2021年11月22日，深圳市市长覃伟中、巴塞罗那市市长阿达·克劳通过视频会议的形式签署建立友好城市协议书，深圳和巴塞罗那从友好交流城市正式升级为友好城市。12月2日，深圳湾实验室与西班牙巴塞罗那IDIBELL研究所举行联合培养博士项目云签约仪式暨双边论坛。双方在项目合作、学生培养等方面开展广泛深入的合作交换意见，希望在双方共同努力下，培养一批具有国际视野的创新型高层次人才。经与IDIBELL研究所友好协商，现启动2022年博士联培项目招生工作。欢迎优秀学子踊跃申请!
SZBL and IDIBELL launch their joint PhD Exchange Program call for 2022, with the aim of fostering collaboration in research between both institutions in the field of Regenerative Medicine and providing exceptional training in the field for graduated students by promoting mobility and allowing interaction with outstanding researchers.
Shenzhen Bay Laboratory (SZBL) is a newly established Guangdong Provincial Laboratory, jointly launched by the City of Shenzhen and Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, in China, that aspires to be a hub for world-class research at the forefront of science and innovation, spurring novel solutions to the grand issues challenging mankind.
Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) is a non-profit foundation located in Barcelona, Spain, dedicated to developing applied research of excellence, which integrates knowledge and innovation in health, contributing to improvement of the quality of life of people.
01
THE PROGRAM
The program will provide an outstanding teaching and research program and a multidisciplinary and international environment for 5-10 highly motivated and talented students every year, either BSc or MSc to do a PhD.
The PhD program will have a maximum duration of 4 years in the case of candidates holding an MSc degree or equivalent, and 5 years for candidates holding a BSc degree or equivalent. Before the end of the program, students will have to undergo their PhD thesis defense.
Students will join a research project and will receive a custom research and training program, based on their background and study level. Their training and education will be complemented with access to state-of-the-art infrastructures, specialized seminars and training courses, and career development coaching.
The research will be performed mainly in SZBL but will include a stage of a minimum of 6 months in one of the partner laboratories in IDIBELL facilities in Barcelona during their participation in the program. Enrolled students shall follow the requirements, regulations and internal policies of the host group and institution at every moment.
SZBL will provide PhD students with a scholarship for up to 4 years, during which for the study in Barcelona, SZBL will provide scholarships in accordance with the standard for postgraduate students at the partner universities. During the study in SZBL, the scholarship will be granted in accordance with the relevant regulations of the SZBL. During their stay at IDIBELL, PhD students will receive a mobility complement to cover living costs in Barcelona.
During their enrollment in the program, students will have dual affiliation to SZBL and IDIBELL and will be supervised and coached by 2 experts, one from each institution.
02
RESEARCH PROJECTS
One position is available for each of the following research projects:
Project 1.Investigating drug cardiotoxicity in human iPSC-derived myocardial equivalents. Supervisors: Joe Z Zhang (SZBL) and Angel Raya (IDIBELL).
Project 2.Mechanistic study of Lamin A protein regulated chromatin accessibility in cell reprogramming. Supervisors: Qin Peng (SZBL) and Carolina Florian (IDIBELL).
Project 3.Elucidating the secretome and exosome of liver and intestinal organoids to understand the liver-gut axis. Supervisors: Gang Li (SZBL) and Jordi Guiu (IDIBELL).
Project 4.Identification and characterization of alternative polyadenylation quantitative trait loci associated with Alzheimer's Disease at the single-cell level. Supervisors: Lei Li (SZBL) and Mireya Plass (IDIBELL).
Project 5.Develop enabling genome engineering technologies for stem cell biology and precision regenerative medicine. Supervisors: Zhuobin Liang (SZBL), Alessandra Giorgetti (IDIBELL), and Anna Veiga (IDIBELL).
Project 6.Measuring forces employed by epithelial protrusions in live embryos. Supervisors: Artem Efremov (SZBL) and Esteban Hoijman (IDIBELL).
