Scholarships for international doctoral students at the Graduate School Solvation Science (Excellence Cluster RESOLV, Ruhr Area)

In cooperation with the Graduate School Scholarship Programme of the DAAD the integrated Graduate School Solvation Science (iGSS) within the Excellence Cluster RESOLV (Ruhr Explores Solvation) at Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University and its partner institutes University Duisburg-Essen, Fraunhofer UMSICHT, Max-Planck Institute for Coal Research, and Max-Planck Institute for Iron Research is offering two scholarships for international doctoral candidates who are qualified in the field of Solvation Science.

Integrated Graduate School Solvation Science
The iGSS was established in the beginning of 2013 within the Cluster of Excellence RESOLV. The school aims at combining high-profile research and early scientific independence along with internationalization and gender mainstreaming. It offers a three-year structured graduate program that combines cutting-edge research with a curriculum of lectures, colloquia, and workshops, which are all focused on areas of Solvation Science. Fundamental elements of the study program are the annual iGSS workshops, Summer Schools, and a three-month internship at one of our partner institutions of the International Faculty (IF). Currently, the graduate school comprises circa 80 members all working on topics closely related to the interdisciplinary research field Solvation Science to understand local solvent fluctuations in heterogeneous systems, solvent control of chemical dynamics and reactivity, and solvation under extreme conditions.

Areas of research (Supervisors)
For more Information on our scientists within RESOLV, please visit our homepage. Each doctoral candidate works with a main and a second supervisor. A written agreement regarding supervision as well as an individual work- and time schedule will be drawn up.

Besides preparing a doctoral thesis, all iGSS members will complete a three-year structured training programme. The programme focuses on:
• deepening the knowledge in Solvation Science and related fields
• learning how to present the own research in front of scientific experts and in front of the lay public
• international work experience
• generic skills
• technology transfer activities

Your profile:
• You are fascinated by the interdisciplinary research field Solvation Science.
• You hold an A-grade qualifying degree at Master or Diploma level from a recognized international university or are a very good Master or Diploma student in your last year of studies; degrees in Chemistry, Physics, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline will be accepted.
• At the time of the nomination (estimated January 2023), your last final exam should have taken place during the past six years or if you are at the time of your application still a Master or Diploma student in your last year, you should hold an A-grade degree at the time of the start of the scholarship.
• You have very good English language skills (equal to B2, oral and writing).
• You are a non-German citizen and at the time of the nomination (estimated January 2023) you must not have resided in Germany for more than fifteen months (exception for refugees).

Application
Applications should include:
• Curriculum vitae
• Filled application form, including:
o Indication of the grade of the qualifying course of studies which must be at least 1.5 (A grade) or better (Master degree or equivalent or in case of fast track PhD option Bachelor degree)
o Indication of preferred research field, main supervisor and second supervisor
o Letter of motivation defining and explaining the application for the chosen research field/supervisor (strict maximum of 500 words)
o 1-page project outline (please get in contact with your preferred main supervisor prior to this application to develop the project outline)
• Copies of translated certificates and transcripts of records of qualification for higher education/university entrance of your home country, all higher education / university exams (diploma / master and bachelor degree) with indication of the final grade and explanation of the grading system
• Proof / Certificates of language proficiency
• Two letters of reference (please use this template)

Please note that only complete applications will be considered. Please use the application form https://www.solvation.de/fileadmin/content/03_career/03_graduate_school/GSSP/2020_PhD_Application-form-GSSP.pdf and send applications via e-mail (ONE PDF file) to igss@rub.de.

Shortlisted applicants will be contacted for a phone or online interview in January 2023.

Application Deadlines
• Application at iGSS until December 12th 2022 followed by preselection, online / phone interviews and pre-nomination by the iGSS
• In case of positive reply: Application at DAAD within 4 weeks followed by final nomination of scholars by the DAAD (estimated February/March 2023)

Information
For more information please visit our website or contact Dr. Sedakat Altinpinar (coordinator of the integrated Graduate School Solvation Science) at igss@rub.de.