The Wellcome Trust is offering a number of student stipends to support the participation of a limited number of UK teams in the international Genetically Engineered Machine competition (iGEM). The stipend will provide promising undergraduates with hands-on experience of synthetic biology during their 2010 summer vacation, with the aim of encouraging young scientists to consider a career in interdisciplinary research.

Bursaries are available for a maximum of ten students per team and for up to ten weeks during the summer vacation. Each bursary provides a stipend of £180 per week. There may be only one application per team for a maximum of ten stipends. Application forms must be completed by a team adviser or sponsor. Application deadline is 10 January 2010. Each student must be at a university within the UK or the Republic of Ireland (RoI) and should be an undergraduate registered for a basic science, engineering, mathematical, physical science, social and ethical science, dentistry, medical or veterinary degree. Each student should be in the middle year/s of a first degree of study (i.e. not in their first or last year) or a medical student between the end of the second year and the end of the penultimate year. More information about the Wellcome Trust scheme can be found at: www.wellcome.ac.uk/igem.

If you are interested in applying for a Wellcome iGEM2010 studentship at the University of Cambridge, forward your details, including a full cv, to Jim Haseloff at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by December 1st, 2009. Funds may also be available for students who don't fit these criteria. Please enquire if interested.