Pursuant to obtaining their PhD degree, at the start of the Program, the students will enroll in the University Doctorate Program of their choice. The default Doctorate Program for this Joint SZBL-IDIBELL PhD Exchange Program is the Doctorate Program in Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona. In any case, students shall follow the requirements of the University of their choice for the PhD consecution.
Participants are expected to participate in internal training and seminars and at the end of the stay in IDIBELL, students must give a seminar open to all IDIBELL community.
03
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
At the time of starting the program, candidates should fulfill the following eligibility criteria:
• English level. Applicants are required to have a good command of the English language. Oral interviews will be performed to ensure adequate fluency in English. It will be a plus if applicants can provide English test results in the application form (optional).
• University Degree and a Master’s degree in biomedical sciences or related or an equivalent University Degree (minimum 300 ECTS) that allows to start a PhD thesis in Barcelona
• An excellent academic record, previous research experience and a strong commitment for scientific research.
04
APPLICATION PROCESS
We are looking for high talented students holding a BSc or MSc degree in biomedical sciences or related to enroll the first call of the program.
1) Application timeline
Timeline for the first call
2) Pre-application
Applicants are welcome to communicate informally with the intended supervisor(s) in advance before submitting application materials.
3) Submission requirements
i. Please save the application materials as PDF files separately, save them in a compressed file following the order specified in the application materials section below.
ii. The email subject: "Applicant’s Name" + "Project No." + "Name of Intended Supervisor from SZBL&IDIBELL" (Example: John Smith + Project 1 + Lei Li & Jane Doe). Please write an email to your supervisors’ email addresses and cc to the following two email addresses: scientificdirection@idibell.cat and admission@szbl.ac.cn.
N.B.,
The application will not be accepted if the application email was not cc-ed to the designated emails or the format of the email subject failed to meet the requirements.
iii. All application materials shall be stated in English
4）Application materials
i. Application Form for Joint SZBL-IDIBELL PhD Exchange Program (see attachment)
ii. Resume (CV)
iii. Personal Statement (see attachment)
iv. Two Letters of Reference
v. Scanned copy of English test scores (if applicable)
vi. Scanned copy of transcripts (with the university/school’s official stamp and attached with transcript information at the end of page). For undergraduates, please provide transcripts of all your undergraduate studies. For graduates, please provide transcripts of your undergraduate and graduate studies.
vii. Scanned copy of ID (Applicants from the Chinese Mainland: ID card, applicants from Hong Kong and Macao:
Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents or passport, Taiwan applicants: “Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents”/Passport, Spanish applicants: ID card, others: passport)
viii. Scanned copy of the highest degree
N.B.,
For degrees awarded by higher education institutions in the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, the applicants should also submit Online Verification Report of Student Record (Current Students) and Online Verification Report of HE Qualification Certificate (Graduate Students). Website:http://www.chs i.com.cn/
ix. Scanned copies of other application materials as proof for qualifications, such as graduation project, published paper, publications, patent, certificate of honor, professional qualification certificates etc.
N.B.,
1. All application materials shall be submitted at once and supplementary submission is NOT accepted.
2. All supporting documents such as record of formal schooling, academic degree, transcripts, language qualification certificate, reference letters, etc. must be guaranteed to be authentic, and consequences of any falsehoods are at your own risk.
3. Fresh graduates must submit a scanned copy of certificate of studies. And they must obtain their degree and graduation certificate before enrollment of this program, otherwise they will not be eligible for admission.
05
SUPERVISORS
Shenzhen Bay Laboratory: https://www.szbl.ac.cn/scientificresearch/researchteam/
Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute: https://idibell.cat/en/research/ or https://idibell.cat/en/research/area-medicina-regenerativa-english/regenerative-medicine-program/
06
ATTACHMENTS
Application Form for Joint SZBL-IDIBELL PhD Exchange Program.docx
07
CONTACT INFORMATION
For any additional information or questions, please contact scientificdirection@idibell.cat or admission@szbl.ac.cn.