The SoCoBio DTP Annual Conference is a multi-day event that provides the entire cohort of the South Coast Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership (SoCoBio DTP) with opportunities to communicate their science, exchange research ideas, and share their training experience. In addition, there are networking opportunities with industry, guest lectures, discussion panels, a wellbeing workshop led by DTP Wellbeing Lead and student wellbeing champions. The conference is held at a different DTP partner each year so students also get an opportunity to visit partner institutions and tour their facilities.
Save the date: 2026 Annual SoCoBio DTP Research Conference
24 – 26 March 2026, at the University of Sussex
Registration for students has now closed, but remains open for supervisors of SoCoBio DTP students at our partner institutions. We warmly welcome supervisors, your presence helps inspire our students, strengthen collaborations, and expand their professional networks.
Supervisors have already been sent a registration link. If you have not received this communication and would like to attend, please contact the DTP Manager via the Contact page on this website, and the registration link will be sent to you.
Planning has begun for the next SoCoBio DTP annual research conference. We are looking forward to welcoming SoCoBio students, the DTP Leadership Team, supervisors, industry collaborators and guest speakers to the University of Sussex, where the conference will be held.
Conference Programme Highlights
As with previous years, the conference will feature a full and varied programme, including:
- 10-minute research talks from Year 4 students
- 3-minute thesis-style flash talks from Year 2 students
- Poster presentations from Year 3 students
- Guest speakers
- Wellbeing workshop focused on reflexivity in research
- PIPS Q&A session
Prizes will be awarded for the best Year 4 talk, Year 3 poster, and Year 2 flash talk.
Industry-Focused Day
Our dedicated industry day will showcase talks and posters from CASE students, alongside a series of industry engagement sessions. These sessions are designed to help students:
- Build confidence in networking
- Learn about career paths and opportunities in industry
- Gain insights into recruitment processes
- Ask questions directly to industry professionals
For industry representatives, this is a valuable opportunity to:
- Discover the exciting research and talent within the SoCoBio DTP
- Explore ways to engage with the programme
- Share your expertise and inspire the next generation of bioscience researchers
2025 Conference at University of Southampton: Industry question time, group photo, sponsors
2023 Conference at University of Sussex: Reflexivity activity, networking lunch, talks and group photo
2022 Conference at University of Southampton: Posters & talks
2024 Conference at University of Kent: Posters, talks and group photo
Keynote Speaker Day 1
Dr Mahmoud Bukar Maina, Wellcome Trust Career Development Fellow based at the Biomedical Science Research and Training Centre (BioRTC), Yobe State University.
Keynote Speaker Industry focused Day – Day 2
Prof Catherine Green OBE, Professor of Clinical Biomanufacturing at the University of Oxford, Oxford, and Fellow at Exeter College.
Industry & other guests
A range of industrial partners are attending the conference and participating in the Industry focus day and other workshops on the programme. We strongly encourage students to make the most of this occasion to build connections and learn about the opportunities available to them after their PhD.
This year, we are joined by: Graham Clarkson, Edward Vinson Ltd; Emma Hodge, Helus; David Nutt, GABALabs; Laura Rosenberg, AstraZeneca; Hazel Smith, Barfoot
If you’re an industry representative interested in attending or contributing to our industry engagement sessions, we’d be delighted to hear from you. Please get in touch via the contact page on this website
This year's conference is sponsored by:
Azenta/GenWiz, CliniSciences, Haier Biomedical, MedChemExpress, Novogene, PCR Biosystems, Promega
This year's organisation committee are:
From the DTP Leadership and SoCoBio supervisors: From the University of Sussex – Kath Adley, Amanda Britt, Maria Clara Castellanos, Majid Hafezparast, Miguel Maravall, Trudy Myers, Daniel Osorio, Frances Pearl ; From the University of Kent – Mark Shepherd, Jenny Tullet; From NIAB – Eleftheria Stavridou; From University of Portsmouth – Arthur Butt
DTP Students: From the University of Sussex – Shahd Al Balushi , Fiona Lancelotte, Annie Robertson, Lucy Unwin; From the University of Kent – Selale Cuce; from the University of Southampton – Joshua Byrne and Dylan Lamptey