The goal of the ISTA PhD program is to produce intellectually broad, curious, open-minded scientists who are able to approach problems from different angles and can collaborate with diverse types of scientists. The set-up makes it easy to explore new fields and collaborate across the different scientific disciplines, allowing students to shape their own research direction.

To this end, our students complete an unique interdisciplinary training program consisting of both research and taught elements, and receive close mentoring by world-class faculty from different disciplines.

Students do not start as part of a research group, but instead as unaffiliated. Lab rotations allow students to make an informed decision about the research group they are joining, and the research direction they want to take. Affiliation (joining a research group) takes place only after students have completed three rotations in three different research groups (1st year).

Course work consists of shared, interdisciplinary components (core components) and a field specific, in-depth training that the each student builds flexibly based on their needs and curiosity.

After defending their thesis proposal and passing their qualifying examination (2nd year), students will work on their thesis research, attend international conferences and colloquia, and receive training in teaching and other transferable skills.

Research groups are deliberately kept small to ensure close supervision. All students are mentored by several faculty members who make up their thesis committee.

Students typically complete their studies in 4.5–6 years. Students who are working in theoretical groups typically are faster than students working in experimental groups (upper bound).

All students receive 5-year employment contracts. Students can finish their program earlier – in 4 or 4.5 years – or ask for a year-long contract extension, depending on the nature of the research. All students making reasonable progress are fully funded until the time of their thesis defense.

A rotation is a period of roughly two months in which students works on a mini-project in a research group. AT ISTA we want students to make an informed decision of which research group they want to join. The lab rotations are a means to accomplish that milestone.

The ultimate goal of the rotations is to find an academic home (affiliation). At the same time is an excellent opportunity for students to explore new areas within and outside their field of expertise, as well as to learn to think across disciplines and build up cross-disciplinary skill sets.

At ISTA students use the lab rotations in manifold ways: (1) to find their academic home (affiliation). A rotation allows students to experience and try out the research conducted in the group, get to know the supervision style and the group culture; (2) to acquire new skill sets that they need for their PhD project (3) making new connections and establish collaborations within their field; (4) to dip into a new field outside of their immediate area of expertise (out-of-field rotation).

Get an idea how current students have approached the rotations by checking out their profiles in the student stories section.

The interdisciplinary core courses (Core Project and Track Core course) are designed to encourage the exchange of knowledge between students from highly diverse backgrounds and promote the conditions which allow for interdisciplinary research. In both the core project and the track core courses students are working on a broad range of topics, are encouraged to think beyond the boundaries of their primary research focus, and acquire the tools for interdisciplinary scientific communication.

The courses also fulfill a community-building function in terms of fostering exchange between students from different disciplinary backgrounds.

Elective course are typically specialized, advanced courses. In these students receive in-depth training related to their research field (12-24 ECTS credits). Students flexibly build their own curriculum based on the research focus and curiosity. Students are free to choose courses from any track. Where needed, ISTA supports exploring course and training options elsewhere. For further details of our course offerings, see our list of courses.

The Core Project is the ISTA signature course designed to foster competency in interdisciplinary scientific communication through tailored, hands-on sessions. The course is rooted in collaborative learning. It conveys best practices on how to fruitfully exchange about research with peers of different scientific backgrounds. Students practice how to overcome domain/field-specific jargon and how to convey feedback effectively.

Students widen and deepen the conceptual understanding of their scientific field by practicing in small, moderated groups. They develop proficiency in communicating overarching concepts and ideas and draw value from different views and methodologies.

The course allows students to connect with their peers from vastly different scientific backgrounds. This network can serve as the foundation of potential future research collaborations.

Affiliation is the point when the student joins a research group (at the end of the 1st year). It is important that the student’s research interests match those of their PhD supervisor and the group within which they will conduct their research. To facilitate this, students perform at least three lab rotations with three different research groups. A rotation is a period of roughly two months in which students perform research in a laboratory on a research project.

It is on the basis of this experience that students find the research group they can affiliate with: where the research focus of the student and the group are in concert, and where the group leader wishes the student to join their group to continue working on future projects. Some research projects span groups and disciplines. ISTA student have been instrumental in establishing new, cross-group collaborations. These students can be co-supervised by two professors, should the project require it.

After agreeing on joining a group, students start shaping their thesis proposal together with their supervisor(s). The research project can follow the establish research direction of the group, but may also establish new cross-group collaborations.

In the 2^nd year ISTA students present to and defend their thesis proposal in front of a thesis committee (qualifying exam). The qualifying exam is a first step of every student on the road of becoming an independent scientist.

The qualifying exam takes the form of a presentation and oral exam. The exam tests the students’ background on their proposed research areas, ability to identify important research problems, and their capability to come up with ways to tackle these problems.

Students must pass the qualifying exam to continue on the PhD program and perform thesis research.

Upon passing the qualifying exam, students conduct thesis research within a research group.

The thesis committee accompanies the students throughout their research phase, advises and supports them in their scientific journey up to the thesis defense. The committee monitors the students’ progress in the biannual reviews which evaluate the students’ progress, and ensure that they stay on track towards completion of the PhD.

Students are also strongly encouraged to present their results at scientific conferences and, annually, present their research within the Institute.

The thesis defense then consists of a public oral presentation of the draft thesis in the presence of the thesis committee, followed by questions and answers on the thesis.