BioToP offers an inter- and multi-disciplinary research-based doctoral education at the interface of basic and applied science in the field of protein biotechnology.

BioToP provides comprehensive and thorough up-to-date research training in the fields of

• structure-function analysis, engineering and design of proteins,
• protein synthesis, targeting and post-translational modifications
• expression systems and cell factories
• bioinformatics and molecular modelling

Integration of this complementary expertise into a network will foster a translational approach, involving both basic and applied research, with the ultimate goal of rational improvement of industrially relevant protein expression systems for their use in biotechnological processes.

APPLICATION
Highly qualified applicants from all over the world are invited to apply for the PhD Programme "Biomolecular Technology of Proteins (BioToP)". Information about entry conditions to Austria can be found at the homepages of Euraxess Austria and the Austrian Agency for International Cooperation in Education and Research.

Application guidelines:

• BioToP is a PhD Programme of BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna. Information about the general admission of foreign students to doctoral programmes of BOKU can be downloaded here.
• Applicants must hold a undergraduate degree equivalent to a master which would qualify them to start a PhD thesis in their home country. Candidates who have not yet obtained their degree will be accepted if they will finish their studies latest by February 28th, 2011. Applicants with only a bachelor degree (B.S.) or similar are not eligible.
• PhD students applying for a wet-lab research project must have a master degree in biological sciences, biotechnology, chemistry, medicine or closely related subjects. The corresponding curriculum and the diploma or master thesis have to include experimental investigations in one of these fields.
• PhD students applying for a dry-lab research project must have a master degree in a technical or scientific discipline. The corresponding curriculum and the diploma or master thesis have to bear evidence of modelling or data analysis work.
• Applicants must be fluent in written and spoken English.
• Students who have started their PhD thesis in one of the participating laboratories more than 6 months before the call for applications are not entitled to apply for BioToP positions or join BioToP as external students.

How to apply:

1. Choose Projects
   
   When filling in the Application Form you will be asked to state your preferences for three open research projects of BioToP. For detailed description of available projects see PROJECTS.
   


2. Complete the Application Form and send it toghether with all enclosures by e-mail to biotop(at)boku.ac.at.
   
   Enclosures:   Copy of your diploma or masters certificate (if already available)
                         Copy of your certificates obtained for coursework including grades (transcript of records)
                         Copy of your passport
   
   Please send all enclosures as a single pdf file (≤10 MB)!
   
   Please note: Documents in languages other than German or English must be submitted as English translations.
   
   Only fully completed application forms will be considered. Other forms of application will not be accepted.
   
   Download Application Form
   
   
3. Letters of recommendation are requested from two scientists. Applicants must forward the Evaluation Form to the referees and ask them to send the completed form directly to the BioToP PhD Programme office by e-mail (biotop(at)boku.ac.at). Please note: It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the referees send the form within the application deadline.
   
   Download Evaluation Form
   

Deadline: The deadline for receipt of completed Application and Evaluation Forms including all enclosures is September, 30th 2010

Selection: All applications will be pre-screened by the BioToP faculty for formal requirements and completeness of the application form. The short-listed candidates will receive invitations to visit our laboratories at the BOKU VIBT in Vienna for a 3-4 day period for interviews and information exchange at the end of November 2010. Justifiable travel expenses will be reimbursed and free accomodation will be provided. Offers of admission will be made to the successful candidates at the end of the interview period.

Financial Support PhD students admitted to the BioToP PhD programme will have a regular employment with full social security coverage at the BOKU. Students will receive funding according to the salary scheme of the Austrian Science Fund (net annual income after deduction of tax and social insurance approx. € 19.000,--). The salary is guaranteed for the proposed 3-year duration of the thesis work. Furthermore students will receive financial support for participations at International Conferences and for research stays abroad in collaborating international institutions.

Tuition Fees Tuition Fees amount to

• approx. € 20,-- per semester for students from EU/EEA countries and Switzerland
• approx. € 400,-- per semester for any other students including stateless students and students with unclear nationality status

Link: http://biotop.boku.ac.at