week period between June and September.
The projects available are:
- Ethical, legal and social aspects of new developments in ICT ICT details.
- Development and use of digital methods at the Sociomics Core Facility: Visualisation of Patent information. (Programming skills required) SCF details
- Global Food Security Food details.
Please note additional internship added:
- Personal Genomics (for 4 weeks only) P Genomics intern details
To apply, please send your CV, details of two referees and a covering letter describing which project you would like to work on and what you would bring to it, to Kate Wright, Cesagen, Institute for Advanced Studies, County South, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YD by 26 March. Please also contact Kate if you have any queries.
It is anticipated that interviews will be held between 26 April and 7 May. If this would be a problem to you, please let us know in your covering letter.












