The research training program

Students will learn to plan and conduct scientific projects, critically evaluate experimental results, establish new techniques, troubleshoot, improve their ability to work in a team, and to interact with other scientists at the host institute, the IMGENE network and other institutions. Students will learn state-of-the-art techniques in molecular biology, cell biology, bioinformatics-based genome analysis, and transgenic mouse technology. Furthermore, training will include written and oral presentation of results at group meetings, institute seminars, and international scientific conferences. At the end of the IMGENE project period each ESR should be able to design and execute scientific projects independently and to communicate the results to the scientific community at large.

A mandatory part of the research training is the introduction to Responsible Conduct of Research Ethical issues.

International network

Through the IMGENE project and participation at international conferences the students will build and expand their international professional network. In this regard, IMGENE PIs will facilitate the contact between ESRs and scientists outside of the IMGENE network. Besides International Symposia at the yearly Summer Schools also the International IMGENE Conference at the end of the project period will be an important building block in the network formation.

Transferable skills

IMGENE ESRs will be trained by seminars, webinars, and workshops to acquire
excellent skills in report writing and oral communication with different target groups (management, broad public), presentation, leadership and decision-making, team work, group management, conflict handling, and critical analysis. These skills will increase their general employability also in jobs outside research.

Entrepreneurial thinking and intellectual property rights

The research results will, whenever possible, be translated into products and practical benefit. IMGENE ESRs will therefore be trained at Summer Schools in entrepreneurial thinking, intellectual property rights, patenting, estimation of potential market size, and how to start up companies. This teaching will be provided by experts from
industry, lawyers, and funders of start-up companies. In addition, students will be exposed to entrepreneurial thinking during their secondments at the industrial participants.

Dissemination and outreach

Dissemination is the spreading of scientific results to experts, while outreach is the description of the work in lay terms to the broad public. Dissemination training will be
provided by supervisors and through modules at IMGENE Summer Schools.