CRG International PhD Programme Fellowships 2019 Apply Online

CRG International PhD Programme Fellowships 2019   

The CRG is recruiting within the CRG International PhD Fellowship Programme, highly talented and motivated students, with backgrounds in biological or biomedical sciences, physics, chemistry, mathematics and/or computer science who have decided that they want to do a PhD.  Fellows will benefit from an exciting international scientific environment and an integrated training programme, including access to state of the art infrastructure , lectures and seminars, specialised scientific and technological courses, complementary skills training and career development activities, postdoctoral symposia and retreats, as well as social activities.   All students starting on the CRG PhD programme, irrespective of nationality, will be awarded a stipend to cover the cost of living. University tuition fees will also be covered. 

Eligibility criteria :

Candidates should fulfil the following eligibility criteria at the time of the call deadline. If it becomes clear before, during or after the evaluation phase that one or more of the eligibility criteria have not been fulfilled, the proposal is declared ineligible and is withdrawn from any further examination.   

1. The call is open to candidates of any nationality. 
2. Candidates must have obtained a University Degree and a Masters Degree in biomedical sciences within the European Higher Education System (minimum 300 ECTS) or an equivalent University Degree that allows to start a PhD thesis in the candidate’s home country by September 2019. Candidates who expect to be awarded with such degree by September 2019 are eligible to apply. 
3. Candidates must have an excellent academic record, previous research experience and a strong commitment for scientific research. 
4. Candidates must have a high working knowledge of English  
5. Candidates invited to previous PhD call interviews are not eligible. 
6. Preferably, candidates may not have worked at the CRG for more than 6 months before the call deadline. 
7. 3 PhD Positions funded within the frame of an EU Innovative Training Network are offered in this call (Luciano Di Croce lab & Marc Martí lab). 

Candidates for these positions must undertake trans-national mobility, which means that candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Spain for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the call deadline.  In case of doubts about the eligibility criteria, applicants should contact the Academic Office  (academicoffice@crg.eu) prior to submitting an application. 

Application process :

1. Applications for the CRG International PhD Fellowship Programme 2018 are accepted exclusively online through our online application system. 
2. The deadline for the receipt of complete applications (including reference letters) is January 13, 2019, at 5:00pm (local time). 
3. Proposals must be written in English.  
4. Applicants will be asked to complete the following information on the application form:  
5. CV specifying education and experience (including transcripts, honours, scholarships, prizes and awards, research experience and scientific interests)  
6. If the certified academic transcripts are not in Catalan, Spanish or English applicants should also attach a translation in one of the above mentioned languages. 
7. Details on the referees that will provide two letters of reference. Referees will send their confidential letters directly to CRG using the online application.
8. Research groups to carry out the PhD project. The list of the research groups that have agreed to participate in the Programme is available on the website. 
9. Applicants should select at minimum of 2 labs and a maximum of 5 in which they would like to work. More information on the research activities of each group can be found on the CRG web page.  
10. Candidates should ensure that all information, including reference letters, is submitted before the deadline. 
11. Incomplete applications will not be eligible.  Applicants are advised to read the FAQs when preparing their applications. 
12. For any additional information or questions, please contact the Academic Office at academicoffice@crg.eu   
13. All personal data requested by CRG from applicants will be treated in accordance with the principles of the Data Protection Act (15/13 December 1999).  

Selection process : 

After the deadline, submitted proposals will be checked for eligibility by the Academic Office and those proposals that do not meet the criteria will not undergo evaluation and will be rejected.  All eligible applications will be reviewed by a Selection Committee formed by CRG faculty members on the basis of the candidate’s academic record, scientific potential and interests and reference letters.  


The evaluation is organised in three steps: 

1. Pre-selection: The pre-selection will be based on the candidate’s CV, reference letters and research interests for the oral interviews. Eligible applicants are informed about the outcome of the pre-selection via email approximately 15 days after the application deadline. No individual feedback will be provided at this stage 

2. Oral interviews: Pre-selected candidates will be invited to visit the CRG for a four-day interview, which will take place within 6-9 weeks after the application deadline. Travel and accommodation expenses will be covered by the CRG.  Candidates will visit the institute, meet their prospective supervisors in a short open talk and pass an interview with the Selection Committee panel. All applications, together with  the interview report will be evaluated by a panel of experts. The final decision on the selection will be taken in a consensus meeting which will be held after the oral interview. 

3. Notification to candidates: Applicants pre-selected for the interviews will be notified of the final selection decision by email and the list of the successful candidates will be published on the CRG website. Successful candidates will be asked to accept or decline the offer within two weeks after the notification. Fellowships should start no later than October 1st, 2019. Exceptions for later start dates might be considered if duly justified.  Applicants who have received a positive evaluation but could not be funded will be included on a reserve list to cover future positions and might be contacted at a later stage. Individual feedback will be provided for short-listed candidates. 

Appointment conditions :

1. Selected PhD students will receive an annual work contract with a competitive salary that will be renewed annually for a maximum of 4 years following the applicable national regulations. 
2. All PhD students will receive full health and occupational insurance coverage and will be included in the Spanish Social Security System.  
3. All PhD students will receive additional funding to cover for expenses related to PhD tuition fees, participation in conferences, training sessions or any other activity related to the scientific or academic activity of the PhD students.  

Upon acceptance of the fellowship, fellows sign a Work Contract with the CRG, which contains the appointment conditions following the CRG regulations, in particular:  

1. The PhD thesis has to be completed within a maximum of 4 years. 
2. PhD students will work full-time at the CRG and may not receive any other fellowship, or  regular income.  
3. Students will have to enroll in a university of their choice, normally the University of Barcelona, the Autonomous University of Barcelona, the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, or the University Pompeu Fabra. The university, not the CRG, is the degree-granting body. 
4. Support by this Programme will be duly acknowledged in any scientific or communication authored by the PhD students.
5. Students will submit an annual report to the Academic Office detailing the scientific progress, and productivity and any other activities related to the PhD thesis carried out during the year.  
6. PhD Students will need to adhere to the CRG Fellowship regulations and CRG Technology Transfer Policy when joining the International PhD Programme. 

Last Date to Apply : 

Interested and qualified candidates can submit there online application before due date 13 January 2019.

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PhD Training Programme :

The PhD Programme curriculum consists of the research project/thesis work and a structured training programme combined with scientific and community activities:  Research project/thesis work: Each PhD student is expected to work full time for their PhD thesis in the research group of the PhD Supervisor. Short visits/secondments are encouraged  during the PhD. Participation in international conferences is part of the PhD Programme (students should have participated at least in one international meeting). The student's progress is closely  monitored by a thesis advisory committee (TAC) with the aim to improve the quality of research and research training, reporting annually to the Graduate Committee. It is mandatory to organize and pass one thesis committee/year until the defence of the thesis.