Overview of the IRTG research program
A large collaborative research program in the Molecular Pathogenesis of Male Reproductive Disorders is being undertaken by scientists, clinicians and students at Monash University, Australia, and Justus Liebig University, Germany. This collaboration is funded as an International Research Training Group (IRTG) by the German Government (DFG, German Research Foundation), with support from Monash University. The program draws together a large team of international experts in male reproductive medicine to focus on a bench-to-bedside approach to diagnose and treat men’s reproductive health disorders. The focus is on innovative research that will drive discovery of new therapies for the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility, testicular and prostate cancers and inflammatory disorders of the male reproductive tract. Projects in this program investigate clinically relevant aspects of these disorders of male reproductive functions, including pathogenesis, treatment and/or diagnosis.
Overview of the PhD Program
Students are trained within two world-leading Reproductive Biology research centres and are enrolled into either JLU or Monash depending on where they will spend the majority of their time. Students spend a minimum of 3 months at the partner institution (travel expenses covered). If a student spends a minimum of 12 months at the partner university and satisfies other criteria, they may be awarded a joint PhD from both Universities upon completion. Students work on a project that is an ongoing collaboration between Australian and German partners. They are co-supervised by researchers in both universities and regular meetings are held by video conferencing. While at each institution, students attend specialised training activities designed to strengthen their knowledge and skills in male reproductive health research. These include lectures and workshops with scientists and health experts, visits to technology facilities and training in science communication. They receive specialised training in Infertility/Fertility, Immunology and Inflammation, Reproductive Hormones and Local Factors, and TGFβ/Activin Superfamily Biology. PhD students receive a scholarship and support to attend relevant conferences and IRTG milestone meetings.
Success of the PhD Program
Our students work in two partner laboratories within two scientific teams in different countries, and are immersed in a training program involving other students working in related, but distinct, areas. Each student is offered to a breadth of opportunities, both scientifically and personally. Students who have completed the program report that their PhD was enhanced by their interactions with multiple supervisors, gaining from their individual areas of knowledge and technical expertise. Students are expected to write original research publications and review articles. They are encouraged to work independently within their host laboratories, and to utilise the strengths of each partner team and of the IRTG program. Our students regularly present their work at international conferences; they have collectively won more than 30 prizes and awards and co-authored more than 40 manuscripts. The first cohort of PhD students are nearing completion and four students have graduated from the IRTG, receiving the highest possible honour (summa cum laude) from JLU University.
More information here: http://nyra-youngresearch.eu/job/phd-program-in-the-molecular-pathogenesis-of-male-reproductive-disorders/