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Training Program

Training will be provided through a combination of supervision in individual research projects, secondments to other partners, short term visits, summer schools, workshops, conferences, local graduate classes, and through a network wide online wiki that serves as a database for articles and as laboratory journals.

Individual research projects The primary mechanism for training of PhD students will be individual personalised research projects within the framework of the Scientific and Technical Objectives defined by the Network. Each project will have one primary supervisor, a Network Partner at the researcher’s Host Institution. Training through direct research experience will be supplemented by formal teaching in scientific principles, research methodology and transferable skills

Local training Training organized directly by network participants will be supplemented by structured training courses selected from those available from the host institutions, primarily the local host but also courses provided by other institutions in the network within the framework of the joint training programme.

Network-wide training activities EScoDNA will build on the interdisciplinary, intersectoral and international aspects of the network through coordinated network-wide workshops, hosted by partner institutions in rotation, which will be attended by all PhD students and post docs of EScoDNA. They will expose Researchers to different schools of thought and will enhance research projects by providing access to the complementary expertise of all participants. Students will contribute to the planning and organization of all network meetings. Formal and informal teaching is provided at Network workshops, summer schools and conferences. Scientific and technical training will be focused on needs defined by the Network Objectives and individual projects.

Secondments (Research Visits at other partners laboratories). A key advantage of the structure of the training network is that Researchers will have the opportunity to participate in training at partner institutions and exchange knowledge with and benefit from the particular expertise of members of other research teams. All individual research projects will be planned with input and collaboration from at least one other partner institution. Secondments to partner institutions, for purposes of multidisciplinary training and research collaboration, will form a mandatory part of the training plan for each Researcher. A total duration of secondments to one or more partners of at least six months will form part of the Personal Career Development Plan of each PhD student.

EScoDNA PhD policy All PhD students working within the framework of EScoDNA will obtain their PhDs through the faculties of their respective host universities. Complementing the formal requirements of the faculties, the students are expected to provide additional evidence of qualification obtained through EScoDNA. Each PhD student is expected to participate in at least two summer schools and two international workshops hosted by or related to the network – the expectation will be attendance at all such events. During their thesis work, students are expected to spend at least six months in a lab of a partner institute within the network. Each student will have a local supervisor and a co-supervisor at an ITN partner institute. Typically, the co-supervisor will also be present at the thesis defense. In addition to their local PhD degree certificate, successful students will be awarded an EScoDNA certificate including a statement of the additional qualification obtained through the ITN