The iMED programme pushed the limits of PhD training at BRIC
On May 2nd BRIC hosted the ending symposium for the 2nd cohort of PhD fellows from the International Doctoral Program in Molecular Mechanisms of Disease (iMED). Since 2019, iMED enrolled 23 talented international PhD students in the field of molecular mechanisms of disease.
As the programme is ending, Head of Strategic Research Support Katrine Sonne-Hansen reflects on its impact on the institute:
“The co-funding provided by the MSCA COFUND programme, has enabled our institute to develop an innovative training programme that exposes our PhD fellows to interdisciplinary research and to foster international collaborations and mobility. We are proud to have received this European funding to boost research training excellence with fellows from across the globe."
While the programme has provided a framework for developing new training approaches, Sonne-Hansen also underlines that it is the dedication of the fellows that has made the programme a success:
“The unique backgrounds, expertise, and perspectives of the fellows have allowed us to push BRIC’s research forward, and have been a catalyst for community building and fostering collaborations that might not have been possible otherwise. We are very excited to see what new opportunities and innovations will emerge from their contributions to research excellence and innovation across Europe in the future!”
iMED Fellow Abbas Guven Akcay says of the programme:
“Being part of the iMED programme has been a challenging, rewarding, and unforgettable experience. Despite the pandemic striking shortly after our arrival, we adapted to a new way of life, with virtual meetings and online classes but despite these setbacks, we persevered, and I am proud of what we have accomplished as a group. I want to acknowledge the invaluable support that we have received throughout the programme. Our programme coordinators have gone above and beyond to ensure we had resources and guidance we needed to succeed, and our PhD supervisors have challenged us to think critically, pushed us to achieve our best, and supported us through the ups and downs of the research. I am proud to have been a part of the programme and while we (the fellows red.) may not remain as colleagues in the same field, I believe we have formed lifelong friendships and connections".
About iMED
From 2019-2023 the iMED programme enrolled 23 talented international PhD students in the field of molecular mechanisms of disease and offers a personalized research and training programme, seeking to empower each student to fully exploit their talent. The scheme was cofunded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement no 801481.
The VISION of iMED is that the next generation of researchers should possess abilities to perform and connect excellent science to exploitation and value for the surrounding society. Accordingly, our MISSION is to foster a cohort of excellent international fellows through a personalized research and training programme, ensuring that they exploit the full potential of their talents.