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Statutes
Aims of the BioMalPar International PhD
Programme
BioMalPar is a collaborative research Network of Excellence,
funded by the European Commission under the sixth frame work
programme and coordinated by the Pasteur Institute. It is
currently engaging 44 Principal Investigators from 20
institutions in Europe and Africa (17 European and 3 African
institutions). It conducts research on malaria parasites and
their interactions with both mammalian hosts and mosquito
vectors. It also aims to train talented young scientists from
both North and South in malaria research, with emphasis on
interdisciplinary approaches.
The BioMalPar International PhD Programme started in 2004 and
is included in the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)
Collaborative Training Programme. University graduates
admitted to the BioMalPar International PhD Programme ("PhD
students") receive theoretical and practical training, and
conduct a research project under the supervision of two or
more Principle Investigators (PIs), monitored by a Thesis
Advisory Committee (TAC). After the successful completion of
his/her research project, the PhD student submits a written
thesis. Following Committee approval of the thesis and
successful completion of an oral examination, the student will
be awarded a joint degree from the European Molecular Biology
Laboratory Collaborative Training Programme and a partner
university.
Admission to the BioMalPar International PhD Programme
Application Procedure
Admission is competitive and is achieved through the selection
procedure for the BioMalPar International PhD Programme.
Applicants must hold, or anticipate receiving before
enrolment, a university degree that would formally qualify
them to enter a PhD or equivalent programme in their home
country.
Evaluation of Applications
All applications are evaluated solely on the basis of
qualification and scientific potential. In general, applicants
are expected to be among the top of those qualified to enter a
PhD Programme in their home country. All applications that
have been received by the publicised deadline(s) are subjected
to a multi-step evaluation procedure by BioMalPar Graduate
Committee and project PIs.
Selection of Candidates by Personal Interviews and Final
Admission Assessment
Short-listed candidates are interviewed for two days. During
the first day, individual interviews are conducted by the
project PIs. On the second day, each candidate delivers a
short presentation to a panel of 4 PIs, who then follows up
with questions. A graduate committee of three considers the
written feedback from individual interviewers and the panels
as well as the student evaluation forms, to make the final
selection of students and assign them to projects.
Enrolment into the BioMalPar International PhD Programme
Within the first year, the PhD student must:
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Complete the BioMalPar Core Course, and
obtain the corresponding certificate. The Core Course is
organised and supervised by the Graduate Committee.
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Propose jointly with the supervisor a TAC
consisting of at least three members, including his/her
primary supervisor as well as other project supervisor(s)
and external member(s) from a partner university. The TAC
is appointed by the Director of Graduate Studies, and is
chaired by the primary supervisor. Register as a doctoral
student with a partner university, in consultation with
the Director of Graduate Studies. |
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Submit and defend a Project Proposal for
the Qualifying Assessment. The quality of the Project
Proposal and its oral defense are judged by the TAC. The
Project Proposal introduces the problem the student hopes
to solve and reviews critically the experimental
approaches to be taken. It also summarises the results of
the initial work of the student. The Project Proposal
including the recommendations of the TAC are submitted to
and considered by the Director of Graduate Studies who may
request clarifications. When the project and the candidate
are found to be of an appropriate standard, the standing
of the student as an BioMalPar PhD student will be
confirmed by the Director of Graduate Studies. In case the
Project Proposal or its defense are not found
satisfactory, a second qualifying Assessment will be
conducted within two months of the first, with the
Director of Graduate Studies participating in the
Assessment. In case of failure in this Assessment, the PhD
student status is terminated, with the first year studies
certified. |
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Student Progress and Submission of Thesis
The progress of the work is monitored by the TAC, to which
Annual Reports are submitted. The Committee meets annually
with the student to evaluate his/her progress, future plans
and priorities, and to provide to the Director of Graduate
Studies comments and guidance accompanying the student's
report.
The student is also expected to receive additional training,
including inter-lab collaborations, and to practice scientific
writing and oral presentations. As practice, students should
give a report in a research group meeting (at minimum) at the
host institution.
In order to develop a robust programme, the supervisors should
see that students have access to seminars and journal clubs.
