Detailed Description of the PhD Application and Selection Procedure

Step 1: Eligibility, Written Application, Evaluation:

• Candidates must hold or anticipate a Master’s degree (or equivalent) and have relevant research experience. Applicants with a degree equivalent to Master’s degree can only apply if they hold a 4 years Bachelor (BA or BSc) with First Class Honours and 240 ECTS in a Life Sciences related subject and have extensive research experience.
• Applications have to be submitted via MS FORMS.
• Referees will be contacted via email and asked to send their confidential reference via MS FORMS until the end of the deadline.
• All CoE KRs constitute the review panel. Applications are reviewed by 3 KRs, who score candidates (1-5) based on qualifications, research experience, motivation, intellectual engagement, and creativity. Only candidates with an average score of at least 3 proceed to the next step (the top 20% of applicants).

Step 2: Panel Interviews

• Shortlisted candidates participate in a structured online interview with a panel of 3 researchers (including the first choice KR of the candidate and including at least one female KR).
• The interview includes: (i) a 10-min chalk talk on their research experience, (ii) a 10-min presentation of an assigned neuroscience paper (given a priori to the candidate by the Scientific Steering Committee), and (iii) a 10-min discussion of future research interests and career goals.
• Candidates are graded independently by each panellist (1-5), who assess the candidates based on how curious, creative, productive, ambitious, team-oriented, and rigorous they are as scientists. The top-ranking candidates (scoring at least 3, top 40 %) will enter the matching phase.

Step 3: Matching week:

• Over the course of three days, candidates will meet online with their three selected KRs and their respective lab members to explore potential matches.
• Students and KRs submit mutual preferences, and only those who find a match are admitted to the Excellent Brain PhD Program.
• Following the admission students will be affiliated with the host institute’s Doctoral Program and a contract will be issued. (For more information on the Doctoral Programs of each participating Institution please see here.)

• The starting date should be not later than 31.10.2025.