MD-Thesis Scholarships

This programme was initiated to arouse interest for science in motivated medical students early on in their career. Up to 25 grants are available for medical students. This scholarship is offered during their research activity of 8 continuous month. Furthermore, the doctoral students have to complete defined training module during their studies.

Requirements

  • Outstanding performance and commitment in studies
  • a demonstrated interest in research, proven by initial laboratory work
  • approval of experimental doctoral thesis by a department/institute of the Faculty of Medicine
  • letter of recommendation by the supervisor which also confirms that a laboratory workspace will be provided and guarantees that the required equipment is available
  • an on-going project either funded by IZKF or by any other LOM-listed, third party (at least twice listed) which is being led by the direct supervisor or the doctoral adivsor
  • Willingness to work full-time in the laboratory over a period of 9 months (research activity in the course of a stay abroad in a guest laboratory can be recognized half up to a period of 6 months (credit of 3 months)
  • Working programme that includes a full-time research activity for a total of 9 months.
  • student has to be enrolled at the FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg

Training modules and other obligations

The following training modules are obligatory for all participants in the IZKF MD-thesis scholarship programme and can be completed during the period between the start of the scientific research project and the submission of the doctorate.

The doctoral student is supervised by a doctoral committee, consisting of 3 supervisors (2 of them must be eligible for a doctorate). One member of the mentoring committee is to belong to another chair. The mentoring committe must be named at the latest until the beginning of the experimental work and the start of the scholarship.  A supervision agreement between the doctoral candidate and the members is therefore necessary.

Regular meetings of the supervision committee with the doctoral student are to be carried out at the beginning of the experimental work (full-time research /scholarship), after completion of the experimental works (full-time research /scholarship) and afterwards annually until the doctorate is submitted.

A protocol of the meetings of the supervision committee is necessary. In addition, a short written report of the doctoral student about the state of the research is to be attached. This report should also contain own publications and third-party funding raised in connection with the doctorate.

Each participant in the IZKF MD-thesis scholarship programme has to present a presentation (poster or lecture) on a supra-regional symposium.

A seminar organized by doctoral students is to be held at least once a month during the semester. A total of at least 6 participations in total and one own presentation of the doctoral thesis must be proved. Participation in the seminar of the IZKF Research Training Group is possible.

Each participant in the IZKF MD-thesis scholarship programme must participate in at least 10 guest speaker seminars. You can find important information about this on the Life@FAU homepage.

Each participant in the IZKF MD-thesis scholarship programme must participate in a total of at least two training courses, each lasting at least 8 hours. One seminar on “Good Scientific Practice” is mandatory. These courses can be chosen from the programme of the IZKF Research Training Group or another programme.

Each participant in the IZKF MD-thesis scholarship programme must participate in at least one retreat. Participation in the retreat of the IZKF Research Training Group is possible.

The participants in the IZKF MD-thesis scholarship programme are to be involved in the field of public relations. This is to be done by one active participation, e.g. an event for the local population or an internet contribution. The contribution should be about the communication of scientific content.

It is expected that the participants in the IZKF MD-thesis scholarship programme can prove at least one co-authorship in a reputable journal at the end of the doctorate.
All records must be kept and and regularly entered into the Online Study Book.
Furthermore, the following documents must entered after completion of the full-time research:

After a successful doctoral examination and the completion of all training modules, a certificate for the successful participation in the IZKF MD-thesis scholarship programme is issued. It is possible to issue a provisional certificate for the doctoral candidate’s application phase.