> download the "Promovendus opleidings- en begeleidingsplan"
 

During their training program PhD students have to maintain the GROW PhD portfolio.

> download the "GROW PhD portfolio"

To inform young researchers how to behave during scientific seminars/presentations, GROW made a behavioral code.

> download the "Gedragscode voor toehoorders van een voordracht"

Dr. A. Hopman is PhD student coordinator for GROW. The coordinator has the following responsibilities:

• Monitoring the continuity of progress of each individual PhD student.
• Acting as a contact person and mediator for PhD students, exercising a critical attitude towards all parties involved (PhD students, mentor, supervisors, division or programme leader) and, if necessary, meeting with personnel consultants.
• Representing the school in the Interfaculty PhD students Committee (IPC).

PhD candidates are enrolled in 4-year PhD programs, with the aim to complete a PhD thesis. The PhD program focuses on basic research and participation in (design) of (pre)clinical studies. The PhD students are closely teamed with a technician, post-doc, or a clinician conducting basic or (pre)clinical research in a similar area. All candidates will have access to: a personal computer, to a telephone and internet connection and to printing facilities and audiovisual materials for adequate preparation of scientific presentations.

The individual program will take into account the following points:

• The existing funded research program. The PhD project should be complementary to existing research ongoing in the department. High risk, low feasibility programs will not be suitable for PhD training.

• Entry and selection. The PhD program is open to students holding a MSc in biomedical sciences (health sciences, life sciences, biology, pharmacology, biomedical engineering) and to medical students pursuing a PhD career. Selection for participation in a PhD program is based on previous academic results.

• Supervision at three levels. Weekly supervision by a local professor (the principal PhD promoter), daily supervision by the co-promoter, a post-doc or an experiences technician and yearly control by the individual AIO-committee (the principal PhD promoter, the principal investigator(s)/co-promoter(s), two to four representatives of other participating centers). The AIO-committee monitors the scientific process and progress. The "macro" training processes will be controlled by the PhD student training coordinator.

• Progress monitoring. Professional progress is closely monitored at a formal yearly performance appraisal of the PhD student. This is organized by the daily principal investigator(s)/co-promoter(s). Students carry a portfolio of assessments. Elements included in the portfolio are: labjournal, research seminars, journal clubs, exam results of written tests and reports (summer courses, assessment of competence and professional behaviour during the program, attendance of scientific conferences, assessment of the PhD thesis). The individual balanced score card model will give an overview of all training elements. At the first annual meeting, the balanced score card will be individualized. The balanced score card is updated every 6-12 months and used as a dynamic reference throughout the PhD training.

• End terms. An overview of acquired expertise and skills at the end of the 4-year PhD program:

  I New knowledge: experimental molecular oncology & embryology research:

  • Broad knowledge of and insight in molecular processes controlling cell signalling.
  • Detailed knowledge of molecular processes controlling gene exoression (transcription, translation, epigenetics), embryogenesis, angiogenesis, tumorigenesis, malignant progression.
  • Knowledge of state-of-art technology (genomics, proteomics, transgenesis).
  • Integration of research models and theory from different disciplines.
  • Development of research and clinical tools.
  • Advances in therapy.
  • Knowledge of (pre)clinical research (design and execution).

  II New/enhanced skills

  • Insight into design of scientific research (hypothesis, objectives, aims).
  • Evaluation and design of experimental model systems and theories (evidence based, logical deduction).
  • Participation in scientific discussions (work progress, planning).
  • Critical analysis of scientific papers (hypothesis, objectives, aims, interpretation results, conclusions, drawbacks).
  • Critical evaluation and interpretation of obtained results, deduction novel scientific insights.
  • Report results with proper lay-out (good structure of objective, methods, results, discussion, conclusion), and content clarity.
  • Planning and organisational skills (independently design experiments).

  III General professional competence

  • Public presentation, detailed scientific reports in English.
  • Collaborate in teams with pre-set goals.
  • Realize deadlines.
  • Maintaining high professional an scientific standards.
  • Insight and practice in writing a research proposal (grant).
  • Insight and practice in statistical and data-handling skills.
  • Insight in ethical issues in translational research.
  • Insight in patenting issues in translational research.

  IV New/enhanced experience

  • Experience with problem based learning.
  • Exposure to different research environments.
  • Experience in living and working abroad.
  • Experience in increased professional mobility.

Career opportunities

Upon completion of the program, graduates may pursue a research career as post-doc in translational research in medicine or academia, or in an applied research environment (e.g. life sciences industry). Graduates may continue a research career abroad either within academia or in medical life sciences and industry. Finally, graduates may opt for applied work in which the PhD program provides important added value, such as a position in industry, contract research organisations or biomedical science teacher in professional training schools.

Every PhD student at the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences has to follow courses to collect the minimum amount of credits necessary to complete their PhD training program.

The minimum amount of credits to be obtained is 200. Of these 200, 120 credits can be allocated to:

• 40 for visiting seminars, symposia, congress, etc.
• 40 for supervisory activities
• 40 for project and department related meetings

The remaining 80 credits should be obtained by following general and research school specific courses.

General Courses

An overview of the general courses for academic training at FHML can be found at the UM website.

All GROW PhD students must follow the three courses within the section "Communication in scientific English":

• Schrijfvaardigheid Engels, deel 1
• Schrijfvaardigheid Engels, deel 2
• Voordrachten Engels

GROW Courses

An overview of the research school specific courses for academic training at FHML can be found at the UM website.

Within GROW the following specific courses are (or will soon be) available:

1. Epigenetics
   Next course date: March, 2011 (specific date still unknown)
   More information on the Epigenetics course 2011 follows in due time.

• Advanced Microscopy and Vital Imaging
  Next course date: June 1^st - June 4^th, 2010
  
  Registration: The practical part of the program is already fully booked, but you can still register for the theoretical part of the program. Please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   stating your name, department, telephone number and email address.
  
  Download the program
   
• Fetal and Perinatal Physiology
  Next course date: 26^th March and 14^th April, 2011
  
  Target group:
  PhD and Master Students in the Life Sciences, Residents in Pediatrics and Obstetrics, Perinatologists
  
  Aim:
  The aim of this two-day course is to introduce and discuss several aspects of developmental physiology during the fetal and the neonatal period with special emphasis on the physiological basis for the therapies that are currently used in the clinical setting.
  
  Coordinator:
  Dr. Eduardo Villamor. Department of Pediatrics Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, University of Maastricht. P. Debyelaan 25. P.O. Box 5800. 6202 AZ Maastricht. The Netherlands. Phone +31 43-3877246, fax +31 43-3875246 e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
  
       download the progam

Pizza meetings

Apart from the above mentioned GROW PhD courses, GROW organizes Pizza meetings on a monthly basis. All GROW PhD students must attend these meetings. If a PhD student did at least attend 25 Pizza meetings, 10 credits may be added to the total course credit balance.