GENECO opens for new students

2010-04-06

The Graduate Research School in Genomic Ecology (GENECO) at Lund University now opens one more time for new applicants.

At this moment, we are opening for applications from PhD students enrolled at universities in Sweden and neighboring countries, for the 2010 cohort. This is the third, and last call for GENECO in its present form.

What do we offer?

1. A stimulating environment to meet and network with other PhD students and scientists working at the interface between ecology, evolution, molecular biology, genomics, and bioinformatics.
2. A variety of cutting-edge Ph.D. courses (will give graduate education credits), which are free of charge.
3. An international two-week workshop in comparative genomics open to PhD students and advisors.
4. Two annual meetings on selected topics where PhD students can present their own research & meet invited speakers.
5. A mentor program focused on career planning inside or outside academia, networking, and professional/personal development.
6. Travel grants to cover a research stay at a foreign laboratory.
7. Reimbursement to cover part of the expenses while attending our Ph.D. courses, annual meetings, and workshops.
8. Literature seminar series and workshops on specific topics.
9. Workshop for advisors to improve communication skills.
10. Opportunity to enroll at courses or visit labs of our collaborative partner; the Jena School for Microbial Communication (Jena, Germany)

What is GENECO?

Genomic Ecology is a new interdisciplinary research field at the interface between ecology and evolution, molecular biology, and genomics. It forges the links between molecular biologists who work with cutting-edge genomics (and "post-genomic" tools), evolutionary biologists and ecologists who aim to understand the genetic mechanisms that underlie the process of evolution: changes in gene frequencies, adaptation, and interactions between organisms. Lund University provides an internationally recognized strong research environment within genomic ecology research.

Who are we?

In November 2007, The Swedish Research Council (VR) funded a five-year Graduate Research School in Genomic Ecology at Lund University. In August 2008 we had our first summer and kick-off meeting with a cohort of over 30 PhD students. At present 53 PhD students are enrolled from 7 different universities (in three countries). Their theses topics range from ecological studies in which molecular techniques are employed to genomic studies based on ecological or evolutionary questions. Study organisms include e.g. bacteria, phytoplankton, fungi, aquatic invertebrates, insects, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

GENECO provides a stimulating structured platform for PhD students in ecology, biology, molecular biology, computational biology and bioinformatics at Lund University. Moreover, it will provide career guidance and planning through our mentor program. Our graduate school is open for Ph.D. students enrolled at Lund University, and any other Swedish or Nordic University. Upon completion of our graduate school (two years) we will issue a certificate of attendance.

What are the minimum requirements for PhD students?

1. Need to be enrolled at a Nordic university at present
2. Join for a minimum of two years and follow a mentor program
3. Each year: attend the summer kick-off meeting (August 25-26, 2010) which includes the start-up of the mentor program, and the yearly winter meeting (January, 2011)
4. Present their project at the annual meetings or workshops
5. Attend at least one week-long PhD course per year

What is expected of the supervisors?

The supervisor should participate during at least at one of the GENECO meetings per year. The kick-off meeting will be August 25-26 in 2010.

Apply now!

Admittance of Ph.D. students, who are already enrolled as PhD students at other Nordic universities will take place during the 2009 spring semester. Deadline April 20th. Please go to http://www.lu.se/genomic-ecology/geneco-research-school/apply-to-geneco-research-scool.

Send the application form to Karin Rengefors (Director of GENECO), Limnology, Department of Ecology, Lund University, Ecology Building, 22362 Lund, Sweden. Questions can be directed to Karin.Rengefors@limnol.lu.se.