PhD students take on a four-year research project, and enjoy:

• a stimulating and highly interactive academic environment
• employment with social benefits
• supervision and coaching

Employment

PhD students may be employed in different ways at Erasmus MC. Some are employed as research trainees under a so-called OiO agreement (Onderzoeker in Opleiding). Others combine PhD research with their clinical training (MD-PhD, in Dutch Agiko), or are junior researchers and combine several research projects in one PhD thesis.

Training and supervision

As a PhD student at Erasmus MC Graduate School, you will undertake a piece of independent scientific research and present the results in a thesis. You will be supervised by a full academic professor (promotor) and, in most cases, supported by a co-supervisor (co-promotor). Frequent advice and support on-the-job are key elements in PhD research at Erasmus MC Graduate School.

At the same time, you should be aware that the PhD level requires research and training under your own management. In the first two months of your research period, you and your supervisor(s) agree on an individual training and supervision plan that will ensure the greatest possible flexibility. It will gain the student a total value of 30 credits under the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). PhD students gain ECTS in the PhD training programs organized by any of the research schools, by taking general courses, or courses, seminars, and lectures given elsewhere in the Netherlands or abroad.

You and your supervisors are jointly responsible for ensuring that the training and supervision plan will become an efficient part of the overall PhD program.

PhD portfolio

Erasmus MC has introduced the so-called ‘PhD portfolio’.With this portfolio, all Erasmus MC PhD students include a report of their PhD training (e.g. courses, workshops, seminars, international conferences) and teaching as last page of their thesis. With this PhD portfolio, Erasmus MC supports a broad personal development of young scientists.

Since its introduction in January 2009, many PhD students have published their portfolio in their thesis. The PhD portfolio is required in each Erasmus MC PhD thesis. However, there is no requirement for a minimum amount of courses, hours or ECTS. The PhD committee Erasmus MC recommends an average of 30 ECTS PhD teaching and training during your PhD period.  Additional information is available for internal students.

General courses

Erasmus MC Graduate School offers a set of general PhD courses that cover topics relevant to a large group of PhD students. There are currently five courses:

• Biomedical English Writing and Communication
• Biostatistics and Research Methods
• Laboratory Animal Science
• Research Integrity
• Courses in the Medical Library

Besides these general course each of the five research schools that make up Erasmus MC Graduate School provides a training program and/or courses at PhD level, with a focus on biomedical, clinical or health sciences disciplines. Additional information is available for internal students.