BioInterfaces International Graduate School at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

About

BioInterfaces is an interdisciplinary research programme of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in collaboration with the University of Heidelberg. In a team effort, researchers from different scientific fields and disciplines systematically examine the interactions of living cells with natural and technical environments. The training consists of the curriculum, supervision, and seminars. It is organised to help students during their PhD thesis and to enable them to solve problems in an interdisciplinary way. Curriculum Due to its interdisciplinary nature, students will join the school with different educational backgrounds in disciplines such as physics, chemistry, engineering, informatics, mathematics and biology. The students will therefore inevitably have different levels of knowledge and training. To address this, the research school will offer students tuition in the basic knowledge of all relevant fields at the beginning of the PhD programme. The programme will start with an introductory course that introduces the students to the major research topics and also to the faculty members of the BioInterfaces programme. Afterwards, students can choose between soft skills, transdisciplinary and specialist courses. Supervision (TACs) The school supervises all PhD students of the research teams involved in the BioInterfaces programme, irrespective of their source of funding. The BioInterfaces International Graduate School aims at a close and intensive supervision of the PhD student by the PI. Thus, the PI will be required to be available on a regular basis for discussion and advice. Six months after commencement, the student must also propose a "Thesis Advisory Committee" (TAC) consisting of three members, including the PhD supervisor and a faculty member of one of the associated universities. The TAC will meet once a year with the student for a progress report, which will consist of a short written report and an oral presentation. Based on these meetings, the TAC will evaluate both the student's work and the supervision given by the PI. The TAC will also provide recommendations for future directions. Minutes of the TAC meetings will be submitted to the dean and handed to the student.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

With their application, applicants should submit their secondary school leaving certificate and official transcripts of academic records from every post-secondary institution attended for at least one year as a full-time student. Academic records should give information on the type and content of courses taken (diploma supplement) and the grades received. Their rank in class should be noted whenever possible. If the institution does not issue records in German, English, or French, original language records must be submitted with translations. All applicants are expected to have received their final certificates (Master's, German "Diplom", etc.) before the start of the PhD.