MaNEP e-Newsletter for members - Published monthly             Issue Nr. 12 -December 2006 / page 4

Free Column
MaNEP Doctoral School in gestation at the DPMC-UniGE
by Dr Christophe Berthod
The training of new researchers is one important mission of the NCCR MaNEP.

Accordingly, MaNEP has been continuously supporting in several different and complementary ways the training of young scientists in its specific domains of activity through meetings and special actions : Les Diablerets meeting, Saas Fee summer school, and the Advancement of Women programme.

In the course of 2007, the establishment of a Doctoral School in Geneva is scheduled, with the concern of continuing and developing this action.

Promote horizontal communication

Its main goals will be to improve the training of PHD candidates in the first two years of their thesis, to develop a more stimulating working environment by promoting horizontal communication among PhD students, and to contribute to the international reputation of MaNEP by attracting more foreign students in Switzerland.

To begin with, the MaNEP Doctoral School will be launched at the NCCR host institution, namely in the Condensed Matter Division (DPMC) of the Geneva University.

 This stage should allow to set up the basic rules and experiment new ideas, while ensuring a smooth transition for students and thesis supervisors.



In a later step, the possibility of extending the concept to other groups in the network will be scrutinized, by trying to find the common denominator between the Doctoral School directives and the various regulations of the Swiss universities.

Diversify the skills of PhD students

Besides a high-level teaching in basic condensed-matter physics and specialized courses from various sources (3ème Cycle de la Physique en Suisse Romande, summer schools), the Doctoral School also intends to stimulate the transfer of knowledge within the NCCR from the more advanced to the new generation of physicists. To this end, short modules on

highly focussed scientific questions will be organized in response to explicit requests by the students. In a rapidly evolving world, it is also important to diversify the skills of PhD students by dispensing lessons on topics related to, e.g., technology transfer and patents, scientific and public communication, modern computer tools, etc.The MaNEP network will of course be of great value in finding qualified teachers for these various short courses.

At present the MaNEP Doctoral School is still in the state of concept. The implication of everybody in the NCCR is therefore desirable at this point, in order to help building up a tool which will meet the expectations of all MaNEP members. Any concern, comment, criticism, and idea is therefore warmly welcome.

Keeping in mind that the excellence of our PhD's is a major component of MaNEP's future, we hope that this project will encounter a favorable echo and stimulate fruitful discussions in the various groups.

We need your inputs !
Please share your ideas, suggestions and wishes about the future MaNEP Doctoral School !
You can do so either by e-mailing Dr Berthod or by sharing your views on the MaNEP Discussion-group.
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The project manager



Dr Christophe Berthod, UniGE
Are you also willing to share your views, feedbacks and / or recent scientific results ? Contact the editor !