Doctoral Programme
The International Neuroscience Doctoral Programme (INDP) is a PhD programme in neuroscience that includes one year of intensive training to provide a broad foundation for innovative interdisciplinary work in basic or applied neuroscience, especially in the areas of neural systems underlying behaviour.
Research
The INDP is organised by a new international neuroscience research programme, the Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme (CNP), currently based at the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC).
A wide range of opportunities for doctoral research are available in research groups associated with the CNP (currently 10 groups and growing). The CNP has a focus on understanding the neural circuits underlying brain functions and behaviour. Research topics include sensory and motor systems, reward and metabolism, plasticity and learning, cognitive functions, social behavior, development and computational neuroscience. The groups employ a wide range of modern techniques, especially in vivo approaches, including electrophysiology, multi-photon microscopy and molecular biology and genetics. Animal models include rodents, flies and fish.
To assist choosing a lab, students perform lab rotations. During a rotation, students are fully integrated in the laboratory, enabling them to get to know group members and nature of the work up close.
Students of Portuguese nationality who are admitted to the programme are eligible to conduct their research not only with CNP groups but also in laboratories throughout the world, through support from the FCT. There are no restrictions on the location of the thesis lab, but laboratory selection is undertaken with guidance from the programme. Projects that involve collaborations between an international laboratory and a CNP group are actively encouraged. Students from the 2007 class are currently working in labs in the US (5), England (1), Austria (1), Spain (1) and Portugal CNP-IGC (2).
Life in Lisbon
Each entering class of comprises around ten students. Students generally live nearby the IGC in Oeiras or Lisbon and form a strong community during the first year. Projects are frequently conducted in small groups or all together and teamwork is strongly encouraged. Students co-organise a weekly event series in which they curate filmed and live presentations of diverse topics of general interest. Students are paired with individual faculty members who serve as academic mentors. During the summer, students research and write a thesis proposal and select a laboratory, guided by the programme directors and the academic mentor.
In addition to course work, first year students participate in a wide range of institute activities. Weekly institute seminar series bring lecturers from diverse fields of biology. Students also participate in retreats with other IGC doctoral students and INDP groups. The IGC is a dynamic international research environment hosting 200 scientists and PhD students in diverse fields of biology and biomedicine and representing over 25 different countries.
The IGC is located in Oeiras, Portugal, near the junction of the Tejo river and the Atlantic ocean just west of the capital of Lisbon. The IGC is conveniently located nearby the rail station (20 min train ride to Lisbon, €1.25 one-way) and to the beach (10 minutes walking).
Lisbon is an ancient and romantic city steeped in history, but infused by dynamic artistic, cultural and street life. Southern Portugal has a sunny and warm Mediterranean climate tempered by the proximity to the waves of the Atlantic. A reasonable cost of living and convenient transportation system make the city accessible to students. English is the official language of the institute and knowledge of Portuguese is not required. English is also very widely spoken in Portugal and is not required for getting around, but classes are available at the institute for those wishing to learn..
Applications
Applications open once a year in December.
For comprehensive information on the INDP please read here.
