Postdoctoral Researcher UGent/IMEC: Silicon Photonics Integrated Fiber Interrogator

Silicon Photonics Integrated Fiber Interrogator

In the European project SMARTFIBER, we have set up an academic-industrial consortium, that will develop a smart miniaturized microsystem which integrates optical fiber sensor technology, nanophotonic chip technology and low power wireless technology. The smart system will enable for the first time fully embedded structural heath monitoring of composites used as structural parts in wind turbines, satellites, airplanes, civil constructions, oil pipes, gas wells and many more. The smart microsystem will be the enabler for sustainable development of these composite based systems.

The heart of this smart microsystem for structural health monitoring is an advanced silicon photonics chip.

7 partners, amongst which IMEC, UGent, Fraunhofer, Xenics, Airborne International, will collaborate to research and develop this smart microsystem. Multiple disciplines like optical fiber technology, silicon photonics, wireless technology, packaging and composite manufacturing will be merged.

IMEC/UGent will not only coordinate this project, we are also responsible for the development of the silicon photonics chip.

As a post-doc researcher, you will both coordinate and manage the daily activities of SMARTFIBER, and be lead investigator for the development of the silicon photonics chip. You will be embedded in the Photonics Research Group, headed by Prof. R. Baets, and will be assisted by a PhD student to elaborate the scientific tasks.

Job description

Within the SMARTFIBER project you will be expected to:

Manage and coordinate the daily activities of SMARTFIBER and its academic-industrial consortium
Coordinate and implement research and development of silicon photonics fiber bragg interrogator involving innovative design, processing follow-up, characterization and testing
Profile

You have a PhD in Electronic/Photonic Engineering or in Physics and have worked closely in at least one of the following areas: photonics; fiber optics; communications systems design and test; electro-optic characterization….

Send CV and statement of purpose in English to

Dries Van Thourhout (dries.vanthourhout@ugent.be)

About IMEC/Photonics Research Group

IMEC, which will handle the project management for SMARTFIBER, stands out as the largest independent European research centre in the field of microelectronics, nanotechnology, enabling design methods and technologies for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) systems.

Today, IMEC has a staff of more than 1200 people, including 350 guest researchers and industrial residents.

The Photonics Research Group (about 50 people) is an associated laboratory of IMEC, located at Ghent University. The group is headed by Prof. R. Baets and has been active in photonics device research for many years. The main applications under study are silicon nanophotonics, heterogeneous integration, optical interconnect, WDM optical communication, silicon photonics biosensors an biomedical applications. More in particular, the silicon nanophotonics work focuses on the design and fabrication of SOI-based photonic crystal structures, photonic wires and fibercoupling structures using standard lithographic techniques compatible with CMOS-processing. The group is also strongly involved in the development of heterogeneous technologies, whereby the silicon photonics platform is combined with other materials such as III-V semiconductors for efficient sources, nanocrystals and polymers. The photonics research group was coordinating the network of excellence ePIXnet and has also been the prime contractor for numerous other IST-projects, including the FP7 projects WADIMOS and HISTORIC and the FP6 project PICMOS.

Call for applications “Postdoctoral Researcher IMEC/UGent – Photonics Research Group”

Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41, B-9000 Gent, Belgium

http://ping.fm/bbzXO

Fully Funded PhD Position in SeeQR Project at TU Eindhoven

The SeeQR project is a research collaboration between TU Eindhoven and TU Delft, the leading technical universities in the Netherlands, focusing on web data management. The project has an opening in Eindhoven for a fully funded PhD student position (4 years), supported by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), to start as soon as possible but no later than 1 April 2011.

Motivated by the growing increase in the practical use of semantic web data management technologies such as RDF and SPARQL, e.g., in the Linked Open Data initiative, the PhD student will investigate sophisticated scalable RDF indexing mechanisms and SPARQL query processing strategies over massive dynamically evolving data sets.

The work will be carried out together with an experienced team of computer scientists in a challenging yet supportive research environment. Tasks will include developing new algorithms and data structures; their prototyping, benchmarking, and theoretical analysis; and, scientific publishing of results.

