INNOCHEMBIO (Innovative Chemistry and Biotechnology for a Sustainable Future) is an MSCA COFUND Doctoral Programme dedicated to advancing research in the field of chemistry and biotechnology.
The main objective of INNOCHEMBIO is to train future experts to help Europe take the next steps in the green transition. The solutions and trained experts can reduce the environmental impact of the chemical and agricultural industries, offer eco-friendly analytical techniques, and assess the safety of new materials. This will be achieved through interdisciplinary research projects in an international research environment, collaboration with the industry, the public sector and the civil society, via a comprehensive quadruple-helix based training programme. INNOCHEMBIO is an international consortium led by TalTech, with over 100 years of experience in chemistry and biotechnology research and training. INNOCHEMBIO will achieve its objectives by recruiting 15 PhD candidates in up to two calls offering fellowships for 48 months. During this period, the candidates will receive discipline specific training both in Estonia and abroad by working on their research project; broader training through courses offered at TalTech and by our partners; and experience working in the private sector.
The recruitment process of INNOCHEMBIO is a two stage selection process. After eligibility check, all eligible applicants will move forward to Stage 1 - pre-selection, where each application is evaluated by experts in the field. Five best applicants from Stage 1 move to Stage 2, where secondary admission criteria are evaluated and an interview with the candidates is performed. After ranking the candidates, the best candidate for each 15 positions is offered a postition to join INNOCHEMBIO as a PhD student.
- Each research project will be supervised by two or three academic staff members, including one from associate partner. All doctoral candidates (DCs) will have a direct experience at a private company: at least 2-3 weeks internship at AS TFTAK, AIÖ Tech OÜ, Cambrex Tallinn AS or Icosagen AS if their project does not include a co-supervisor from the industry.
- The short-term mobility (secondments, conferences, etc.) is intended to enhance the efficiency and quality of doctoral studies, to create international and interdisciplinary networks and to develop different skills. The programme covers the daily allowance, accommodation, travel costs, and participation fee.
- Long term mobility is designed to enable the DC to spend 6-16 months at the lab of associate partner supervisor. The lenght of the long-term mobility will be decided together with the supervisors and the DC.
- Each doctoral candidate will be assigned a buddy, who will help to integrate into the university environment and system as well as to the daily life.
- Recruited candidates will be enrolled as PhD students and employed as Early-Stage Researchers with a 4-year full-time contract in TalTech or NICPB.
- Gross salary prior to employee tax deduction: €2,500. All taxes will be automatically deducted from the income before payment.
- Duration: 48 months
The study programme at TalTech is aimed at preparing highly qualified R&D specialists with strong scientific background, with critical thinking, oral and written communication skills, with a professional and ethical attitude in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment. Lecturers will be scientists with experience in academic teaching and experts from the private or public sector. The programme will be structured according to TalTech’s PhD programme and will in addition include compulsory courses/seminars for the INNOCHEMBIO doctoral candidates:
- Transferable skills module: DC can choose among different courses that provide knowledge beyond his/her specific scientific education, to build a fruitful career for the good of society using scientific approaches for solving complex real-world problems.
- Professional proficiency module: DC can choose among specialized subjects related to chemistry, cell and molecular biology, gene- and biotechnology. During the last year of studies, the DC must pass an oral examination on a specific textbook related to DC’s study field. This “Doctoral Qualifying Exam” is the only compulsory ECTS-based part of the curriculum. All other subjects can be chosen by the DC, guided by the supervisors, according to the Career Development Plan (CDP). The programme is flexible to accept courses from abroad (e.g. courses of other universities, EMBO, Coursera) if the general frame is respected. Each case is decided by the Head of PhD Studies who evaluates the level and syllabus of the courses.
- Research module: DC obtains skills and knowledge to present the results of his/her research at international scientific conferences and to various target groups in society. This module includes teaching and supervising experience and the doctoral thesis itself. DC writes and defends the thesis based on 3 peer-reviewed scientific articles published in ISI level journals.
Additional compulsory training will be part of the programme, including communication skills, leadership and team management skills, business strategies, diversity and inclusion principles, introductory ethics course and other principles (time management etc.).