PhD program
The Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials offers excellent opportunities for PhD students. The duration of a PhD program is nominally four years. Entrance requirements include a MSc in an appropriate field (Physics, Chemistry, Nanoscience or other closely related (sub)disciplines). In the Dutch university system, a PhD student receives a salary or, most frequently, a grant. You may find a suitable PhD projects within our job opportunities.
The main part of an individual PhD program is an individual research project. This research project is normally a part of the ongoing research program of one of Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials's research groups; this guarantees the student access to world-class researchers and equipment.
Graduate School of Science
While the Institute keeps track of the scientific part of your PhD, the Graduate School of Science manages the formal part. This means, they provides all formal information for becoming a PhD student and also everything you need to know once you are admitted (see below).
For enrolled PhD students, the Graduate School of Science provides all information around the PhD program in the password protected myuniversity portal. This includes information on finalizing the thesis, courses for PhD students, reimbursement of thesis printing costs and much more.
The Graduate School of Science provides all information regarding the rules and regulations around PhD programs. This includes information on the admission requirements, funding schemes, but also general information about living and working in the Netherlands.
University of Groningen PhD Scholarship Programme
The Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials participates in the University of Groningen PhD Scholarship Programme. The Programme includes that the PhD candidate has to write his or her own research proposal. The programme must adequately prepare the students for their future working practice, and participants are recognized as students and not employees. More information on the PhD Scholarship Programme, its conditions and how to apply can be found here. Plese note, that the positions within the Zernike Institute are limited and may be filled already.
Personal support during your PhD
Your PhD time is exciting, but it requires some consideration to balance learning, teaching, performing research, writing, supervision / being supervised and personal life. If you feel like you need support or advice during your PhD, you can find a helpful guide here.
Other activities within the PhD program
Complementary to the hands-on training at the Zernike Institute, we organize seminars in a broad range of topics. These seminars, often held by excellent scientists from all over the world, show science in all its facettes and help broadening and deepening the scientific expertise of our students (and staff). Above that, the Graduate School offers a range of courses (e.g. a presentation training, scientific writing, language courses, teaching for PhD students, entrepreneurship and much more) to train the PhD students in a general way. The Graduate School also provides a dedicated personal budget to every PhD student, which can be used to attend an international conference or summer school. Also, for some time, students will contribute to the teaching program of the faculty.
Last, but not least, the Zernike Institute also tries to combine fun and fundamental research. One of the most popular events in this respect, is the bi-annual scientific meeting of all research staff on the lovely island of Vlieland. During a three day stay, the entire field of materials science is presented, mainly by our junior staff, thus PhD students and PostDocs. The meeting provides excellent access to experts outside one's own field in an informal setting (as you can see on the right side of the collage), and has resulted in many interesting co-operative efforts.
With our PhD program, we aim to provide all our PhD students a comprehensive training such that they can become independent, high level scientist. Are you interested or do you have more questions? Then, do not hesitate to contact the PhD coordinator of the Zernike Institute.