How to apply for Venture Science Doctorate: venture-creation PhD program (funded scholarship)

About Deep Science Ventures

Deep Science Ventures runs the Venture Science Doctorate through Deep Science Venture College at Woolf University. The program is backed by Schmidt Futures, Innovate UK, and SPRIN-D, and works with partners including the National Physical Laboratory, Max Planck, and Cornell University. It is a 3-year PhD where candidates design research from first principles and build companies from that research.

About the role

This is a full-time, primarily remote PhD program starting April 2027. In year 1, you map an industry and design a research project; later years focus on venture creation. You finish with a PhD and a company founded on your research.

A typical day

A typical day may involve reading industry literature, mapping competitors and research gaps, and writing up a research plan. Later in the program, you would spend time on experiments, customer discovery, and building a company. Since the program is primarily remote, most work is self-directed, with online meetings with mentors and partners. Ask the admissions team how much in-person time is expected.

Who Deep Science Ventures is looking for

• Has a strong technical or scientific background in health, climate, agriculture, or computation, and can design research from first principles.
• Is interested in founding a company based on their research, not just completing a thesis.
• Can work independently and remotely, and is comfortable mapping a new industry without close day-to-day supervision.
• Is based in or willing to work from Germany, since the role is remote but listed for Germany.

Tips for this application

• Submit before 31 July 2026. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so early submission improves your chances.
• In your application, name the specific global challenge area you want to work on (health, climate, agriculture, or computation) and explain why.
• Show that you can design a research project from first principles. Give one concrete example of a problem you broke down and a research direction you proposed.
• Explain how your research could become a company. VSD is venture-creation focused, so a pure academic research proposal is not enough.
• Check the Woolf University PhD requirements and confirm your previous degrees meet them before applying.

What to cover in your cover letter

State the specific challenge area you want to address and why. Describe a research project you would design from first principles in year 1. Explain how that research could lead to a new company. Mention any prior experience with venture creation, industry mapping, or working across disciplines.

Research before applying

• Read the full VSD program outline on the Deep Science Ventures site, especially the year-by-year structure.
• Look up the philanthropic partners (Schmidt Futures, Innovate UK, SPRIN-D) and the R&D coalition members (National Physical Laboratory, James Hutton Institute, Imperial College, Max Planck, University of Edinburgh, University College London, Goldsmiths, Cornell University, Mayo Clinic).
• Check Woolf University's accreditation and PhD requirements to confirm eligibility.
• Find out what companies previous VSD cohorts have founded and in which sectors.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you map an industry in your chosen challenge area during year 1?
• Give an example of a research question you designed from first principles.
• How would you turn your research into a company? Who would be the customer?
• Why VSD instead of a traditional PhD or a startup accelerator?
• How will you manage a primarily remote, full-time program with limited in-person contact?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying with a standard academic PhD proposal that has no venture-creation angle.
• Ignoring the rolling review and submitting close to or after the 31 July 2026 deadline.
• Being vague about which global challenge area you want to work on and why.