IGC International PhD Programme in
Multidisciplinary Life Sciences (PGD)
The in-house IGC PhD Program in Multidisciplinary Life Sciences builds on the international quality of the IGC to host and provide high level training of Portuguese and foreign PhD students. It is supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT).
The Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência is a world-leading centre for multidisciplinary research in the Life Sciences. The institute hosts 30 international research groups engaged in different aspects of life science research, offering a multidisciplinary environment where both computational and experimental approaches to key questions in Biology are pursued.
Our research spans a diversity of areas such as evolution, epidemiology, cell and developmental biology, immunology, genetics, molecular basis of complex human diseases, systems biology and neurobiology. Research programmes extend from the molecular to the population level, with recourse to a variety of model and non-model organisms, such as yeast, tetrahymena, rodents, chick, zebrafish, insects, worms and bacteria. The IGC offers state-of-the-art research facilities, including dedicated animal, trangenics and genomics facilities.
Funding and Programme Structure
Students’ critical spirit and an open mind are nurtured and strongly encouraged. Every year, 10 students, supported by FCT fellowships, receive 3 months’ graduate training and education by an international faculty, after which students choose a supervisor amongst IGC group leaders and a laboratory in which to develop their research over the following 3 and half years. Short (3 to 6 months) training periods in external research groups (in Portugal or abroad) are strongly encouraged.
The first 3 months incorporate generic components including hypothesis driven research, genetics, development, cell biology, evolution and integrative biology. At the end of the 3 months, students are expected to have full understanding of IGC research areas, choose a supervisor and prepare a short outline of their thesis project. This outline is submitted to the Program Committee for evaluation.
The progress of individual students is actively monitored and assessed by a Thesis Committee comprising the supervisor and two other IGC Group Leaders. This Committee meets with the student at regular intervals and provides advice and guidance where required. Students are expected to submit annual reports to the FCT and to their Thesis Committee.
The PhD degree will be awarded by the Universidade Nova de Lisboa, in the first instance, or the University of the student’s supervisor.
In addition to their personal project work and literature reviews, students are expected to participate in the following activities: meetings of their research group, weekly internal and external IGC seminars, lunch-time discussions with invited seminar speakers, the PhD retreat – annual oral presentations by all IGC students, at a selected location.
Students are expected to be highly motivated and independent thinkers with a strong interest in multidisciplinary life sciences. Students should aspire for excellence and team work, and at engaging in innovative research which overcomes scientific challenges.
Admissions and Selection
Calls for applications to the PGD programme are published once a year, for the class entering autumn of the year running. Portuguese and foreign candidates will have successfully completed a minimum of 4 years higher education (for Europeans, 240 ECTS) by September of the year running.
Shortlisted applicants are selected for a decisive interview with the Programme Committee, made up of the IGC Director, the PhD Programme director and a senior IGC scientist.
Applications for the 2008 academic year are now closed.