Eligibility Criteria
Educational Background and Skills: Applicants will need to have an educational background suited to a genomics data science project, with a good BSc and/or MSc in molecular biological sciences, or in a strongly numerate or computational field (computer science, engineering, physics, statistics, mathematics). Students should have a strong aptitude for computer programming and data analysis.
Language Skills: Applicants will need to demonstrate competence in written and spoken English.
Nationality and Residency: While it is envisaged that the majority of students will be recruited from the EU, we will also consider applications from non-EU countries.
Application Overview & Timeline
The CRT programme will train over 100 students in 4 cohorts, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. The call for applications will be issued around November for the student cohort starting the following September.
Please note that there is an EU Marie Curia Sklodowska Action (MSCA) COFUND sub-programme within the CRT called INTEGRATE focussing on human genomics. Students that fulfil MSCA eligibility criteria have the option to apply via the INTEGRATE programme – please see the INTEGRATE website https://integrategenomics.eu/ for details on eligibility, benefits and how to apply. Please apply to one programme only.
The timetable for recruitment is outlined below:
Stages of Application | |
|---|---|
Call opens for applications | November |
Call deadline | January |
Interviews of shortlisted candidates | February – March |
Successful applicants informed of outcome | March – April |
Start date for successful applicants | September |
Shortlisting of Applications (Scoring)
Each submitted application will be initially evaluated by a 2-member panel for suitability for the programme.
Applications that make it through the initial evaluation will then be scored by all members of the recruitment committee based on the following criteria:
- Academic qualifications and performance (30)
- Work/research experience (10)
- Personal statement and motivation (40)
- Other (20); e.g. prizes, academic awards, balance of life vs quantitative science backgrounds.
Average scores are calculated and applications are ranked. Top ranked applicants are shortlisted for interview.
Interviews
The interview will be carried out in English via teleconferencing or over the internet (e.g. using Zoom or Skype) by an Interview panel usually composed of 2-3 members. The interview is an evaluation of the candidate’s experience, knowledge, motivation, ability to discuss and debate scientific concepts and communication skills. Candidates may be asked to give a short oral presentation on their past research experience or a topic in genomics that interests them. The interview will last approximately 30 min.
All applicants will be informed of the outcome of the shortlisting via email as soon as possible.
Following shortlisting and interview, applicants will be informed of the overall outcome of the evaluation via email.
Application Form
Recruitment for the Sept 2022 intake of students has now CLOSED. Please note that this is the final cohort of students the programme will recruit and we expect that there will be a small number of project-linked offers made in this round. This means that some candidates may receive an offer of a place on the programme conditional on doing a specific project.
The deadline for applications was Friday 14th January 2022.