César Milstein PhD Studentship
In memory of César Milstein and his contributions to science, the Darwin Trust of Edinburgh awards one César Milstein Studentship per year for nationals of a South American country, with preference given to applicants from Argentina.
César Milstein pioneered the study of antibodies and received the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine in 1984 for the development of monoclonal antibodies.
The Darwin Trust of Edinburgh was established in 1983 by Sir Kenneth Murray (Prof. of Molecular Biology) and his wife Dr Noreen Murray (Prof. of Molecular Genetics) at the University of Edinburgh. Sir Kenneth was an LMB alumnus (1964-67), and he and his wife were friends of César and Celia Milstein. He established the four-year César Milstein PhD Studentship at the LMB for nationals of Argentina, or another South American country, in memory of César and in recognition of his work.
About the César Milstein Studentship
The César Milstein Studentship enables eligible students to complete a four-year PhD in the LMB’s Protein and Nucleic Acid Chemistry Division, where Milstein carried out most of his research.
Frequency
- One studentship is usually awarded each year.
Funding
- Annual University of Cambridge fees.
- Annual tax-free maintenance allowance.
- Costs associated with obtaining a visa to enter the UK will be reimbursed.
- Contribution towards relocation costs.
- Up to £2,000 towards training and conference attendance.
Eligibility
- South American nationals, with preference given to Argentine nationals.
- First or Upper Second Class honours degree in a relevant science subject required.
- Proficiency in English required.
How to apply
- Send a letter of interest and your CV to the LMB Postgraduate Office.
- Follow the standard ‘How To Apply’ guidance.
- Application deadline: early December each year (in-line with main LMB PhD application deadline).
For full information about the César Milstein Studentship, see the Darwin Trust website.
Milstein Scholars At The LMB
Milstein Studentships have supported over 15 PhD students since 2003. Recent Milstein Scholars include:
Nazareno Bona
(2018 – 2022 )
Supervisor: Gerry Crossan
Consuelo Perez
(2019 – 2023)
Supervisor: Julian Sale
Iván Shlamovitz
(2022 – 2024)
Supervisor: Ana Tufegdžic Vidaković
Federico Fassetta
(2022 – )
Supervisor: Joseph Yeeles
Romina Koiffman
(2022 – )
Supervisor: Patrycja Kozik
Julieta Molina Flores
(2023 – )
Supervisor: Julian Sale & Jason Chin
Milstein Scholars After The LMB
“The Milstein Studentship didn’t just change my life; it built my future.
I joined Terry Rabbitts’ group in the PNAC Division as the first Milstein Scholar in 2003, to pursue a PhD on MLL-mediated leukaemias. I am forever grateful for the opportunity the Milstein Studentship provided. My time at the LMB shaped me not only on a professional but also on a personal level. I met wonderful people such as Terry Rabbitts, Michael Neuberger and Celia Milstein, who mentored me and influenced who I am today.
After leaving the LMB in 2007, I continued my work on immuno-oncology at the CIMR – University of Cambridge, Babraham Institute and Francis Crick Institute (London), and now at Intima Bioscience where we’re pioneering intracellular immune checkpoints to boost anti-cancer treatments.”
Florencia Cano
MILSTEIN SCHOLAR 2003‑2007
“The Milstein Studentship profoundly shaped my career.
I joined Kevin Hiom’s group in the PNAC Division as a Milstein Scholar in 2005 to pursue a PhD on the DNA damage response and molecular mechanisms that preserve genome stability. My time at the LMB was a career-defining journey: it strengthened my scientific independence, gave me the freedom to pursue bold questions and set strong foundations to build my own lab. This experience sparked an interest in cellular plasticity, which led me to Jeremy Brockes’s lab at UCL to explore regenerative mechanisms using salamander models.
In 2017 I established my own group at the CRTD and the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, using salamander systems to dissect fundamental principles of tissue regeneration and ageing. I recently moved my lab to CIMR (Beijing) to expand our research programme, at an institute much like the LMB!
The Milstein Studentship’s support and mentorship were instrumental in enabling these career-defining steps, and continue to influence my scientific outlook today.”
Maximina Yun
MILSTEIN SCHOLAR 2005‑2009
“I began my Milstein Studentship in KJ Patel’s group in the PNAC Division in 2010 studying the effects of endogenous reactive aldehydes on genome stability. The beginning of my PhD was a steep learning curve, but it took place in an environment of intellectual freedom with exceptional technical support.
After completing my PhD in 2014, I remained at the LMB for my postdoctoral training, where I expanded on my PhD work while also pursuing new experimental and conceptual approaches. In 2018, I started my own group at the Hubrecht Institute in the Netherlands, where we study the effects of endogenous DNA-damaging agents on mutagenesis.
The Milstein Studentship was pivotal in enabling this trajectory. Beyond financial support, it provided access to an extraordinary research environment and a network of outstanding peers and mentors, creating both high expectations and exceptional opportunities. The freedom and support at the LMB allowed me to pursue ambitious, high-risk scientific questions during my PhD, which in turn positioned me strongly for postdoctoral independence and group leadership. In this way, the Milstein programme did not simply support my doctoral studies; it established the foundation on which my independent research career has been built.”
Juan Garaycoechea
MILSTEIN SCHOLAR 2010‑2014
Darwin College Association
César and Celia Milstein had a long association with Darwin College in Cambridge and many of the Milstein Scholars continue that tradition by becoming members of Darwin.
