EUROPEAN GLAUCOMA RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAM FOR ACCELERATING THE APPROACH TO ADVANCED GLAUCOMA

Glaucoma is the most common age-related neurodegenerative eye disease in Western society and one of the four major eye diseases causing blindness. Unfortunately, current treatments can only slow the deterioration but do not halt or reverse the process. Despite the efforts of the early detection and treatment of the disease, currently, approximately 15% of all glaucoma patients in the EU still become bilaterally blind.

Our European MARIE SKŁODOWSKA-CURIE Doctoral Network (DN) EGRET-AAA (‘European Glaucoma REsearch Training program for Accelerating the Approach to Advanced Glaucoma‘) will focus specifically on finding solutions for those patients suffering from advanced glaucoma. We aim to bring revolutionary therapies for protecting and restoring vision in patients with advanced glaucoma a significant step closer to clinical deployment.

LATEST NEWS

OUR NETWORK

OUR MISSION

We want to bring revolutionary therapies for protecting and restoring vision in patients with advanced glaucoma a significant step closer to clinical deployment.

OUR PROJECTS

Joint-doctorates can work on 15 project available in academia, at medical institutes and high-tech companies in the Netherlands, Germany, France and Norway

OUR TRAINING

We offer our joint-doctorates a 3-years multidisciplinary PhD training consisting of several secondments and high-level training courses and workshops throughout Europe

OUR CONSORTIUM

EGRET-AAA consists of 24 members amongst which world-class experts in ophthalmology, ophthalmogenetics, molecular biology, visual neuroscience, and technology

MEET THE CONSORTIUM 

OPEN PHD POSITIONS

BENEFICIARIES

ASSOCIATED RESEARCH PARTNERS

RECRUITMENT 

APPLY NOW

Are you, like us, fascinated by the complex genetics, molecular mechanisms, and pathobiology of the visual system, by retinal physiology or clinical research with advanced techniques for retinal imaging and function testing, or by visual neuroscience and brain-imaging? Do you consider it important to help patients with advanced glaucoma? Do you have an inquisitive mind, and are you looking for a PhD position embedded in an international doctoral network in which you can develop your research, clinical, and entrepreneurial skills? Then consider applying within EGRET-AAA for one of our 15 3-year Joint-Doctorate positions in academia, medical institutes, and high-tech companies.

Please read the information on the recruitment requirements and procedures on the right very carefully. 

Application deadline: February 28th, 2023 11:59 PM

We invite both EU and non-EU citizens to apply.

 

AM I QUALIFIED?

You are qualified to apply for one of our projects if:

 

  • You have a deep interest in vision (complex genetics, molecular mechanisms, pathobiology of the visual system, retinal physiology, clinical research with advanced techniques for retinal imaging and function testing, visual neuroscience and brain imaging)
  • You are passionate about doing research and have or be willing to develop the skills to communicate this passion with other scientists and the general public.
  • You have relevant skills and experiences, and a strong interest in both theoretical and applied science.
  • You welcome the opportunity to conduct research abroad and to work within an international and multidisciplinary team.
  • You hold an MSc (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline (which can be, but is not limited to biology, biomedical engineering, genetics, medicine, neuroscience, (bio)physics).
  • Are an eligible candidate according to the eligibility conditions indicated below.

what are the eligibility criteria?

EGRET-AAA is supported by a MARIE SKŁODOWSKA-CURIE grant which requires transnational mobility.

Therefore, to be eligible for a PhD position, you cannot have resided or carried out your main activity in the country of the recruiting institution for more than 12 months during the previous 36 months at the time of appointment. Furthermore, we can only recruit researchers who are not already in the possession of a doctoral degree at the date of appointment. Please keep this in mind when applying.

what is the recruitment procedure?

The recruitment procedure consists of the following five stages:

Phase 1: Eligibility check + Evaluation of CV and ML 

After you have submitted the requested documents we will evaluate your application based on the EU eligibility criteria (see above). In case you pass this eligibility check, we will assess you on: (i) program and relevant research skills, (ii) current knowledge and expertise of the field, (iii) capacity and motivation to participate in high-level international and inter-sectoral research training program, (iv) creativity and the level of independence, (v) evidence of exceptional academic performance, (vi) expected impact of the EGRET-AAA research training on the candidate’s future career.

Phase 2: Essay-based assessment

In case you pass Phase 1 (i.e., you've been selected as one of the top-ranked candidates), you will be invited to write a 2-page (max) essay related to an EGRET-AAA project of your choice. As an indication, from experience we know that successful candidates in previous selection rounds spend about 2 days on writing and revising their essay. In order to submit the essay, you can simply reply to the e-mail with the invitation and include the essay as an attachment. The document will then be uploaded in Workable automatically​. ​

Phase 3: Remote interview

In case you pass Phase 2 (i.e., you've written a high quality essay), you will be invited for a remote interview with a local selection committee at the host of your preferred project.

Phase 4: Scientific Presentation

In case you pass Phase 3, you will be invited to give a scientific presentation on your precious research Work.

Phase 5: Final selection

Soon after scientific presentations, the final selection will be made.

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS

PhD projects will start between July and October 2023, with some flexibility to negotiate the exact starting date with the relevant supervisor. All recruiting partners honor EU and national employment laws about researcher recruitment and ensure that you will have the same rights, health, and safety standards as local researchers.

A selected doctoral candidate will be employed with a full time employment contract for three years. The contract includes salary, social security coverage, pension and taxation. The salary will comply with the Marie Curie-Skłodowska DN funding Scheme, local institutional regulations and country-specific rules. It may comprise several components (living, mobility, family, special needs, allowances) that, depending on the hosting country, may either be included in the gross salary or provided as separate allowances. The living allowance will be subject to a country correction coefficient, according to the hosting country. Also depending on the hosting country, specific tax rules and exemptions may apply. Therefore, the exact salary will depend on the candidate, their host and hosting country.

HOW DO I APPLY?

You can apply for one (or more) of the EGRET-AAA PhD positions on our project page on Workable before February 28th, 2023. In Workable, please:

  • paste a letter with a statement of your motivation for a specific project (1-2 pages);
  • submit a copy of your CV;
  • provide the contact details for 2 referees (name, work address, phone, email) through the application form; and
  • indicate your country of residence over the last three years. This is really important, without this information, we cannot accept your application.
  • indicate your preferred project, amongst multiple projects of interest (if applicable).