The Programme has been structured to reflect the expertise of some of the leading groups at the affiliate institutions and offers excellent training opportunities for research on ageing, development and chronic inflammatory diseases.

The Programme aims at attracting highly motivated students who wish to pursue a PhD degree in these scientific areas.

The Programme is anchored on the PhD courses of the participating institutions and offers specially designed and individually tailored courses in the areas of ageing and degenerative diseases.

The major hallmarks of this programme are the high degree of inter-institutional collaboration and the mobility of the students and faculty between the three affiliated universities.

The Programme comprises two components: a first year consisting on laboratory rotations and courses on core subjects and on optional areas of specialization. The training period is followed by a three-year period for development of a research project in the scientific areas of the programme.

In the first year of the Programme, students are required to attend a series of courses in core and specialization areas. These courses are designed to provide students with  solid training foundations required for a broad range of research themes, as well as to expose students to a variety of different specialization areas within the scope of the programme. As part of its strategy of internationalization, the Advanced Courses and seminars of the doctoral programme are taught by leading Portuguese and foreign scientists in the specialization areas of the course. Students have also the possibility of carrying out part of their research activities in international laboratories.

A short description of the different courses can be found here.

In addition to the training courses, students are also required to attend three laboratory rotations in leading groups at the affiliated institutions, during the first year of the programme. The purpose of the laboratory rotations is to provide students with the opportunity to experience different laboratory environments and different experimental approaches, helping students to make an informed decision when selecting a laboratory in which to develop their research work.

Examples of available laboratory rotations can be found here.

In order to complete a Doctoral Degree under this programme, students will need to present and carry out an original research project. Each student will be assigned one advisor from one of the participating institutions and a co-supervision by tutors from different institutions is encouraged.

The 15 students selected to the Programme will have to register in one of the following doctoral programmes (5 students in each programme):

Doctoral Programme in Health Sciences
Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra

Doctoral Programme
Faculty of Medical Sciences of the New University of Lisbon

Doctoral Programme in Health Sciences
Health Sciences School of the University of Minho

For admission requirements and selection criteria, click here.

The Programme is managed by a Board of Directors from the three participating institutions.

Board of Directors:

Catarina Oliveira
(Coordinator, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra)

Joana Palha
(School of Health Sciences at the University of Minho)

Duarte Barral
(Faculty of Medical Sciences of the New University of Lisbon)

Henrique Girão
(Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra)

The Programme also relies on an External Advisory Board, composed of internationally recognized experts, that ensures the highest possible standards in education and scientific excellence of the Programme.

Equal opportunity statement: The Inter-University Doctoral Programme in Ageing and Degeneration of Complex Biological Systems practices an affirmative action and equal opportunity policy. We value diversity and we have a strong policy against discrimination at work of any kind.