Requirements

We are looking for a candidate who meets the following requirements:

strong mathematical and programming skills;
an MSc degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, or other closely related discipline;
experience in empirical research (e.g., system design and benchmarking);
comfort with formal notation and writing, and unsupervised researching of relevant scientific literature;
excitement and drive to contribute to cutting edge research in web data management systems; and,
good communication skills in English, both in speaking and in writing;
Appointment and salary

We offer:

a full-time temporary appointment for a period of 4 years, with an intermediate evaluation after 10 months;
a gross salary of € 2,042 per month in the first year, increasing up to € 2,612 per month in the fourth year;
support for your personal development and career planning;
a broad package of fringe benefits (e.g. excellent technical infrastructure, child care, savings schemes, and excellent sports facilities).
Information

For more information about the project, please contact dr. G.H.L. Fletcher, e-mail: g.h.l.fletcher@tue.nl
For information about employment conditions, please contact mrs. Nel Evers, HR advisor TU/e, e-mail: pzwin@tue.nl
Please DO NOT send your application to these e-mail addresses but rather use the link below.

Application

The application should consist of the following parts:

a 1-page statement of interest;
a curriculum vitae;
copies of diplomas; and
proof of English language skills (if applicable).
Application are due before 1 October 2010, using the following link:

http://ping.fm/WgBbi

EMCL: Erasmus Mundus Masters Scholarship in Clinical Linguistics

The Erasmus Mundus Masters program in Clinical Linguistics (EMCL) is a 24 months full-time interdisciplinary and integrated University program at European level providing training for international students in the fields of:

Neurolinguistics
Clinical Linguistics
Psycholinguistics.
The aim of the EMCL program is to train highly qualified advanced students from the whole world who are excellently prepared for research work and Phd programs in the field of Clinical Linguistics.

INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

Being part of the Erasmus Mundus excellence initiative of the EU, the EMCL consortium is able to offer a limited number of scholarships to candidates (students and visiting scholars) who are admitted to the program.

The scholarships cover all living costs in the host countries. If the scholarship does not include an additional travel grant, the costs for mobility between the institutions have to be covered by this money too. Please note that a health insurance scheme for students is part of the program and covered by the participation costs.

The student scholarships are divided into the categories A and B. There is a variable number of 8-10 scholarships per academic year.

In addition to that, EMCL is also able to offer scholarships for visiting scholars. The number of scholars admitted to the program is usually four per academic year.

Students A
Category A is for non-European students. They get €24,000 for the two year program (i.e. €1,000/month) and an additional travel grant in the amount of €8,000.

Students B
Category B is for European students. They get €12,000 for the two year program (i.e. €500/month). A travel grant is not included in this category.

In order to complete your application for the program and the Erasmus Mundus scholarship, the following documents are needed (check list; you may check off the respective boxes for your own convenience):

application form
two letters of recommendation – please note that we will only accept letters of recommendation that confirm to the common standards: they should be written on the official letterhead of the respective institution, contain the signatures of your referees and should reach us in a sealed and signed (again, by your referee) envelope. Enclose the letters as you receive them from your referees and do not open the envelopes.
certified copies of your academic curriculum (official transcripts) and a certified copy of your undergraduate degree certificate (please no originals; plus certified translations if the originals are not in English, German, Finnish or Dutch)
copies of English language test (TOEFL or equivalent) letter of motivation to enroll in the EMCL-program (included in the application form below)
a copy of your passport or personal ID
Please note:

We can only consider your application if all the necessary documents have arrived according to our deadline for application: November 15, 2010, by mail (receipt of application documents).
If your final degree certificate and final year transcripts are not yet available, you are kindly requested to submit an official provisional degree certificate and transcript or an official letter of your registrar, dean, or academic supervisor, listing the remaining subjects and the prospective grades as well as the prospective final grade average.
Authentication of all documents will be accepted only if performed by a notary public, by the Embassy or Consulate in your home country, or by the institution that has issued the original document.
If the documents are not in English, Dutch, German or Finnish, officially authenticated translations have to be added.
Application procedure and contact details

Please note that student applicants do not send their application documents directly to the University of Potsdam or any other university in the consortium, but to uni-assist, an agency specialised in managing applications to German universities.

