PhD in Life Sciences at Flanders, Belgium

Deadline: 15 February 2012
Open to: Applicants must hold a 5-year University degree, or equivalent, in life sciences (e.g. biology, biochemistry, biotechnology), physics, engineering, chemistry, or related fields.
Scholarship: Selected candidates will be fully funded with a yearly net salary of €23.500 and are expected to start in October 2012

VIB is offering eight PhD scholarships for international life sciences students. Apply now to kick-start your scientific career in a centre of excellence in the heart of Europe, backed by first class research facilities and training in our multidisciplinary, international scientific community.

Description

VIB is a life sciences research institute in Flanders, Belgium. With more than 1200 scientists from over 60 countries, they perform basic research into the molecular foundations of life. VIB scientists work at the frontlines of molecular biology, cell biology, developmental biology, structural biology, plant systems biology, genetics, biochemistry and microbiology. VIB is an excellence-based entrepreneurial institute that focuses on translating basic scientific results into pharmaceutical, agricultural and industrial applications. VIB works in close partnership with four universities − UGent, K.U.Leuven, University of Antwerp and Vrije Universiteit Brussel and is funded by the Flemish government.
VIB (Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie) is a unique example of a non-profit support structure for a particular scientific domain working towards both excellence in research and transformation of the results of such research into economic growth. Their mission is to conduct frontline biomolecular research in life sciences for the benefit of scientific progress and the benefit of society.
Living in Flanders:Flanders is a region in Belgium, located in the center of Europe. Belgium has a population of 10 million people. There are three official languages (Dutch, French and German). However, English is widely spoken all over the country.Belgium is considered to have a high “quality of life”, as testified by its excellent food, housing, health care, education and infrastructure.
After the submission they will acknowledge the receipt of your completed application forms by email, and you will receive a registration number. In March 2012, short-listed candidates will be sent an invitation letter for the selection week from 21-24 May 2012. They will reimburse your travel expenses and provide free accommodation in Ghent during the selection week. Offers of admission to the VIB International Ph.D. Program will be made to the top 8 applicants during the interview week.

Eligibility

• The VIB International Ph.D. Program is aimed towards all non-Belgians, currently living abroad.
• Candidates should hold a university degree, or satisfy equivalent requirements, which is sufficient to start a doctoral program at a Flemish university.
• Applicants must hold a 5-year University degree, or equivalent, in life sciences (e.g. biology, biochemistry, biotechnology), physics, engineering, chemistry, or related fields. In general, this implies that the applicant has a Masters degree. Applicants, who have not yet received their degree at the time of the application deadline, can also apply, but a final certificate of the degree is needed no later than 2 months after the selection interviews, which will take place in May 2010.
• Medical students who wish to obtain a Ph.D. degree can also apply after completion of their M.D. exams.
• Passing the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a plus (and you should definitely indicate on your application whether you took the GRE), but the test is not required for your application.
• Applicants are preferentially not older than 28 years at the application deadline.
• English is used in all VIB laboratories for scientific communication. Therefore, candidates must have an excellent command of English. A language test for English, such as the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is not necessary for the application but nonetheless highly recommended.If you take the TOEFL-test specifically to enter our Ph.D. Program, please use the TOEFL codes of either Ghent University, the K.U.Leuven, the University of Antwerp or the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

Scholarship

Selected candidates will be fully funded with a yearly net salary of €23.500. Selected candidates are expected to start with their Ph.D. at the university of their thesis advisor, or promoter, around the opening of the academic year in October 2012.
In March 2012, short-listed candidates will be sent an invitation letter for the selection week from 21-24 May 2012. They will reimburse your travel expenses and provide free accommodation in Ghent during the selection week.

Application

• Select your projects.
• Download and complete the Application Form.
• Submit the Application Form and scans of degrees and certificate.

Have a copy ready of your:
Completed Application Form,
Bachelor degree,
Masters degree (if applicable),
English language certificate (if applicable),
GRE certificate (if applicable),
Transcript of marks (academic records).

• Contact two scientists/colleagues who can judge your potential as a Ph.D.-student. Ask both of them to: complete the Candidate Evaluation Letter, write a letter of recommendation for your application, send both documents to the VIB International PhD Program Committee.

VIB
Program Committee VIB International Ph.D. Program
Rijvisschestraat 120, B-9052 Ghent
Belgium
FAX: +3292446610
Email: internationalphd@vib.be

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