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The PhD program at the Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri”
The International Graduate Program of the Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri" (IRFMN) is organized in collaboration with the Open University, UK (Milton Keynes, UK) which confers a PhD title recognized worldwide. The Program is part of the educational and training activities taking place in the two campuses of Milano and Bergamo. The major aim of the Graduate Program is to train students for research careers in the field of Pharmacology and Toxicology with reference to Cancer, Neurological, Cardiovascular and Kidney diseases. Other areas of interest are Organ Transplantation, Rare Diseases, Molecular Pharmacology, Environmental Toxicology, Public Health and Human Epidemiology.
The Research Degree Coordinator coordinates and supervises the teaching, training, financial and administrative activities of the School. In addition, the Coordinator acts as the local contact person and is responsible for all communications with the Open Unversity, UK Research School. For all relevant matters the Degree Coordinator reports only to the Director of IRFMN.
From year 2005, Enrico Garattini, M.D., who is also the Head of the Laboratory of Molecular Biology of IRFMN, acts as the Degree Coordinator and is assisted by a Secretary (Ms. Elena Pozzoli), who is a permanent member of the administration staff of IRFMN. The procedures of the PhD School as all the scientific and administrative activities of IRFMN are certified according to the ISO 9001 european standards.
The teaching and training staff of the School consists of the Director of Studies, Third Parties and Internal Examiners to be selected among the permanent scientific staff at IRFMN. Supervisors and External Examiners are identified and selected outside IRFMN in compliance with the Open University, UK guidelines and specifications.
Student induction and training
The PhD training programme is based on a “hands-on” approach and focuses an teaching the scientific approaches and methodology necessary for successful completion of the specific thesis project. The know-how and expertise of the permanent scientific staff in the various fields of interest of the PhD programme is testified by the amount and quality of the scientific literature produced over the courses of the Institute's 47 years. The quality of the scientific training of the single PhD students is predominantly the responsibility of the Director of Studies.
The Director supervises and has the responsibility for the student's scientific work and reports regularly and informally of the Research Degree Coordinator on student's progress at the scientific and personal levels.
The IRFMN departments and laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art scientific instrumentation which is fully accessible to the PhD students. The Director of Studies has to see that the student has proper training in the use of the instruments and is aware of the general and specific risks and hazards associated with the experimental work, when this is applicable.
The IRFMN has a regular schedule of scientific seminars and talks open to all staff and students (institute seminars). Two types of presentations are available: internal seminars presented by members of the scientific staff (“Two o'clock club”) and external seminars presented by invited Italian and foreign scientists. Small Department meetings consisting of individual presentations are regularly held and are organized by the single departments of the Institute. Internal and external courses and mini-courses on specific topics are also organized on a regular basis. These are all important educational opportunities and are a part of the PhD training programme, as attendance is compulsory for all the PhD students.
From January 2006 to January 2008, in conjunction with three other ARCs in Milan, IRFMN organized a yearly scientific retreat for the Open University, UK PhD students. These were small meetings where students presented their scientific work in the form of posters or short oral presentations. The scientific sessions were organized directly by the students after a scientific committee consisting of students representatives had evaluated the abstracts. Scientific sessions were integrated with seminars and talks by prominent Italian and foreign scientists invited by the organizing committee. The meeting was attended by Directors of Studies and Supervisors. IRFMN limited attendance at this meeting to the PhD students of the second year or above. This series of meetings was discontinued in 2010 for budget reasons but talks ongoing to support this type of initiative in the next year.
Modern science calls for access to and constant updating of the literature relating to the specific topics of interest. This is an essential part of the training programme and the Director of Studies checks that the student consults the literature regularly and keeps up to the date not only in his specific field. The scientific literature is available at the Institute's Pfeiffer Library and access to scientific publications is guaranteed by the subscriptions and licenses managed by the Pfeiffer Library, which is part of the large network of libraries of the Regione Lombardia. Courses on advanced computer literature search techniques are organized regularly by the Library Manager and are compulsory for the Open University, UK PhD students.
Another aspect of the PhD training programme emphasized by the IRFMN scheme is development of the student's communication skills. Students are encouraged and trained by the Director of Studies to present their date at department meetings and at the Institute's internal seminars. After completion of the probationary period PhD students are requested to present at least one institute internal seminar in English. The two PhD students's representatives are responsible for the yearly schedule of presentations within the frame of the “Two o'clock club”. Further oral presentations in English can be delivered within the frame of the departmental seminars.
