Instructions
Applying to DIA-NET
The application round for the 1.1.2012-31.12.2015 period is closed.
Information on the accepted applicants will be posted on the "Postgraduate students"-page.
The National Doctoral Programme of Advanced Diagnostic Technologies and Applications (DIA-NET) has 4 open positions for four year doctoral training for 2012-2015. DIA-NET provides funding of 13 770 EUR/year for salary (including side costs) and the supervisor is responsible for arranging funding for the remaining part of the salary. The salary for the positions will be based on the salary system of the Finnish universities. The basic salary is based on level 2 corresponding to 1867,48 EUR/month. In addition, a personal share is paid varying from 0% to 46% depending on the performance level.
The applicant must not be a member of an other doctoral program. Admission requirements also include that the applicants should have a higher academic degree in a diagnostics-related field or graduate in the near future. In addition it is expected that the application introduces collaboration between different partners (academic, industrial, or other scientific community related).
The following documents should be attached to the free form application:
1) Applicant's curriculum vitae, including education and work experience.
2) A research plan approved by the supervisor (in English; max. 5 pages excluding abstract and references).
Instructions for preparing a research plan
3) A signed agreement of supervision
Agreement of supervision
4) A plan signed by the main supervisor explaining how the remaining part of the salary is planned to be covered.
5) Copy of the degree certificate, including the student record transcript.
The application along with the attachments should be sent by November 15th 2011 (4 p.m.) to Prof. Kim Pettersson, Turun yliopisto, Biokemian ja elintarvikekemian laitos, biotekniikka, Tykistökatu 6A, 20520 TURKU.
In the case of several equally meritorious applications, the applicants in question will be invited for an interview by the board of DIA-NET.
DIA-NET gathers together Finnish organizations and research groups both within academia and diagnostic industry with specific know-how of diagnostic technologies and applications. DIA-NET will also benefit from and further promote the internationalization of Finnish IVD expertise through the numerous international networks and connections. The primary objective is to educate researchers with special expertise in diagnostics and related fields for positions demanding first-rate skills and innovative minds both in academia and in industry. Multi-partner and multi-discipline novel research of high scientific quality is emphasized in the selection of research topics. The doctoral programme has an important role to guarantee development and success of Finnish diagnostic industry by providing world-class experts with knowledge of the latest technologies.
Laboratory medicine has played a key role in developing diagnostic methodologies and still remains an important and dynamic application area especially in terms of finding new roles in a changing heath care scenario and in addressing critical needs of the developing world. In addition to that, diagnostic tools and technologies are presently finding important applications in new areas such as the food and pharmaceutical industries and in environmental monitoring. DIA-NET will comprehensively address the expanding range of applications of diagnostic technologies and state-of-the-art developments over the entire field to guarantee versatile and productive education.
For the 2012-2015 DIA-NET period, following special themes and topics are prioritized when deciding on the funding of the PhD projects:
Technological fields:
I. Establishing, refining and using large synthetic antibody libraries to generate binders for novel biomarkers or to identify novel markers for medical/non-medical conditions.
II. High quality, affordable technologies and platforms (solid phase matrices, microchips, microfluidics, miniaturization) enabling decentralized implementation.
III. Advanced detection technologies and assay designs (nanoparticles, high performing inexpensive fluorescent techniques, novel homogenous assay principles, multiplexing).
IV. Molecular diagnostics systems and platforms (simple sample pre-treatment, integrated platforms).
Other translational science fields besides these with the goal to implement basic science findings into In vitro Diagnostics applications are not excluded.
Application fields:
I. Diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers for common cancers especially prostate and breast cancers including circulating markers (proteins, nucleic acids) and tissue based markers.
II. Biomarkers of cardiovascular and life-style related conditions (including acute biomarkers and biomarkers for health monitoring and risk estimation).
III. Multiplex testing for personalized medicine.
IV. IVD technologies for non-medical applications (including food, environment, water).
For further information please contact the director, professor Kim Pettersson, e-mail: kim.pettersson@utu.fi or the coordinator Johanna Vuojola, e-mail: johanna.vuojola@utu.fi.
Applying for a travel grant
The instructions for applying a travel grant can be found here (only in Finnish)
General terms:
- Applications are accepted continuously
- Applications must be sent well in advance (preferably at least 3 months prior to travel)
- Applications are addressed to the director of Doctoral Programme, Kim Pettersson, (or to the coordinator Johanna Vuojola)
- The decision on the approval is done by the director of the Doctoral Programme
- Priority is given to the postgraduate students with the funding from the Ministry of Education and Culture
- The decision of approval is influenced by the scientific level of the event and the prior travel grant acceptances to the person in question (main principle being a maximum of one travel to a foreign country per year)
- The decision of acceptance is sent to the applicant via e-mail
- The maximum amount of compensation is 500 EUR for domestic travel and 1500 EUR for foreign travel (during the years 2010-2013)
- The main principle is that the applicant charges his/her parent University first, which then sends an invoice to the Doctoral Programme
- The applicant must handle the billing as soon as possible after the travel and see to it that the parent University sends the invoice to the Doctoral Programme within 60 days after the end of the travel
- The Steering committee of the Doctoral Programme follows up on the acceptance of the travel grants and on the resulting costs
Education and training
Courses will be arranged to extensively cover state-of-the-art and novel topics of basic technologies as well as the translational research process into various fields of timely applications. Additionally, courses in project management, personnel management and economics are arranged. This will enhance the competence of postgraduate students to act as research supervisors, R&D managers and in other industry related positions. Postgraduate students will get practical training in scientific communication by giving public presentations of their research in doctoral programme review meetings once or twice a year. Comprehensive review meetings of the doctoral programme will offer the students a good expose of the research carried out within the doctoral programme but will also include presentations of other research topics of the doctoral programme partners. Students will also be encouraged to take courses on relevant topics provided by the participating national and international organizations. By these means the doctoral programme ensures up-to-date knowledge and encouraging multidisciplinary expertise of postgraduate students.
Publication of research articles in high quality, esteemed journals will naturally be of central importance to the doctoral training. To accomplish this, students are guided in the writing process both in groups and individually. To become familiar with and trained in the patenting process is of particular importance in the IVD field - to provide knowledge about the essential requirements, principles and procedures in protecting new scientific findings for future commercial exploitation. Many doctoral programme partners can provide courses and cases for creating and recognizing innovations as well as training in Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).
Annual monitoring
Each postgraduate student is assigned a principal supervisor, assisted by a monitoring group to ensure the prerequisites for the execution of evaluation of the research progress and for providing adequate mentoring for the student. To ensure objective and broad-based evaluation, also external specialists may be selected to participate in the monitoring group. Through the integration into a larger, supporting research group or the whole doctoral programme itself, the students will be given an opportunity for a broader outlook on the basic conditions and ethical aspects of high quality scientific endeavors.
To ensure consistent, meaningful and focused progression of studies, each postgraduate student will make a research plan and a publication schedule. Students are asked to submit a brief report to the coordinator on the progression of their research once or twice a year, providing the overall status with special emphasis on deviations encountered and suggestions on needed remedies. Careful and continuous follow-up procedures will guarantee that students are not left alone with problems encountered and especially ensure that the first article will not be unreasonably delayed to create distress to the student.