Monday, February 16, 2009

[Austria] 18 PhD positions in Molecular Medicine at Medical University of Graz

The Medical University of Graz offers a PhD-Program in Molecular Medicine taught in English.

Call for applications for Students
http://www.medunigraz.at/phd
http://www.medunigraz.at/213
http://www.medunigraz.at/6152

The program provides cutting-edge education in basic principles of human diseases and therapeutics. The thesis projects will focus on various aspects of metabolic, cardiac and vascular diseases, inflammation, cancer and stem cells. They will also integrate basic, applied and clinical sciences, as well as a wide spectrum of experimental techniques.

The program offers multidisciplinary training in Molecular Medicine in a productive and international environment. Successful applicants will carry out individual research projects and participate in lectures, courses, journal clubs, thesis seminars, congresses etc.


Accepted PhD-students will be employed for 3 years with a contract that includes social benefits. Applicants must hold a Master`s degree in Medicine, Chemistry or Life Sciences. Good written and spoken English skills are required.

The call for applications is open!
Deadline: March 15, 2009
Before submitting an application, make yourself familiar with the nature and scope of the program and the formal requirements!

To understand the scientific content of the program you should first read the scope of the program and then look at the projects. If this is, what you are interested in, have a look at the curriculum and the faculty.

PhD Research Positions
The PhD Program of the Medical University of Graz (MUG) is meant to be a highly competitive Excellence Program open for highly motivated students in medicine and life sciences.

The PhD Program implements the third cycle of the Bologna process (the roadmap of the European uni0n for higher education) - that means PhD students are seen at the same time as students who are offered education and guidance for their beneft and as young researchers who contribute to the scientific success of our university. Typically the PhD student will comment his PhD thesis rather soon after the Master`s degree (or equivalent).

The Position
PhD students will be fully employed at the University including social benefits with a net salary of ca. € 1.220,- per month 14 times a year (with the 13th and 14th salary being higher; i.e. a net salary of ca. 17.360 € per year after income tax, health insurance and social security fees).

However, the University does not cover the costs of the PhD enrolment (€ 363.36 per semester) Duties include research (mostly for the thesis) and some teaching (this is also in the interest of the student, since we expect our PhDs to be able to present and teach). A successful PhD student will have to show considerable engagement beyond formal working hours. Parallel to the employment one has to enrol as a PhD student.

Duration of the Contract
Funding is granted for a period of three years, which will be a typical duration for the PhD thesis. Nevertheless, the initial acceptance to the program is not a blank check for three years salary. There will be a constant monitoring of the performance of the student. In case the PhD committee is dissatisfied with a student`s performance, it is obliged to take actions which - in extreme cases - may include a premature termination of the employment contract.

Application
Who can apply?
Any student who has the equivalent of a masters degree in any subject from medicine to chemistry to biology, including biochemistry, micro- or molecular biology, pharmacology or related areas. The criterion for being eligible is that the degree should permit the student to enter PhD education in the country where the degree was obtained (typically his/her home country). Students must be fluent in English (knowledge of German is not a must).

Criteria for admission:
This is an excellence program. We try to get the most interested, ambitious and intelligent students to educate them for a career as scientist on an international level. This is basically the only criterion, we have no quota with regard to sex, ethnicity or nationality.

Selection procedure:
There will be a two-step selection procedure. In the first step written applications will be ranked according to the scientific merits. In a second step, the top candidates will be invited for a personal hearing. Travel costs will be reimbursed up to a certain limit (details will be sent together with the invitation).

If you have decided to apply:
1. Fill in the application form completely.
2. Ask at least two people that are familiar with your achievements to provide recommendation letters on the relevant forms. The recommendation letters must be signed and contain the stamp the respective institution. Your referee is supposed to send the scanned document as an email attachment to PhD-molmed@medunigraz.at stating in the subject line PhD and the name of the candidate (e.g. "Subject: PhD/Smith"). It is your responsibility that the letters of recommendation are received by the Medical University of Graz not later than 15 March, 2009!
3. Provide scans of the following documents (in English or German translation, where necessary) as pdf-files:
-Degree(s) and intermediate certificates (if already obtained)
-Transcripts of marks (academic record)
-Certificate of English proficiency (if available; e.g. TOEFL)
-Be aware that in case of your positive evaluation and invitation to the hearing you will have to provide all your documents in original and certified English or German translation.

4. Compare your documents with the checklist to make sure that your application is complete.
5. Read the overall schedule carefully.
6. Applications must be submitted exclusively by email in full and using only the requested forms to PhD-molmed@medunigraz.at stating PhD application in the subject line.

Send your documents together with the application form. Attachments must not exceed 10 MB, as otherwise submission will be blocked by the server.
Please note that only complete applications will be considered!
Your application will not be handled unless all required documents are submitted.

Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted (no exception)!
Notably, we advise to send your application even before the deadline so that we can check and inform you about the sufficiency of the documents.

Schedule
Deadline for Applications March 15, 2009
Based on the written applications, the faculty will select candidates to attend a hearing in Graz.
Invitation to the Hearing / Notification of Non-Acceptance starting April 6, 2009 (1) Two day Hearing in Graz June 8 - 9, 2009
Notification of Acceptance / Non-Acceptance starting June 15, 2009. These are approximate dates; e.g. invitations may also be sent later if additional projects are funded.

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