The Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials PhD Programme

The Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials offers excellent opportunities for PhD students. The duration of a PhD programme is nominally four years. Entrance requirements include a MSc  in an appropriate field. In the Dutch university system, a PhD student receives a salary or, most frequently, a grant. For information on PhD job openings, see under vacancies.

The main part of an individual PhD programme is an individual research project. This research project is normally a part of the ongoing research programme of one of Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials's research groups; this guarantees the student access to world-class researchers and equipment.

Some of the time is spent on attending courses. In addition to courses for broadening and deepening the scientific expertise of the student, courses are offered to improve the student's presentation skills, both written and orally. Also, for some time, students will contribute to the teaching programme of the faculty.

The Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials organizes a bi-annual scientific meeting of all research staff on the lovely island of Vlieland. The entire field of materials science is represented here. The meeting provides excellent access to experts outside one's own field, and has resulted in many interesting co-operative efforts. ( A list of past Vlieland meetings is available.)

An annual meeting is organized on another island, Ameland, by materials scientists of the Universities of Groningen, Nijmegen and Twente. At this meeting, presentations on a changing topic are given by leading researchers. (A list of past Ameland meetings is available.)

The Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials keeps track of the progress of its PhD students, through the annual progress reviews held by the students and their supervisors. A PhD student can also consult the Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials PhD co-ordinator in confidence for problems that cannot be resolved through other channels.

 

The PhD students at the University of Groningen have an association, GRASP,  that guards their interests. All PhD students are urged to join GRASP.