The Supervisor's role in the training strategy is obviously more limited due to logistic problems and is restricted to general and specific advice strictly connected to the thesis work. In the Open University, UK document, among the additional duties of supervisors, it is stated that the supervisor should meet the students at least three times per year and the same number of times jointly with the student and Director of Studies.
A non-UK ARC like IRFMN obviously has difficulty complying with these suggestions, particularly since the Institute covers all the expenses involved in meetings. For these reasons, the supervisor is required to meet the PhD student alone or with the Director of Studies once a year, preferably at the supervisor's location. However, interactions between the supervisor and the student and/or Director of Studies are not limited to these yearly meetings and are organized on many other occasions through internet, e-mail, telephone and any other useful real-time communication means.
Selection criteria
The PhD course is an educational programme of excellence. To guarantee the highest scientific standards, access is generally limited to young investigators with at least one year's experience in any field of experimental or clinical research. When exceptions to these general rules arise, a case must be made and presented to the Research Degree Coordinator. Preferential qualifications include one or more original scientific articles in peer-reviewed international journals.
- Effective January 2009, access to the PhD Course is regulated by a competitive yearly call for applications that is open to both internal (already working inside the Istituto "Mario Negri") and external candidates. A yearly call is issued in January and the specific of each call are revised every year. The call is posted on the Mario Negri Institute web-site.
- The PhD programme is open to individuals below the age of 35 years, unless exceptional circumstances apply. In this last instance, a case must be submitted to the Research Degree Coordinator.
- In accordance with the international, European and Italian legislation, and the "equal opportunity employer" status of the IRFMN, no distinction for applicants is made as to sex, nationality, health status or religious opinion.
- Italian prospective PhD students must have an Italian doctorate degree (laurea breve o laurea magistrale) in any scientific discipline, though exceptions to the role may apply.
Foreign students must have a graduate degree equivalent to those for the Italian candidates.
Terms of Registration with the Open University
The annual tuition fees (currently 1865 GB pounds) for each PhD student are covered by IRFMN for the entire duration of the PhD programme and for no longer than the maximum accepted duration of the course (four years).
In case of withdrawal or extension requests by the PhD student and approval by the Open University, UK, the student is asked to reimburse the tuition fees advanced by IRFMN, on the basis of a document describing the terms to be signed by the students.
Throughout the PhD course, IRFMN provides the student with a monthly stipend in the form of a fellowship. The stipend is not fixed, is subject to negotiation and depends on a number of parameters including, availability of founds, prior scientific experience of the candidate, etc.
The PhD School Office and Coordinator are not involved in any step of the stipend negotiation procedure which is sole care of the host Department Head, the Director of the Institute and the student.
Procedures for registration with the Open University
A limited and variable number of new registrations is scheduled annually by the Research Degree Coordinator. One competitive call for new registrations is issued every year. The deadline for the submission of new registrations to the Open University, UK is October 1. The procedure for the registration is divided in four phases. For Year 2011, the deadlines for the completion of each phase are listed below:
2011 deadlines
1. Publication of the competitive call: January 31
2. Pre-registration: May 31
3. Evaluation of the applications: July 20
4. Registration of the accepted students: September 15
1. Publication of the competitive call
The 2010 annual competitive call for applications containing the indication of the number of positions available for internal and external students is present in the document entitled "Applications for the PhD course organized by the Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri in collaboration with the Open University, UK" (Appendix 1).
2. Pre-registration
2.1 Prospective internal students are proposed by a member of the IRFMN permanent staff (Director of Studies, DS) and communicated directly to the Research Degree Coordinator. In response to the call, the internal candidate must transmit the following documents necessary for the submission of the pre-registration to the School Office:
2.1.1 the completed provisional ARC9 form
2.1.2 a first version of the Research Project to be redacted under the supervision of the DS
2.1.3 the applicant's CV
2.1.4 the completed provisionalARC4 form with the indication of the DS
2.1.5 an appropriate English language certificate (applicable for Italian students and students from non-English-speaking countries).
