16 NAD PhD Fellowships in Neuroscience (# of pos: 16)

Neuroscience Academy Denmark (NAD) will recruit 16 excellent, highly motivated PhD Fellows to join a newly established neuroscience academy and PhD program to be launched the 1st  of January 2023. The candidates should be 16 talented students eager to pursue a career in basic or clinical neuroscience research, and with the ambition to excel.

NAD is funded by the Danish Lundbeck Foundation and is a nationally concerted effort involving the neuroscience research environments at the medical faculties of Aalborg University, Aarhus University, University of Copenhagen, and The University of Southern Denmark involved in both preclinical and clinical research.

The vision of NAD is to bring training and education in neuroscience in Denmark to the highest international level, to ensure interdisciplinarity, high-quality teaching and training to educate Danish and international PhD students.

The successful applicants will first be hired as research assistants for 1 year. Provided that you obtain a positive assessment by the end of the pre-PhD year, acceptance of your PhD study plan, and enrolment at one of the participating graduate schools (i.e., PhD schools), the candidates will proceed to a 3-year PhD fellowship employment.

During your first year as research assistant (i.e., during the pre-PhD period), you will perform laboratory work and attend courses in neuroscience. You will also be invited for networking and career events. Go to NAD’s website to get familiar with the opportunities (laboratories and potential supervisors ) that NAD and neuroscience in Denmark offer.

During the pre-PhD period, you will take part in a mandatory laboratory rotation program in 3 NAD laboratories (basic and/or clinical). The labs are located at different geographical locations (in Denmark), and you must be prepared to travel to and stay at the different sites in Denmark for 10 weeks at a time. During each lab rotation, you will be included in the research group and be part of its research activities, journal clubs etc. You will be introduced to the labs’ primary research focus areas and techniques. In parallel, you will join neuroscience courses offered by NAD. By the end of each lab rotation, you must prepare a report and presentation of your laboratory experience that you will present to the other NAD fellows. As a NAD Pre-PhD fellow, you will plan your lab rotations together with NAD.

Half-way through your third and final lab rotation, you must have identified your preferred NAD lab/supervisor and NAD co-supervisor that together will match your research interests. Together with your supervisor and co-supervisor, you will formulate a PhD project and a study plan, which will have to be approved by the NAD office.

The conditions for proceeding to a 3-year PhD fellowship are 1) a satisfactory completion of the pre-PhD year, where the evaluation criteria are active participation in courses and rotations, approved lab reports and presentations, 2) approval of your PhD research plan by NAD’s Scientific Board, and 3) enrolment at a graduate school at one of the Health Faculties at one of the four participating universities.

The overall aim of the pre-PhD year is to strengthen your knowledge and basic understanding of neuroscience. NAD will offer workshops, seminars, symposia, and high-level courses in all areas of relevance for neuroscience research. You will be introduced to various techniques, methodological approaches, and viewpoints that you may use and combine to create your own PhD research plan.

Once enrolled at the relevant Health Graduate School at one of the participating universities, you will report to your supervisor(s) in the lab(s) where you will do your PhD thesis work.

During the 3 years as PhD Student, you must carry out your PhD research project, be actively involved in your research lab and take courses offered by your graduate school corresponding to 30 ECTS. In addition, NAD will offer several activities and events where you will be expected to participate. Here, you will get the chance to network with other PhD fellows, postdocs, and scientists from the Danish neuroscience environment, take part in NAD’s mentor program and join career events.