International PhD ProgrammeMission
Prof. Iain Mattaj, Director General
EMBL is an international laboratory supported by 20 member states and one associate member and dedicated, according to its founding agreement, to promoting "cooperation among European States in fundamental research (...) and in advanced teaching in molecular biology". This coupling of research and advanced teaching is not accidental. The central contributions that the Laboratory has made to the development of molecular biology in Europe since the mid 1970's include pioneering new fields of research and simultaneously nurturing our future scientific leaders: young laboratory heads, postdoctoral fellows and (since 1983) graduate students studying for their PhD. The open scientific interactions and collaborations throughout this talented youthful community have created an intense scientific life at EMBL, a spirit of dedication to creativity and excellence, to the benefit of both the research and the training activities.
The EMBL International PhD Programme has grown significantly in size and importance since 1993, endowed with well thought-out procedures that assure outstanding quality, close mentoring and an integrated experience in advanced learning and leading-edge research. The programme is directed by Dr. Helke Hillebrandt, Dean of Graduate Studies. Students are selected by a committee representing all of EMBL's research units after thorough interviews, from amongst highly qualified applicants from all the member states. External fellowships fund a smaller number of non-memberstate nationals.
The PhD students spend up to four years with us, either at the main Laboratory in Heidelberg or at our other Units (Grenoble, Hamburg, Hinxton and Monterotondo). All first-year students attend the lecture and laboratory courses given in Heidelberg from October to December, with teaching participation of all the Units. Thus, the students from all five EMBL sites spend these months together, participating in an intensive learning experience and forming long-lasting friendships that will facilitate their work at EMBL and beyond.
Their Thesis Advisory Committee includes faculty members from two EMBL units and an external advisor. The quality of the Programme, the people, the science, the facilities, the international environment and the collaborative spirit at EMBL are remarkable. In recognition of this, the Member States have given EMBL the authority to award the PhD, alone or jointly with Universities in the member states, while also maintaining the third option of students receiving their degrees solely from the national universities at which they are registered. The Statutes of the EMBL International PhD Programme were promulgated officially in 1998. Joint degree arrangements are now in place with 29 universities in 19 countries.
As we enter our fourth decade, we are dedicated to further enhancing this crown jewel of the EMBL system, and to making studying here an unforgettable experience.