Any ‘technical’ question about the application procedure itself will only be answered by uni-assist. Any other question related to the EMCL/Erasmus Mundus program itself will be answered by the coordinator in charge. This is the University of Potsdam for non-European applicants and the University of Groningen for European applicants. The addresses can be found on the EMCL homepage www.emcl-mundus.com.

Please also note that applying via uni-assist requires the payment of a non-refundable application fee. The general application fee amounts to € 55, applicants from EU countries are charged € 30 and applicants from the People’s Republic of China who have already undergone the application procedure with the Akademische Prüfstelle (APS) in Beijing are charged € 25. Please be aware that uni-assist will only start processing your application after having received the application fee!

If you apply only shortly before the deadline, we therefore strongly advise you to include a document that confirms that the payment has been carried out (e.g. an account statement, confirmation of bank transfer) or to include the credit card payment form availabe in the FAQ-section on the website of uni-assist (address see below) to speed up the processing of your application as much as possible. Late application and delayed payment of the application fee may have as a consequence that your application cannot be considered. Please read through the information on the uni-assist website carefully.

If you wish to apply to the EMCL Erasmus Mundus program, please send your application directly (i.e . c/o) to uni-assist:

University of Potsdam
European Masters in Clinical Linguistics
c/o uni-assist e.V.
Helmholtzstr. 2-9
10587 Berlin
Germany

Please visit uni-assist’s website (especially the FAQ section) for further information on the general application procedure, payment and contact details etc. in several languages:

www.uni-assist.de

Source:
http://ping.fm/RDvaJ

Call for Applications for the 2011 Faculty for the Future Fellowships, Schlumberger Foundation

Schlumberger Foundation - Call for Applications for the 2011 Faculty for the Future Fellowships

Call for Applications for the 2011 Faculty for the Future Fellowships

Faculty for the Future is accepting applications for 2011 Fellowships from September 1st to November 30th 2010

The Faculty for the Future program, launched in 2004, awards fellowships to women from developing and emerging economies to pursue PhD or post-doctoral studies in the physical sciences and related disciplines at top universities abroad.

The Faculty for the Future program grows each year and has become a powerful community that today stands at 142 pioneering women scientists from 43 countries. Ultimately these women return home to become leaders, to strengthen their faculties, contribute to the socio-economic development of their countries and serve as powerful role models to attract more young women into the sciences.

Faculty for the Future grants are in the range of USD 25,000 to 50,000 per year and may be renewed through to completion of studies subject to performance, self-evaluation, and recommendations from supervisors. Final grant amounts are agreed with award recipients subject to actual costs of study and living in the given location.

Candidates should have applied to, have been admitted to, or be currently enrolled in a university abroad when submitting their Faculty for the Future grant request. Candidates must be able to evidence their commitment to teaching, must demonstrate active participation in faculty life and outreach to encourage young women into the sciences and hold an excellent academic record.

All information about the Faculty for the Future fellowship program and application facilities are found at www.foundation.slb.com/fftf

If you are eligible, apply on-line as of September 1st 2010.

*Awards in biological sciences are limited to interdisciplinary research between physical and biological sciences.

Italy: PhD Scholarships in Computer Science, Universit?egli Studi di Verona, Italy

PhD Scholarships in Computer Science, Università degli Studi di Verona, Italy

Duration: 3 years (starting January 1st, 2011)

Available fellowships:5
Additional positions: 5

Researchtopics include:

Algorithms
Artificial intelligence
Bioinformatics
Computer architectures and networks
Computer graphics
Databases and information systems
Electronic systems design
Embedded systems
Foundations of computing
Image processing and computer vision
Mathematical logic and formal methods
Operating systems
Programming languages
Quantum computing
Robotics
Security
Software engineering
Sound and music computing
Contact:
Professor Luca VIGANÃ’
Tel. +39 045 8027070
Fax +39 045 8027069
luca.vigano[ at ]univr.it
(for information, please write specifying the topic of interest)

www.univr.it
Google: veronaschoolsciencesengineeringmedicine

Application deadline: September 15th, 2010

Denmark: PhD Scholarship in Political Science, University of Southern Denmark

PhD scholarship in Political Science, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark

PhD scholarship in Political Science
University of Southern Denmark - Department of Political Science

Theme: Determinants of political beliefs

At the Department of Political Science and Public Management, five PhD scholarships within the programme “Beliefs in Politics: Actors and Determinants (Elites, Frames, and Personalities)” are available for appointment for a period of three years as of October 1, 2010 or as soon as possible hereafter.

We look for candidates with a Master Degree in political science, political psychology or political communication (or a related field) who have distinguished themselves at the MA level and, preferably, have written a Master thesis about social, institutional, psychological and contextual determinants of political beliefs, attitudes, and behaviour.

We prefer applicants whose strengths lie within methods, quantitative and/or qualitative. Only candidates with top academic qualifications will be considered for enrolment. Applications must include a detailed description of the PhD project, including research question, theory, design and methods, and a work schedule.

The PhD scholarships are funded by the Danish government as “mobility scholarships” which means that candidates from the University of Southern Denmark are not eligible to apply.

You cannot apply for the position based on this advertisement. You can see the entire advertisement on the university’s homepage www.sdu.dk/vacancies

Position no.: 351/556-105705

Closing date: September 1, 12:00 noon

United Nations Fellowship Programme (UNFCCC Germany) for Government?s Employees

United Nations Fellowship Programme (UNFCCC Germany) for Government’s Employees

UNFCCC Fellowship Programme
The objective of the fellowship programme is to contribute to building capacity for addressing climate change in non-Annex I Parties, in particular small island developing States (SIDS) and least developed countries (LDCs) Parties, through the development of local professional expertise by:

Supporting innovative analytical work on climate change in the context of sustainable development;
Promoting a network of experts who can bring creative and innovative options to bear on questions of climate change;
Encouraging the leadership potential of young and promising professionals in their fields.

The programme target group consists of mid-career professionals who are already in a government’s employment and who are nationals of and working in a developing country, particularly a SIDS and LDC Party. While fellowships are awarded to individuals, the need for training must occur within the context of the institution for which an applicant works. The training must help the institution to develop its capacity. This means that the applicants must:

Obtain permission from their employer for leave of absence for the term of the fellowship, and provide written certification that s/he will return to the Party’s governmental institution addressing climate change after her/his fellowship for at least six month;
Get a written certification from their employer that the subject of the proposed training is relevant to the needs of the organization.
This programme is not intended for students, and does not provide financial support for an advanced degree, such as fieldwork for a PhD degree.

Eligibility
The fellowship programme is open to individuals working in a broad range of governmental organizations, ranging from educational institutions, research institutes and ministries. Candidates must meet the following criteria:

Be a national of, and work in an organization located in pre-selected countries/regions;
Normally be no more than 40 years of age on the closing date of application;
Have preferably completed a Master degree, or equivalent, at the time of application, and a minimum of 3 years of work experience. Candidates with a first degree and a minimum of five years work experience may also be considered;
Have good communication skills in English
Priority will be accorded to candidates from SIDS and LDC countries.

Opportunities for work projects and working conditions
There are a wide range of opportunities for fellows in the secretariat. Work projects may be carried out in any of the secretariat programmes on a number of issues e.g.. future of climate change, technology, financial assistance, inventories, mechanisms, etc…

The exact work programme to be pursued will be determined in consultation with each fellow according to her/his own area of expertise and interest. Once the work programme is determined, the selected fellow will be placed in the relevant secretariat programme, under the supervision/guidance of a programme officer designated by the hosting programme.