2.2 Prospective external students will first contact the Head of the Department in which they intend to carry out the thesis work and obtain approval (a list with the corresponding contact information is available in Appendix 2). The contacted scientist will inform the Research Degree Coordinator and/or the School Office about approval of the potential applicant and selection of an appropriate DS. In response to the call, the external candidate will transmit the following documents necessary for submission of the pre-registration to the Office of the School:
2.2.1 the completed provisional ARC9 form
2.2.2 a first version of the Research Project to be redacted under the supervision of the DS
2.2.3 the applicant's CV
2.2.4 the completed provisional ARC4 form with the indication of the DS, i.e. the internal tutor to be selected from the "Mario Negri" Institute permanent staff
2.2.5 an appropriate English language certificate (Italian students and students coming from non-english-speaking countries).
3. Evaluation of the applications
Applications are evaluated by a panel of two internal reviewers, including the Research Degree Coordinator, who will rank the candidates according to various criteria including: CV, clearness and scientific merit of the proposal. Two distinct rankings for the internal and external prospective students will be issued and posted on the web-site of the IRFMN. Internal and external candidates passing the admission threshold (score >70/100) will be interviewed by the PhD School Coordinator and the Institute's Scientific Publication Editor, Ms. Judy Baggott, and evaluated for scientific skills and English language. As the Institute will not cover relocation expenses for the interview, Skype or MSN video-interviews can be arranged for foreign students. Italian students and students from non-English-speaking countries will be assessed for English language skills during the interview. The final decision on the acceptance of the candidate cannot be appealed and will be communicated by the School Office.
4. Submission of the final documents to be transmitted to the Open University, UK by the School Office for the registration
After notification of the acceptance, the Student must transmit the following to the School Office:
4.1 the final ARC9 form
4.2 a final version of the Research Project (if necessary amended according to the suggestions communicated to the student by the Research Degree Coordinator)
4.3 the applicant's CV
4.4 Animal Care Unit certification (for thesis projects requiring the use of animals)
4.5 the completed ARC4 form and CVs of the Director of Studies and external Supervisor
4.6 the results of the internal English test or a copy of the appropriate English language certificate.
The material will be transmitted to the Open University by the School's Office before October 1.
Selection and training of supervisors
A pool of selected experts from the Institute's staff, which we can call on depending on the topics of individual students' projects has been identified. These scientists are not only authorities in their fields but have given ample proof of their ability to deal with colleagues and students. When the Italian Director of
Studies has had no experience supervising a Open University, UK, student, IRFMN proposes a UK supervisor with experience of more than one. Effective January 2010, the PhD School organizes two yearly orienting and training sessions that are mandatory for all the active and prospective Director of Studies. These sessions organized and supervised by the PhD School Coordinator are aimed at providing the guidelines for a correct mentoring of the students work. The guidelines provided comply with the general standard set by the Open University, UK. Our Director of Studies are encouraged to participate in facilitated training sessions that are and will be organized by The Open University, UK.
To obviate the lack of official training, at the start of each academic year all the Director of Studies and Third Parties attend a meeting at which the Open University, UK's needs are outlined and specific procedures illustrated. Suggestions are always welcome on how best to conduct the PhD scheme. The Research School Coordinator keeps regular contacts with the Directors of Studies and Third parties.
Probationary period
As specified by the Open University, UK, the probationary period is the first 12 months after acceptance of registration and serves as a vital interval for assessing the student's scientific and personal skills.
During this time, the Director of Studies and the Supervisors monitor the progress of the initial thesis work and take a final decision about its quality. In addition, the student has the opportunity to evaluate the scientific environment in which he operates and the overall feasibility of the scientific programme. On the basis of the reports presented by the student, at the end of the Probationary Period, The Open University, UK can confirm the registration in the PhD programme or ask for further information and documentation.
Before the end of the 11th month, the Open University, UK transmits the list of students completing the Probationary Period to the IRFMN PhD School Office, indicating the deadline(s) for submitting the material necessary for evaluation by the appropriate Open University, UK panel. The material sent by Open University, UK includes the form and the instructions to students. If the Open University, UK confirms the registration, the student has access to the subsequent three years of the programme. The Open University, UK panel may require further information before confirming the registration, in which case the Research Degree Coordinator notifies the student and obtains written clarification to be transmitted to the Open University, UK.
