YEAR 1 - PhD Project

The PhD project should start within 6 months after being accepted to the program. Depending on the affiliation of the group you work in, you will be immatriculated at either the ETH or the University of Zurich - two leading universities in the field of life sciences.

During the first six months of your PhD studies, you should complete a thesis layout and work plan for your PhD project.

You will have regular meetings with your supervisors and group seminars. In addition, yearly "thesis committee meetings" will be installed. These meetings are intended to give you yearly feedback in a more formal way and help you plan further your PhD project. The thesis committe consists of your supervisor(s) and one or two other principal investigators of the program.

YEAR 1 - Courses

Intensive course in structural biology, biophysics and biochemistry. This three-day course is organised and held by the principal investigators of the PhD program. It takes place once a year and is compulsory for all first-year students. It is an effective introduction into the various fields offered in this program. It should bring all students to an equal level and give them the necessary theoretical background for a good project start.

Skills. Two courses on scientific writing and ethics in science round off the first-year education program. These two courses cover important additional skills for a successful scientific career.

YEAR 1 - Retreats

There will be no retreat for first-year students.

YEAR 2 - PhD Project

You should have the necessary methodology developed and after having obtained some preliminary results progress into the specific research topic of your project.

You will probably present your results at a group seminar and might even have sufficient results for a first publication.

The thesis committe meeting will be held for the second time.

YEAR 2 - Courses

You will have the possibilty to choose from a variety of advanced courses offered by the ETH and the University of Zurich in the fields of biochemistry, structural biology, biophysics and computational biology.

There will be the possibility to take selected courses of other PhD Programs or external courses, including the NCCR training events.

You will plan your course program together with your supervisor. By the end of your PhD project, you must have collected a minimum of 12 ECTS credit points.

YEAR 2 - Retreat

Once a year, we organize a retreat of all students (second-year and later) of the PhD Programs affiliated to the Zürich Life Science Graduate School. In 2009, the event was held in Filzbach.

If you attend, a poster presentation of your work is compulsory. Some students are selected to give oral presentations.

A few talks are given by invited guest speakers.

The retreats are organized by the students themselves, which is a good opportunity to train organizational skills.

YEAR 3 (and 4) - PhD Project

You will complete your PhD Project and compile your thesis. You will be able to use the publications you brought out during your project as an integral part of your thesis. You should have a minimum of two to three publications out or in preparation at this stage.

In order to plan your next career steps and meet some people, it will be particulary important to attend some international conferences now. You will also present your results at an institute seminar.

The thesis committe meeting will be held for the last time.

You will complete your project with the thesis defence, which includes an oral presentation and examination.

YEAR 3 (and 4) - Courses

You will have the possibilty to choose from a variety of advanced courses offered by the ETH and the University of Zurich in the fields of biochemistry, structural biology, biophysics and computational biology.

There will be the possibility to take selected courses of other PhD Programs or external courses.

You will plan your course program together with your supervisor. By the end of your PhD project, you must have collected a minimum of 12 ECTS credit points.

YEAR 3 (and 4) - Retreat

Once a year, there is a retreat of all students (second-year and later) of the PhD Programs affiliated to the Zürich Life Science Graduate School. In 2009, the event was held in Filzbach.

If you attend, a poster presentation of your work is compulsory. Some students are selected to give oral presentations.

A few talks are given by invited guest speakers.

The retreats are organized by the students themselves, which is a good opportunity to train organizational skills.