Fellows are expected to prepare an analytical paper of 20 - 30 pages containing the results of their work at the end of the fellowship period. The paper should be prepared in English to the extent possible, but may also be submitted in French or Spanish. In special cases, the paper may be prepared in one of the other official languages of the UN (Arabic, Chinese, or Russian). The paper will be reviewed by secretariat staff and the secretariat will maintain publication rights.

Conditions
The fellowship programme annually awards up to five fellowships.

Fellowships are awarded for a period of three to six months.
Fellowships shall normally begin within six months after the award being offered.
Fellowship periods will be individually arranged to accommodate, to the extent possible, the particular needs of each fellow.
The award is a fixed, non-negotiable sum which is intended to cover living expenses at the UNFCCC secretariat in Bonn. In addition, the programme covers travel costs by the least costly route.
Each fellow must obtain medical clearance and also provide proof of health insurance with full international coverage before traveling to Germany. It is the responsibility of the fellow to arrange for insurance against risks occurring during the fellowship.
Fellows are responsible for making their own housing and other arrangements, although assistance in securing accommodation may be provided.
Accompanying family members will not be covered and are the sole responsibility of the fellow.
Fellows are not eligible to apply for advertised positions within the secretariat within six months following the conclusion of their assignment with the secretariat.
Source:
http://ping.fm/coBRh

Australia: Doctoral Scholarship in Children Physical Activity, Auckland University of Technology

Doctoral Scholarship in Children Physical Activity, Auckland University of Technology, Australia

Doctoral Scholarship
Children’s mobility and physical activity in higher density urban neighbourhoods
Auckland University of Technology - Health Research

Applications are invited from suitably qualified individuals for a Health Research Council of New Zealand funded PhD scholarship. The successful applicant will join an established team of researchers from Massey University, University of Auckland and Auckland University of Technology (AUT), in Auckland, New Zealand. The student will be based at the Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition at AUT. The scholarship is valued at NZ $25,000 p.a. (tax exempt) for three years. A full or partial tuition fee waiver may also apply.

Study overview
This research will be located in Auckland, New Zealand and is concerned with understanding how neighbourhood environments can foster children’s independent mobility- outdoor play and active transport (e.g. walking/cycling) - to increase physical activity and participation in urban life. At issue is the recursive relationship between place and wellbeing, with everyday practices affected by both the nature of urban spaces and perceptions of them as safe and desirable, or otherwise. The study aims to understand how urban design factors influence children’s wellbeing by investigating the neighbourhood experiences, independent mobility, and physical activity of children 8-11 years living in higher deprivation Auckland neighbourhoods of differing dwelling density.

The successful candidate will work with children aged 8-11 years and their parents, to understand how urban design factors influence children’s physical activity and independent mobility. It is envisaged the area of PhD study will focus on independent mobility and physical activity and the relationships between these variables and children’s social and/or built environments. The successful applicant will share responsibility for the collection and analysis of data, including fieldwork and the use of accelerometry and global positioning systems.

Applying for the Scholarship
It is expected the candidate will hold an Honours or Masters degree in human movement science, exercise science, health promotion, epidemiology, geography or a related area and be able to demonstrate previous research experience.

Applicants must meet the University’s selection criteria for entry into the PhD. Advice on these can be found at this first link and the second one.

Information for international students can be found here.

Curriculum vitae and covering letters are to be received no later than Friday 27 August 2010, 5pm NZT and should be sent to Dr Melody Oliver either by email (melody.oliver[ at ]aut.ac.nz) , or post:

Dr Melody Oliver Mail #A-24, Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Auckland University of Technology Private Bag 92006 Auckland 1142 New Zealand

Queries related to the project and the position can be addressed to Dr Melody Oliver by email (melody.oliver[ at ]aut.ac.nz)

Children’s mobility and physical activity in higher density urban neighbourhoods

Sweden: Postdoctoral Fellowship in Neural Developmental Biology, Ume?niversity

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Neural Developmental Biology, Umeå University, Sweden

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Neural Developmental Biology

Applications are invited from motivated and creative individuals who are interested in studying fundamental mechanisms of neuronal migration and axon guidance.

