European Training Network - 15 PhD positions

Applications are invited from candidates of excellence wishing to pursue a PhD degree in the field of cancer precision medicine. Students will receive training within a pan-European academic/private sector research training network, specifically focused on brain tumour research.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most frequent, aggressive and lethal of all brain tumours. It has a universally fatal prognosis with 85% of patients dying within two years. New treatment options and effective precision medicine therapies are urgently required. The GLIOTRAIN European Training Network (ETN), which comprises 9 funded beneficiaries and 14 associated partner organisations from 8 countries, will train 15 innovative, creative and entrepreneurial PhD students.

The research objective of GLIOTRAIN is to identify novel therapeutic strategies for application in GBM, while implementing state of the art next generation sequencing, systems medicine and integrative multi-omics to unravel disease resistance mechanisms. Research activities incorporate applied systems medicine, integrative multi-omics leveraging state of the art platform technologies, and translational cancer biology implementing the latest clinically relevant models.

The consortium brings together leading European and international academics, clinicians, private sector and not-for-profit partners across GBM fields of tumour biology, multi-omics, drug development, clinical research, bioinformatics, computational modelling and systems biology. Thus, GLIOTRAIN will address currently unmet translational research and clinical needs in the GBM field by interrogating innovative therapeutic strategies and improving the mechanistic understanding of disease resistance. The GLIOTRAIN ETN addresses current needs in academia and the private sector for researchers that have been trained in an environment that spans translational research, medicine and computational biology, and that can navigate confidently between clinical, academic and private sector environments to progress applied research findings towards improved patient outcomes.

The programme is funded through the Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Programme. Selected candidates will be offered a highly competitive stipend (as per generous Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions funding rules). During their training each student will spend time on secondment in academic, clinical and/or private sector research institutions thus must have a willingness to travel.

Eligibility: At the time of recruitment, the candidate must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of their recruiting organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to start of the project. Short stays such as holidays and/or compulsory national service are not taken into account.

Candidate requirements: Candidates can be of any nationality, but are required to undertake transnational mobility. Candidates should ideally possess a Master’s degree in a relevant academic field, however exceptional candidates holding a Bachelor’s degree will be considered. Candidates must be within the first four years of his/her research career. Applications from candidates who already possess a doctoral degree will not be considered.

Potential candidates should be able to demonstrate motivation and a strong eagerness to learn. Individuals must possess excellent written, oral communication and organizational skills. In addition, applicants should have the ability both to work independently and as part of a team. Previous related research experience will be a distinct advantage. All students must be willing to travel and will be required to complete international secondments.

Funding: PhD positions are funded at the level stipulated by Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions funding rules with stipends starting at €45,000 per annum. Final salary calculations take into account living costs of the recruiting country. Additional family allowances are available where applicable.

Application process:

• Project(s): applicants can select up to two (2) preferred projects from the list available in the link in the "Additional Information" section, below. 
• Required documents: a full CV, a motivation letter including a description of previous research experiences and contact details or recommendation letters of two 2 referees. Only documents in English will be accepted.
• Submission: applicants should submit the documentation to gliotrain@rcsi.ie writing in the subject line the number of their selected projects (E.g. Projects 1 and 3) by November 10^th 2017. Successful applicants will commence their projects no later than January 2018

Applications failing to include the requested documentation, where the candidates do not meet the eligibility criteria or which do not indicate the preferred projects WILL NOT be considered.

Selection process:

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for in-person interviews (and/ or by telephone / Skype). Positions will be offered to candidates following approval by the GLIOTRAIN co-ordinator and training committee. We will endeavour to provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants where possible.

Informal Inquires:

For informal inquiries regarding the application and eligibility questions, contact gliotrain@rcsi.ie.

For informal queries regarding specific projects contact the Principal Investigator directly.