Portugal : International PhD programme. Bio-Molecular Chemistry
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and the Inter-University Medical University of Gdansk Gdansk and Department of Theoretical Chemistry,
Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Poland’s major institutions in molecular biology, protein biochemistry, protein evolution, and theoretical modeling of protein structure, dynamics and function, and is currently seeking candidates for four years (2010-2014) Doctorate in International Studies Field:
Bio-Molecular Chemistry: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Protein Structure-Function Relationships
Candidates must have an MSc degree in Biotechnology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or Computer Science with background and experience in one or more of the following areas:
a) laboratory work in biochemistry of proteins and nucleic acids,
b) applying bioinformatics tools in structural or evolutionary analysis of macromolecules,
c) Monte Carlo and/or molecular dynamics (applications or algorithm development, including parallel algorithms) of macromolecules or other complex systems.
Competitive stipends financed by the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) will be offered to successful applicants. This Ph.D. curriculum will involve visits to the collaborating institutions in the USA and EU.
The candidates must have sufficient command in written and spoken English.
More details are available by email to
Prof. Jaroslaw Marszalek at: mpd_program@biotech.ug.edu.pl
Submission of Applications and Initial Screening
Applicants should email the application packages to:
Professor Jaroslaw Marszalek,
Director of the International Ph.D. Programme (MPD)
Email: mpd_program@biotech.ug.edu.pl
The application package must contain the following:
1. Letter of interest (include your mailing and email addresses, phone and fax numbers). Applicant must state, as specifically as possible, area(s) of interest, which are to be selected from the list of projects. Applicants must also state what motivates him/her to undertake this research. Well-expressed motivation, supported by an appropriate scientific record, will be considered a strong point of an application.
2. CV which must include the following sections:
a. educational background and additional training information (include education in the English language),
b. list of publications and conference presentations (if applicable),
c. list of honors and awards (if applicable).
3. Copies of MSc diplomas in one or more of the areas specified in this announcement.
4. At least one recommendation letter (preferably from your supervisor during your MSc/BSc work).
Deadline for submission of applications is August 23rd, 2010. No applications will be accepted after this date.
Initial screening of applications will begin immediately after the application deadline. Applicants will receive their individual results of this initial screening by August 25th, 2010.
Face-to-Face Interviews
Selected Candidates from the initial screening phase will then be invited to individual interviews by the Recruitment Committee, which will consist of the Director of the International PhD Studies (MPD), one of our foreign collaborators and two members of the consortium from the University of Gdansk.
These interviews will be conducted on September 3rd, 2010 at the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology and will consist of :
1. The Candidate’s short (7 minutes) presentation in English, of Candidate’s Master Thesis research, or his/her equivalent laboratory/theoretical work. Multimedia equipment (computer projector and a PC computer, overhead projector) will be available to the Candidates.
2. 15 minute discussion led by the Chairman of the Recruiting Committee.
The interviews will be conducted in English to help to establish Candidate’s adequate command of the English language, which will be essential to carry out part of his/her PhD work while collaborating at the institution(s) abroad. If a Candidate with outstanding scientific record/experience lacks English language proficiency, he/she might be accepted into this program under the mandatory condition that he/she successfuly completes intensive English language courses during his/her first year in the programme.
Candidates will participate in the interview process at their own expense.
Final Selection
Final selection will be made by the Recruitment Committee. All applicants will be notified by email of these results. Successful candidates will be invited to enroll in the MPD and will start graduate studies on October 1, 2010.
Application Deadline : 23 August 2010
Homepage: http://www.biotech.ug.edu.pl/mpd
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