The main focus of our research is to understand molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the development of neural circuits using the embryonic spinal cord as a model system.

The laboratory is located at the Umeå Center for Molecular Medicine (UCMM), Umeå University, Sweden. UCMM is an interdisciplinary department, which focuses on questions in basic medical sciences and developmental biology and provides an interactive modern environment with state-of-the-art core facilities.

Requirements:
Individuals with a background in developmental biology, neuroscience, molecular and cell biology or related discipline and with a interest in developmental neurobiology are encouraged to apply. Technical experience with vertebrate embryonic model systems, molecular and cell biology techniques, biochemistry and imaging is an advantage although training will be given. The successful candidate will have a recent or imminent Ph.D. in a relevant discipline and be proficient in written and spoken English. The fellowship is currently funded for up to two years.

Application for the fellowship should include:

1. A short cover letter (not more than 1 page) to include a description of your research experience and suitability for the position.

2. Curriculum Vitae including: publication list, technical expertise, names and contact information for three referees.

Please refer to number 2010SW28 and submit your application by 30th September 2010 to ucmm[ at ]ucmm.umu.se Informal enquiries may be directed to Dr. Sara Wilson (sara.wilson[ at ]ucmm.umu.se)

We look forward receiving your application!

Key words: postdoc, neurodevelopment, developmental biology, cell biology, molecular biology, neuroscience, mouse genetics, chicken embryology, biochemistry

http://ping.fm/gaWTb

Germany: EBRAMUS PhD Position in Neuroscience (Music & Communication), Max Planck Institute, Leipzig

EBRAMUS PhD Position in Neuroscience (Music & Communication), Max Planck Institute, Leipzig, Germany

The European Initial Training Network EBRAMUS (Europe BRAin and MUSic) is offering a PhD position for up to three years at the Max Planck Institute for Human Brain and Cognitive Sciences (Leipzig, Germany) in the research group “Neurocognition of rhythm in communication”.

The successful candidate will work on the project “Facilitatory effects of temporal and rhythmic music cues in local and hierarchical syntactic processing” and conduct behavioural, ERP and fMRI research in healthy and patient (stroke, Parkinson) populations. The PhD project will investigate how and when temporal and rhythmic cues facilitate syntactic processes of various complexities during auditory language processing.

The candidate must have a Masters degree in experimental psychology, neuroscience, neurolinguistics, or neuropsychology; experience with EEG and/or fMRI techniques and an interest in combined language/music research; knowledge of research designs, statistical skills and computer programming skills (Presentation, MATLAB). Knowledge or proficiency of German is not required but a plus; candidates will be encouraged to learn German during the PhD programme. Please note the programme-specific eligibility criteria.*

The research will be conducted at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig, Germany, an internationally leading centre for cognitive and imaging neuroscience equipped with a 7.0 T MRI scanner, three 3.0 T MRI scanners, a 306 channels MEG system, a TMS system and several EEG suites. All facilities are supported by experienced IT and physics staff. The institute offers a lively, international and interdisciplinary research environment. PhD students have the opportunity to participate in the curriculum of the International Max Planck Research School.

The successful candidate will benefit from the expertise united in the EBRAMUS training network, including collaborations with network partners with relevant expertise in music and language research, implicit learning, as well as methodological expertise. EBRAMUS is a consortium of European research centres to study new perspectives for stimulating cognitive and sensory processes using music.

Applications from female scientists are particularly encouraged. Preference will be given to disabled persons with the same qualification.

Please include the following documents in your application (preferably in one PDF-file): Cover letter, curriculum vitae (format: Europass CV), names and contact details of three personal references, a description of your personal qualifications, future research interests and academic goals (motivation letter). Applications citing the code EBRAMUS/SKC should be sent to Professor Sonja Kotz (kotz[ at ]cbs.mpg.de) by 20 September 2010 latest as well as to EBRAMUS[ at ]gmail.com (see also http://ping.fm/hb3kB).

For questions or informal enquiries about the post, please contact Professor Sonja Kotz (kotz[ at ]cbs.mpg.de; +49 341 99402231).

