UPGOW - Uniwersytet Partnerem Gospodarki Opartej na Wiedzy. Narodowy Fundusz Spójności.

In the academic year 2009/2010, Faculty of Biology and Environment Protection, University of Silesia will launch a new programme of PhD studies on Advanced Methods in Biotechnology and Biodiversity. PhD students will have the opportunity to choose among thirteen courses provided by various labs of the Faculty. The courses proposed are: Advanced molecular cytogenetics; Chromatin immunostaining methods; Plant morphogenesis in vivo and in vitro; Cyto- and histochemical analysis of embryonic animal tissues; Biomarkers in studies of exposure and effects of xenobiotics in the environment; Biotechnology of microorganisms; Biotechnology of microorganisms; Practical bioinformatics; Plant functional genomics; Techniques for biodiversity of soil microorganisms, plants and animals. All courses will aim at training the students in application of a wide variety of advanced methods that are used in research led by the faculty labs. Additionally, the students will have the opportunity to improve their presentation skills attending the Effective presentation workshop. They will also participate in departmental and faculty seminars, as well as in a selection of lectures provided by guest researchers in the framework of the Lifelong Learning Programme - LLP/Erasmus. All courses will be provided in English.
All PhD students will also be involved in research projects leading to the PhD degree. The supervision will be provided by the senior academic staff. The projects will be conducted in collaboration with the future supervisor and will be in line with the research profile of the department involved.

Recruitment procedure
Up to 20 students will be recruited at the beginning of the academic year 2009/2010. Both Polish and foreign students are eligible to apply provided that they have the M.Sc. or equivalent degree in the discipline that is adequate to the proposed PhD project. The duration of doctoral studies is up to four years. Recruitment procedure will be launched in the summer 2009.
Candidates are welcome to send their applications to the Faculty Office from the 1st of June 2009. The deadline is 24th of July 2009. Applications sent after the deadline will not be considered.

The complete application should include:

• CV;
• diploma of the M.Sc. or equivalent degree with supplement;
• letter of recommendation from the faculty staff and his or her declaration of will to become the supervisor;
• declaration of the future supervisor on the availability of funds necessary to conduct research project by the PhD student,
• synopsis of the research project that will lead to the doctoral degree;
• list of the candidate’s publications and conference presentations;
• certificates of foreign language skills;
• three ID photos.
• declaration on candidate’s will to participate in the UPGOW project (task 23);
• agreement for candidate’s personal data processing within the UPGOW project

The candidates are ranked on the basis of the following criteria:

1. the final diploma grade (number of points equal to the grade);
2. the grade obtained for the M.Sc. thesis (number of points equal to the grade);
3. the average grade for the M.Sc. course and grades for courses closely related to the scope of the future PhD research project (number of points equal to the grade);
4. the scientific achievements documented by the list of publications and conference presentations (publication – 2 points, conference (oral, poster) presentation - 1 point);
5. certificates of foreign language skills (1 point for each language);
6. the outcome of an interview with a candidate in English, conducted by the recruitment panel (from 0 to 10 points).

Stipends (the detailed rules and forms to be completed – see below)
Stipends will be funded for ten students on the basis of:

1. the final diploma grade;
2. the grade obtained for the M.Sc. thesis;
3. the average grade for the M.Sc. course and grades for courses closely related to the scope of the future PhD research project;
4. the scientific achievements documented by the list of publications and conference presentations;
5. certificates of foreign language skills;
6. the outcome of an interview with a candidate in English, conducted by the recruitment panel.
7. the compatibility of the proposed or already undertaken subject of research with the framework of the course "Advanced Methods in Biotechnology and Biodiversity".

The student is also expected to provide the recommendation letter from the faculty staff declaring his or her will to become the student supervisor.
The deadline for application is 1st of September 2009.
From 2009 up to 2013 the studies will be financially supported by the UPGOW project at the University of Silesia within the EFS funds.

Zarządzenie nr 27 /2009 z dnia 22 kwietnia 2009 r. Rektora Uniwersytetu Śląskiego w sprawie ustalenia „Regulaminu przyznawania stypendiów doktoranckich w Uniwersytecie Śląskim w ramach Projektu UPGOW Uniwersytet Partnerem Gospodarki Opartej na Wiedzy – zadanie nr 23 poz. 281”.

Regulamin przyznawania stypendiów doktoranckich w Uniwersytecie Śląskim w ramach Projektu UPGOW Uniwersytet Partnerem Gospodarki Opartej na Wiedzy – zadanie nr 23 poz. 281

Załącznik nr 1 do Regulaminu przyznawania stypendiów doktoranckich w ramach Projektu UPGOW

Załącznik nr 2 do Regulaminu przyznawania stypendiów doktoranckich w ramach Projektu UPGOW

For further information please contact:
Dorota Kwiatkowska
Department of Biophysics and Morphogenesis of Plants
Faculty of Biology and Environment Protection
University of Silesia
e-mail: dorota.kwiatkowska@us.edu.pl