Subsequent years
Normally research work after the probationary period continues as before. At the end of each year, the student is required to transmit the annual reports, submitted as required by Open University, UK regulations.
IRFMN generally discourages applications for extension. However, a student requiring one has to notify the PhD School Office several months ahead of the course's end. He/she must have approval from the Director of Studies and Open University, UK. The student is notified as soon as IRFMN has this approval.
Thesis and nomination of examiners
In accordance with the examination guidelines issued by Open University, UK and the specifications therein, the student notifies the office of the PhD School at IRFMN about his intention to submit the bound copy of the thesis. As specified by the Open University, UK, the notification includes confirmation of the thesis title and a provisional submission date. Generally the notification is sent to the office 1-3 months before the date of the actual thesis submission.
After receipt of the student's notification, the Research Degree Coordinator contacts the Director of Studies asking for oral confirmation that he has read a first draft of the thesis and that it is worthy of consideration for the degree. In addition, the Director of Studies seeks confirmation of the Supervisor's opinion on the quality of the material in the thesis. Finally, the Research Degree Coordinator seeks advice as to the nomination of the panel of examiners. The Director of Studies consults the Supervisor and replies to the PhD School office, indicating the names of potential internal and external examiners. After evaluating the suitability of the examiners nominated, on the basis of the appointment criteria, the Research Degree Coordinator notifies the Director of Studies about approval.
Student feedback
The Research Degree Coordinator meets all the PhD students twice, once at the beginning and once in the middle of the academic year. At the first meeting, the Coordinator illustrates the structure and the characteristics of the course and seeks ideas and suggestions from the students as to the organization of specific internal courses meeting some of their needs. In addition he answers the questions and replies to doubts relating to the internal and Open University, UK's procedures. The second meeting is mainly intended to obtain the student's feedback on the quality of the individual training and to discuss any specific problem or matters arising during the first part of the years. Minutes of these meeting are available. IRFMN has not as yet set up any specific mechanism or procedure to obtain feedback from individual students. However the Research Degree Coordinator has many individual meetings whit students and is available practically on a daily basis to meet them and discuss questions related to the school.
Student complaints
A simple and flexible procedure for the presentation and filing of internal student complaints has been devised. As specified by the Open University, UK instructions, the Third Party serves as a first filter for student complaints. IRFMN selects Third Parties among the permanent scientific staff on the basis not only of their scientific experience but also of their proven capacity to interact with people and young scientists in particular. A series of third party names are offered to the prospective student at the end of the Probationary Period and the student can select the most appropriate one. The Third Party is generally accessible and meets the student when the need arises. Third Parties meet regularly with the Research Degree Coordinator and report to him about any complaints from individual students. If the Third Party cannot deal with the complaint, the Research Degree Coordinator will ask for an individual meeting with the student, an internal complaint procedure is activated. The student submits an internal complaint form to the PhD School Coordinator. The form is compulsory if the student, subsequently, intends to file for a formal complaint to the Open University, UK. The complaint is evaluated by the PhD Research Degree Coordinator, the Director of Studies and the Third Party, jointly. An answer is return to the student within ten days from the receipt of the internal complaint. If the matter cannot be settled internally, a formal complaint is filed by the student and communicated to the Open University, UK according to the guidelines and specifications contained in the relevant section of the “Research Degrees Student Handbook” and The Open University, UK web-site (http//www.open.ac.uk/studentservices/complaints/).
PhD Students satisfaction is monitored by administration of ad hoc questionnaires. Two questionnaires evaluating the PhD's level of satisfaction are administered to the students at the end of the probationary period and after graduation. The two questionnaires are anonymous and are kept in the PhD School Office and are freely accessible.
Appendixes 1 and 2
Appendix 1
Applications for the PhD course organized by the Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri in collaboration with the Open University
The Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", IRFMN, Via Giuseppe La Masa 19, 20156 Milano Italy is inviting internal students (already working in the Istituto "Mario Negri") and external students to take part in the PhD course organized in collaboration with the Open University. A total number of 10 new PhD students is programmed for year 2010.
