The Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds invites applications for PhD fellowships from outstanding junior scientists (max. age: 27 years) who wish to pursue an ambitious PhD project of approximately 3 years in basic biomedical research in an internationally leading laboratory in any part of the world.
The research is aimed at promoting basic research in biomedicine by providing the best young, up-and-coming scientists with comprehensive support during their PhD phase.
Worth of Award
- The fellowship comprises a competitive monthly stipend that is initially granted for 2 years and that can be extended for up to another 12 months.
- Participation in international scientific conferences is also supported.
- In addition, fellowship holders are offered personal support, seminars to discuss their projects, communication training and alumni meetings, and thus can become part of a worldwide network. Read more under personal support and conditions.
Selection Criteria
The scientists in the Board of Trustees and the external peer reviewer evaluate applications according to the following three criteria:
- the applicant’s achievements to date (grades and curriculum vitae);
- the scientific quality, e.g. originality and inventiveness, of the proposed PhD project;
- the scientific standard of the laboratories in which the project is to be pursued.
- The Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds (BIF) awards PhD fellowships to European citizens working in Europe or overseas, and to non-European citizens pursuing their PhD project in Europe. Applicants should not be older than 27 years at the respective deadline (1 February, 1 June, 1 October).
- The PhD project must be experimental, in the field of basic biomedical research and aimed at elucidating basic biological phenomena of human life and acquiring new scientific knowledge. For a survey on the range of topics, please refer to FUTURA, the international journal of the foundation.
- Natural scientists should have been awarded their diploma, BSc, MSc or equivalent degree; physicians, veterinary surgeons and pharmacists should have passed their state examinations.
At the deadline, the applicant should not have been working on his/her project for more than 6 months. The beginning of the PhD project is considered by BIF to be:
- the date of the final examination (e.g. BSc, MSc, Diploma, DEA, Licenciatura, Laurea) on the official certificate if the applicant continues to work in the same research group; or
- the month of arrival at the laboratory in which the PhD project is pursued if the applicant changes his/her research group.
The Foundation does not support:
- applied research, such as biotechnological and pharmaceutical development and studies on the course of diseases or the treatment of symptoms;
- botanical and prokaryotic investigations unless they are of general biological importance;
- Fellowships therefore cannot be used during the course and rotation phase of PhD programmes, but only for the duration of the PhD project.
- Furthermore, the PhD fellowships cannot be used to supplement inadequate funding from other institutions or earned incomes, to bridge temporary financial difficulties or to complete investigations already sponsored by other institutions.
How to Apply.
- the online application sent by internet and
- two paper copies of the application including one CD to be sent by surface mail.
- Both must be submitted by one of the respective deadlines of each year (date as per postmark for the paper version)
- The entire application – including the project proposal – must be written in English and by the applicants themselves.
- However, consultation with the scientific supervisors recommended
- The form of the presentation should be adequate but simple; please do not staple, tack or bind documents.
- The two paper copies should contain all the data and documents listed under (1) – (9). The CD, clearly labelled with applicant’s first name and family name should contain documents (1) – (7) preferably in one PDF file.
Applicants can facilitate the selection process by adhering to the following sequence
- Title and summary of PhD project (should not exceed one page)
- detailed presentation of PhD project (please also refer to “How to write a research proposal”): formulation of the problem, current status of research, applicant’s own groundwork, objectives, experimental strategy including methods of investigation, work schedule showing the anticipated duration of the entire project and the individual steps;
- reasons for wishing to work with a particular group;
- summary of diploma or equivalent thesis which should not exceed one page;
- list of applicant’s publications (if applicable);
- certificates of all academic qualifications (including grades) and certificates of professional education prior to university (if applicable); in chronological order, the newest on top; photocopies suffice;
- photocopies of university entrance qualification or high school-leaving exam certificate, (e.g. Abitur, A-levels, Baccalaureat);
- letter of recommendation from the supervisor of the PhD thesis;
- letter of recommendation from the supervisor of the diploma or equivalent thesis (only if changing research group for the PhD project); letters of recommendation (on official letterhead and signed) have to be written in English and may be sent together with the application or by the supervisors themselves via surface mail, or as a PDF attachment(Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds, Schusterstr. 46-48, 55116 Mainz, Germany; [email protected])
Deadline: Application for this fellowship is in three phases
Phase one: Application closes on February 1, 2013
Phase two: Application closes on June 1, 2013
Phase three: Application closes on October 1, 2013. You can still apply for this one
Click here for details and apply online.