* At the time of appointment (1 November 2010), candidates need to be in the first four years (full-time equivalent) of their research careers, including the period of research training, starting at the date of obtaining the degree which would formally entitle them to embark on a doctorate either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in Germany, irrespective whether or not a doctorate is envisaged. They may be of any nationality except for the German one. In the case of a candidate holding more than one nationality, he/she must not have resided in Germany during the previous 5 years. In general, no candidate is allowed to have resided or carried out his/her main activity in Germany for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to his/her appointment. Short stays such as holidays are not taken into account. In addition, candidates have to undertake a physical transnational mobility at the time of appointment or within less than 12 months before his/her appointment under the project.

Europe: Erasmus Mundus Scholarships, International Master in Rural Development (IMRD)

Erasmus Mundus Scholarships, International Master in Rural Development (IMRD), Europe

Erasmus Mundus - IMRD Scholarships
The joint International Master in Rural Development (IMRD), part of the European Erasmus Mundus program, offers the opportunity to study the European vision on rural development in its diversity of approaches and applications.

The objective is to train specialists in integrated rural development, focussed on socio-economic and institutional aspects, not only from the European Union but also from developed, developing and transition countries outside the European Union through a 2 year master program (120 ECTS) jointly organised by seven European leading institutes in agricultural economics and rural development.

The Master program is offered by Ghent University (Belgium), Agrocampus Ouest (France), Humboldt University of Berlin (Germany), the University of Cordoba (Spain), in collaboration with Wageningen University (The Netherlands), the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra (Slovakia) and the University of Pisa (Italy). these will be joined by universities in China, Ecuador, India and South Africa.

The methodology consists of a combination of basic and specialised training in technical, economic and social sciences, a case study of one month, an individual master thesis and a high extent of student and scholar mobility.

The minimum graduate admission requirements are:

1. Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree of minimum 3 years with good overall scores (at least a second class or equivalent, preferably higher) from a university or recognized equivalent. Candidates are expected to have basic science training (demonstrable in the transcripts) in the following fields: (1) mathematics and/or statistics, (2) agronomy and/or biology and/or environmental sciences and (3) social sciences and/or rural development. Candidates who cannot present a combined training of these fields will be evaluated on their aptitude, based on experience and knowledge of these fields, as demonstrated by CV or other evidence.

2. Sufficient language knowledge proven by language certificates. The applicant must be proficient in the language of the course or training programme, i.e. English. Command of the English language is a very important criterion for admission. With the exception of those who have a diploma (Secondary Education, Academic Bachelor Degree, Master Degree) issued by an institution officially recognized by the Flemish Government, applicants must be able to prove their proficiency in English. See the language section on the left.

Applicants generally have a Bachelor’s degree or a recognized equivalent academic degree of minimum 3 years study in bioscience engineering or agricultural sciences (preferably agricultural economics), in combination with knowledge in environmental sciences, economics, sociology and rural development studies.

Admission decisions are based on a combination of factors, including academic degrees and records, the statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, test scores, language skills and relevant work experience, if any. We also consider the appropriateness of your goals to the IMRD programme. In addition, consideration may be given to how your background and life experience would contribute significantly to an educationally beneficial mix of students.

NON-EUROPEAN STUDENTS :
The first step of the application procedure is an on-line registration and application form. Register in the IMRD database, complete the application form and submit it to the central IMRD secretariat electronically. Make sure you fill in at least all the obligatory fields, add as much additional information as possible and load electronic copies of your documents.

The second step is a hard copy application file, composed of the printed application form and all requested documents (secondary school leaving certificate, higher education diploma(s), including all transcripts of records, language certificate(s), curriculum vita, passport pictures, copy of passport, recommendation letters) by regular or express mail to the IMRD secretariat before the deadline. Download the recommendation letter/reference letter here: Word document.

CLICK HERE TO START THE APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Contact detail: imrd[ at ]ugent.be
Moreinfo: http://ping.fm/P11He