PhD Fellowships
Since 1982, the “la Caixa” Foundation has offered several fellowship programmes aimed at allowing Spanish students to undertake postgraduate studies in Spain and abroad. Over the years, thousands of students have advanced their training thanks to a “la Caixa” Foundation fellowship.
In 2008, the “la Caixa” Foundation launched a new programmed aimed at national and international students. As part of this programme, each year 10 fellowhips are awarded to students who wish to complete work toward their doctoral degrees in biomedicine at IRB Barcelona. Each student will reveice 96,000 euros (gross) over 4 years, funded entirely by the “la Caixa” Foundation. These generous fellowships make this programme one of the most competitive within the field of biomedical research.
The “la Caixa” Foundation has selected IRB Barcelona to participate in the programme based on the Institute’s excellence in research, the internationality of its scientific teams, the quality of its technical equipment, the interdisciplinarity of its projects and high number of publication in leading scientific journals.
Eligibility
IRB Barcelona is looking for young scientists from the national and international community who wish to do their PhD in a stimulating environment, rich in technological resources and campus life. We encourage applications from highly motivated biologists, biochemists, chemists, physicists, pharmacologists and computational scientists with outstanding qualifications.
Successful candidates will join research groups with top-level scientists and will carry out their research in cutting-edge areas of biomedicine. Students under the age of 30 holding an undergraduate degree from a national university as well as undergraduates in the final year of their studies are eligible to apply to do their PhD research training at IRB Barcelona. The university degree should qualify for the start of a PhD thesis in the student's home country. Non- European university degrees should be equivalent to a European diploma or degree.
How to apply
Applicants should complete and submit the online form available at http://phd.irbbarcelona.org
Applicants will be asked to attach the following documents:
- Curriculum vitae
- A motivation letter
- A scanned copy of the student’s certified Academic Record. These documents must show the grades attained in exam periods.
- Any additional files considered relevant to the application
Students will be required to provide a brief summary of work experience and to request letters of recommendation from two scientists who are familiar with their academic work and who can judge their potential as a PhD student. Letters requesting recommendations may be downloaded and sent to potential referees. Referees must send their letters directly to IRB Barcelona either by e-mail or airmail at the address below. Candidates are responsible for ensuring that referees submit these letters. Applications without them will not be processed. Applicants should indicate up to two research programmes in which they would like to work. More information on the research activities of each group can be found on the IRB Barcelona web pages.
Applicants should submit information wherever possible in English (CV, motivation letter, summary of work experience). If the certified academic records are not in Catalan, Spanish or English applicants should also attach a sworn translation in one of the above mentioned languages.
Selection procedure
Students are selected from a pool of highly qualified international applicants on the basis of academic and technical excellence. Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee consisting of IRB Barcelona group leaders. Short-listed candidates will receive invitations to visit IRB Barcelona for interviews during April 2009. Travel expenses will be reimbursed (up to a maximum of 300 euros (1000 euros for those coming from overseas), and accommodation will be provided. Offers of admission will be made to the successful candidates shortly after the interview period. Students should expect to take up their positions at IRB Barcelona by September 1, 2009.
Applicants who have not been successful but have received a positive evaluation will be put on a waiting list to cover possible renunciations.
- Online application form
- FAQs
- IRB Barcelona PhD poster
- 2009 application call "la Caixa"/IRB Barcelona International PhD Fellowship Programme
Deadline for applications
Deadline for receipt of completed applications is Sunday, January 25, 2009.
Contact information
Enquiries and letters of recommendation should be addressed to:
Dr. Clara Caminal
Academic Officer
Institute for Research in Biomedicine
Parc Científic de Barcelona
C/ Baldiri Reixac 10
08028 Barcelona, Spain
email: phd
irbbarcelona.org