The International Graduate Program of the Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri" (IRFMN) is organized in collaboration with the Open University (Milton Keynes, UK) which confers a PhD title recognized worldwide. The Program is part of the educational and training activities taking place in the two campuses of Milano and Bergamo. The major aim of the Graduate Program is to train students for research careers in the field of Pharmacology and Toxicology with reference to Cancer, Neurological, Cardiovascular and Kidney diseases. Other areas of interest are Environmental Toxicology, Organ Transplantation, Rare Diseases, Molecular Pharmacology, Public Health and Human Epidemiology.
The PhD course is an educational programme of excellence with a standard duration of 3 and a maximal duration of 4 years. To guarantee the highest scientific standards, access is limited to young investigators with at least one year’s experience in any field of experimental or clinical research. Preferential qualifications include one or more original scientific articles in peer-reviewed international journals. The PhD programme is open to individuals below the age of 35 years. In accordance with the relevant international, European and Italian legislation, and the "equal opportunity employer" status of the IRFMN, no distinction for applicants is made as to sex, nationality, health status or religious opinion. Italian prospective PhD students must have an Italian doctorate degree (laurea breve or laurea magistrale) in any scientific discipline. Foreign students must have graduate degrees equivalent to those for the Italian candidates.
The annual tuition fees (currently 1832 GB pounds) for each PhD student are covered by IRFMN for the entire duration of the PhD programme and for no longer than the maximum accepted duration of the course (4 years). If no financial support is available to the candidate, IRFMN may provide the student with a negotiable monthly stipend in the form of a fellowship for the entire duration of the PhD course (maximum 4 years). Subject to negotiation and apartment availability, external and foreign students are eligible for lodging in the Institute's guest house. Interested prospective students must contact the Department Head chosen from the list available in Appendix 2 to evaluate the possibility of submitting a pre-registration. For a detailed description of the procedures involved, prospective PhD students are referred to the accompanying document "The PhD program at the Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri". The prospective external student must transmit the pre-registration material by May 28, 2010. The final rankings of the call will be available in this WEB-site by July 15, 2010 and successful applicants will be asked to submit the documents necessary for the final registration to the Open University.
Appendix 2
Campus in Milano
ONCOLOGY
Maurizio D’Incalci, M.D. (E-mail address: Maurizio.dincalci@marionegri.it; Tel. No. +39-02-39014571)
NEUROSCIENCE
Gianluigi Forloni, M.D. (E-mail address: Gianluigi.forloni@marionegri.it; Tel. No. +39-02-39014462)
CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH
Maria Grazia Franzosi, M.D. (E-mail address: Mariagrazia.franzosi@marionegri.it; Tel. No. +39-02-39014482)
BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR PHARMACOLOGY
Dr. Mario Salmona (E-mail address: Mario.salmona@marionegri.it; Tel. No. +39-02-39014447)
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Dr. Roberto Fanelli (E-mail address: Roberto.fanelli@marionegri.it; Tel. No. +39-02-39014498)
PUBLIC HEALTH
Maurizio Bonati, M.D. (E-mail address: Maurizio.bonati@marionegri.it; Tel. No. +39-02-39014478)
EPIDEMIOLOGY
Carlo La Vecchia, M.D. (E-mail address: Carlo.lavecchia@marionegri.it; Tel. No. +39-02-39014527)
Campus in Bergamo and Transplant Research Center in Ranica (Bergamo)
MOLECULAR MEDICINE
Dr. Ariela Benigni (E-mail address: Ariela.benigni@marionegri.it; Tel. No. +39-035-319888)
RENAL MEDICINE
Piero Ruggenenti, M.D. (E-mail address: Piero.ruggenenti@marionegri.it; Tel. No. +39-035-45351)
BIOENGINEERING
Dr. Andrea Remuzzi (E-mail address: Andrea.remuzzi@marionegri.it; Tel. No. +39-035-319888)
Appendix 3
Appendix 3
Internal Complaint Form for the PhD Course
Name of the student
Registration Number
Nature of the complaint
(Please describe briefly the reasons for your complaint)
Date ………….
Signature …………………..
This is an internal Complaint Form to be filled out by the student and submitted to the PhD Research Degree Coordinator. Submission of this document is compulsory if the student is planning to submit a formal complaint form to the Open University, UK. The document will be evaluated by the PhD Research Degree Coordinator, the Director of Studies and Third Party and an answer to the student will be given within ten days from the receipt of this form.
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