Second call for PhD Students

Update on the second call for EVIMalaR PhD Students

After 3-5 months of advertising, we start a selection process divided into two steps in order to secure the best possible candidates. During the first step applicants are sorted based upon formal criteria by suited personnel, later a selection committee, made up of different EVIMalaR members, looks through the applications and selects the most suited candidates for interviews, usually three times the number of fellowships.

At the same time interested project leaders can submit project proposals.

Applicants and PIs are then invited to personal interviews including an assessment test, one-to-one interviews for specific projects, a presentation and question-answer during a panel interview.

The awarded students attend a two weeks core course that aims to give them an overview into methods and soft skills for their PhD and to tighten the bonds between students.

During the 3.5 years of their PhD the students work within the EVIMalaR

We have completed the second call for EVIMalaR PhD students.

From 201 applications, 22 candidates were interviewed at EMBL, Heidelberg in May. Candidates were chosen by the Selection Committee and the decisions were based upon letter of motivation, letters of recommendation and experience in the field of infectious diseases.

We are pleased to announce that 12 students were offered a position with the EVIMalaR PhD Programme which will commence with the core course in Heidelberg from 10th-21st October 2011.

The following applicants were successful:

Mr. Ahmed Salman (Egypt)
Assessment of Novel Liver-Stage Vaccines using Transgenic Rodent Malaria Parasites
(Dr. Adrian Hill; Dr. Chris Janse)

Ms. Gabriella Sferra (Italy)
Dynamics of Plasmodium protein interaction networks
(Dr. Elisabetta Pizzi / Prof. Marta Ponzi; Prof. Robert Sinden)

Mr. George Rugarabamu  (Tanzania)
Functional dissection of ROM4/AMA1 mode of action in apicomplexan lytic cycle progression
(Prof. Dominique Soldati-Favre; Chetan E. Chitnis; Dr. Michael Blackman)

Mr. Harshal Patil (India)
 Fertilisation, signalling and morphogenesis in a malaria parasite
(Prof. Andy Waters; Dr. Freddy Frischknecht)

Ms. Jaishree Tripathi (India)
 Identification of host genes that modulate Plasmodium liver stage development.
(Prof. Maria Mota; Dr. Oliver Billker)

Ms. Jenny Howar (United Kingdom)
Dissection of the role of human gamma-delta T cells in instruction of adaptive immunity against P.falciparum infection 
(Dr. Charlotte Behr; Prof. Marita Troye-Blomberg)

Mr. Kartik Bane (India)
Role of actin binding proteins in parasite motility
(Dr. Freddy Frischknecht; Prof. Dominique Soldati-Favre)

Ms. Mariana De Niz Hidalgo (Mexico)
Spleen cytoadherence facilitates establishment of chronic infections in reticulocyte-prone nonlethal malaria parasites 
(Prof. Hernando del Portillo; Prof. Volker Heussler)

Mr. Pablo Suárez Cortés (Spain)
Osmiophilic bodies and egress-related proteins in Plasmodium falciparum gamete formation
(Dr. Pietro Alano; Dr. David Baker)

Mr. Samuel Abah (Nigeria)
The plasma proteome response of children recovering from Plasmodium falciparum severe malarial anaemia.
(Dr. Delmiro Fernandez-Reyes; Prof. Mats Wahlgren)

Ms. Sonal Sethia (India)
Coenzyme A biosynthesis and lipid metabolism - a link between two vital metabolic pathways in Plasmodium falciparum
(Prof. Sylke Müller; Prof. Henri Vial)

Ms. Sonia Moliner Cubel (Spain)
Functional characterization of an organic cation transporter in P. falciparum
(Prof. Dr. Michale Lanzer; Prof. Henri Vial)