Biozentrum University of Basel offers International PhD Fellowships for Excellence in Switzerland. PhD positions sponsored by the Werner Siemens-Foundation are awarded on a competitive basis and provide direct entry to the Biozentrum PhD program and a rotation-based selection of the research group. The “Fellowships for Excellence” were established at the Biozentrum in order to offer an alternative pathway for students to enter the International PhD Program for Molecular Life Science exclusively based on the scientific excellence of the applicants. Maximum of 10 fellowships are offered. Application should be submitted till June 30, 2013.
Study Subject(s): Fellowships are provided in Molecular Life Sciences offered by the Biozentrum University of Basel, Switzerland
Course Level: The Fellowships are available for pursuing PhD degree level at the Biozentrum University of Basel, Switzerland
Scholarship Provider: Biozentrum University of Basel, Switzerland
Scholarship can be taken at: Switzerland
Eligibility: Applicants must either already hold or anticipate to receive before enrollment a university degree that qualifies them for a PhD program at the University of Basel (MSc, Diploma, etc.). In exceptional cases, outstanding students with a BSc degree are also eligible to apply to the “Fellowships for Excellence” program; they however will have to pass additional courses at the Biozentrum after acceptance. PhD students who already have enrolled at the Biozentrum or plan to start their PhD thesis before September 1 of the same year as the open call are not eligible to apply to the “Fellowships for Excellence” program.
Scholarship Open for International Students: International students can apply for these fellowships
Scholarship Description: The Biozentrum encourages talented, ambitious and highly motivated young scientists to apply to the PhD program “Fellowships for Excellence”. PhD positions sponsored by the Werner Siemens-Foundation are awarded on a competitive basis and provide direct entry to the Biozentrum PhD program and a rotation-based selection of the research group. Notably, in contrast to many other PhD student programs that aim at a broad recruitment of many candidates, the “Fellowships for Excellence” are only awarded to a maximum of 10 successful candidates per open call: the program thus strives to recruit and identify only the most outstanding students worldwide. Due to this rigorous selection and a comprehensive evaluation procedure, these “Fellowships for Excellence” are highly prestigious and sought after.
Number of award(s): Maximum of 10 fellowships are offered.
Duration of award(s): Not Known
What does it cover? This program offers prestigious PhD fellowships provide direct entry into the Biozentrum PhD program and a rotation-based selection of the research group. In addition, other incentives have been made available to “Fellowships for Excellence” PhD students the following perks have been awarded:
-comprehensive evaluation by the Biozentrum faculty, 1-2 rotations in 2 different labs (2 months each), fellowship provided by the “Fellowships for Excellence” program (for 3 years): fellows are highly sought-after by the group leaders at the Biozentrum
- a personal, annual stipend, e.g. to allow attendance of meetings, acquisition of books or computers (currently CHF 6’000 total for 3 years)
- preferential registration for some courses in the Biozentrum Graduate Teaching program
- yearly study trip to a city with ties to Siemens, e.g. Berlin, Munich, St. Petersburg
- financial support for travel to postdoctoral interviews at the end of the PhD thesis
- support for the preparation of the personal CV and postdoctoral application by Biozentrum faculty members in the “Fellowships for Excellence” committee
- personal certificate of acceptance into the “Fellowships for Excellence” program
- scientific meetings and networking opportunities with current “Fellowships for Excellence” students and alumni
Selection criteria: The fellowships will be awarded on a competitive basis. Successful candidates will be shortlisted by the end of July and invited to the Biozentrum for an interview week at the end of August (travel and accommodation provided by the “Fellowships for Excellence” program).
Notification: Successful candidates will be shortlisted by the end of July and invited to the Biozentrum for an interview week at the end of August (travel and accommodation provided by the “Fellowships for Excellence” program).
How to Apply: The mode of applying is online. For the application, electronic copies of the diploma/MSc degree with grades and transcripts as pdf files, a CV or scientific résumé (maximum one page, pdf format), a description of research interests in general and one with a specific focus on a potential PhD thesis at the Biozentrum as well as the names and contact information of 2 referees from the candidate’s previous academic environment (usually faculty members) are required. The referees will be contacted automatically and will be asked for an online evaluation as well as a reference letter. Further information about the application procedure will be made available to the candidates upon registration and submission of their application.
Scholarship Application Deadline: The application deadline is June 30, 2013.
