Encouraging research in cell and developmental biology
The RBSCDB PhD Excellence Award wants to recognize and reward a young scientist for outstanding research achievements in the fields of cell and/or developmental biology, and to encourage young scientists to make the next step in their scientific career. This award does that by supporting the mobility for a post-doctoral career to a research institute different from the PhD host University. It consists of a certificate of scientific distinction, and the accompanying funds (5,000 €) are available to provide support to the awardee who wishes to engage or is already engaged in a challenging post-doctoral project. This prize will be awarded at the occasion of the RBSCDB Autumn Meeting 2025, where the winner is expected to present their work.
Who can apply?
- Full-time young researchers having demonstrated a capacity to perform outstanding research in cell and/or developmental biology and who are doing or did their PhD in one of the universities located in Belgium.
- Building on these excellent achievements, the candidate must propose a short plan or perspectives for further research and for acquiring novel insights and cutting-edge expertise. They will further have to indicate how the present or planned postdoctoral project in the chosen novel environment is supporting their overall career plans and further excellence. We expect outstanding candidates ready to explore new tracks and aiming to develop original research, going abroad being a plus (but not mandatory).
- Note that only those candidates will be eligible that are registered and paid-up RBSCDB members in 2025. For becoming a member, see https://bscdb.be/membership-grants
- For applicants, the PhD degree should have been obtained after Aug 1, 2022 and defended in the calendar year 2022, 2023 or 2024, or the applicants have a PhD public defence date (fixed and certified) prior to March 1, 2025.
Selection
One 5,000 € grant for one person is available for the Award 2025. Selection is a three-step process. First, the Board of RBSCDB will pre-select up to 5 candidates that will be evaluated in the second step by foreign Societies of Cell Biology and Developmental Biology. In the third step, all scores are merged and the prize will go to the candidate that has the highest overall score. In case of a tie, a lottery will decide. Decisions will be made and communicated by July 31st, 2025. Board members with COI withdraw from the entire procedure. The RBSCDB preserves the right not to award the prize if none of the applications meet the criteria set by the Board.
How to apply?
Applications should arrive by e-mail as one single PDF file at the RBSCDB secretariat, and this no later than March 1st, 2025. The application should contain:
- a brief curriculum vitae (max. 3 pages; A4) that includes a list of publications.
- a 3-page document (A4, Arial11, line spacing 1) with three equally important sections:
- 1 page summarizing your PhD research, indicating also why it should be considered for the RBSCDB PhD Excellence Award,
- 1 page about your current or planned postdoctoral research, including also why these plans should be considered highly challenging and novel,
- 1 page explaining why you have chosen this specific lab, including also why and how this new environment will help you to achieve your research goals.
Secretariat RBSCDB
prof. Eve Seuntjens
E-mail: eve.seuntjens@kuleuven.be