If the primary supervisor does not have this for his/her other
students, then s/he should arrange with the secondary
supervisors to do so. Participation will be monitored by the
supervisors, who will need to provide a brief report at the
end of the 1st year explaining how the academic requirements
have been met. The idea is that the students will broaden
their academic skills and maintain a broad outlook by
attending seminars outside of their narrow specialty.
The duration of the PhD studies and BioMalPar stipend is 3.5
years. The co-supervisors certify to the Graduate Committee
via the Graduate Administrator the periods spent by the
student in the respective laboratories, and the nature of the
training received. Following the formal declaration by the PhD
student's supervisor and the additional member of the TAC that
a sufficiently demanding research project has been
successfully completed by the PhD student, he/she may submit
an "Application for the Evaluation of the PhD Thesis and the
PhD Examination" to the Graduate Administrator. This
application must be accompanied by:
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Four copies of the thesis [in English]. The
thesis is organised into a short "General Summary", a
scholarly "Introduction" to the field of research,
substantial scientific publications, which can be already
published, submitted or in manuscript, and a final general
"Discussion and Perspectives". Alternatively, a monograph
format can be followed, with additional sections of
"Materials and Methods", "Results" and "References"
replacing the publications/manuscripts. In case of
multiauthorship of publications, the PhD student
identifies in a footnote his/her contributions. |
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Copies of the approved 'Annual Reports to
the Thesis Advisory Committee'. |
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The certificate to indicate the successful
completion of the BioMalPar Core Course. |
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Evaluation of thesis and examination procedure
Thesis Examination Committee
After an appropriate 'Application for the Evaluation of the
PhD Thesis and the PhD Examination' has been submitted, the
supervisor is asked by the Graduate Administrator for
nominations for the Thesis Examination Committee. The Thesis
Examination Committee is appointed by the Director of Graduate
Studies and consists of at least three members:
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A scientist who had previously no contact
with the PhD student's work, and who is an expert in the
area of the student's research field. |
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Members of the TAC, including the
university advisor and at least one of the PIs
co-supervising the project [other than the thesis
supervisor who sits in on the oral examination only as an
observer]. One of these scientists acts as the
chairperson. |
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Evaluation of the PhD Thesis
The thesis is evaluated in terms of scholarly criteria by each
member of the Thesis Examination Committee. One criterion is
the likely acceptability of the thesis work for publication in
quality, international peer-reviewed journals. A decision is
delivered by the Chair of the Thesis Examination Committee on
the basis of the committee members' written reports. The PhD
Thesis can be accepted for defense, or revisions can be
requested. Following no more than one round of revision, a
decision on acceptance for defense or rejection is taken.
The PhD Examination
The Thesis Examination Committee attends a public presentation
of the thesis work by the candidate, and participates in the
ensuing discussion. The format is specified by the Graduate
Committee. Subsequently, the candidate is examined in private
on the subject of his/her thesis, as well as broader aspects
of the subject. This examination can be passed or failed. It
can be retaken once. The composition of the committee,
evaluation and examination procedures may be adapted to the
requirements of the partner University where the student is
registered.
Appeals
A
candidate may appeal to the Director of Graduate Studies
against the composition of the Thesis Examination Committee or
against the outcome of the Thesis Evaluation or PhD
Examination. The Director of Graduate Studies may solicit
advice and makes the final decision on the appeal.
Publication of the PhD Thesis and Award of the PhD degree
Following the acceptance of the PhD Thesis and after passing
the PhD Examination, two hard copies of the duly corrected
thesis is provided to the Graduate Administrator by the
successful candidate. The thesis is deposited in a publicly
accessible way and, if possible, published electronically.
A PhD certificate is awarded from the EMBL International
Collaborative Training Programme to candidates whose PhD
thesis has been accepted and who have passed the PhD
Examination. The receipt of this certificate is a prerequisite
to carry the title of 'PhD'.
Revoking the Doctorate degree
Irrespective of whether the PhD certificate has already been
issued or not, the PhD degree can be revoked by the Director
of Graduate Studies following consultation with the Graduate
Committee if the candidate has falsified any of the documents
that a) were submitted as part of the application for entry to
the EMBL International PhD Programme, b) were required for
enrolment, c) were submitted with the 'Application for the
Evaluation of the PhD Thesis and the PhD Examination', or d)
in other cases of gross scientific misconduct.
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