Early-Stage Training in Advanced Life Science Research Across Europe (E-STAR)

Final Activity Report Summary - E-STAR (Early-Stage Training in Advanced Life Science Research Across Europe (E-STAR))

From 2004 to 2008, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), as a European intergovernmental and truly international research organisation, hosted 18 early-stage researchers (ESR) in its international Ph.D. Programme EIPP with the purpose of offering them structured and integrated training leading to doctoral degrees.

Supported by the European Communitys Marie Curie early stage training (EST) programme, these young and mobile researchers received training that strongly emphasised on an interdisciplinary approach, including biology, physics, chemistry, medicine and informatics, in the molecular life sciences in a socioeconomic context. The project Early-stage training in advanced life science research across Europe E-STAR reinforced mobility and internationalisation. Remarkably, the 18 young researchers represented 12 nationalities, namely Austrian, British, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Irish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish and Swiss, 10 of which belonged to member state countries (MS), one of which belonged to an associated state (AS) and one of which belonged to a third country (TC). The European Communitys goal to encourage women in science was fully met in this project: 56 % of the researchers were female and 44 % were male. For the selection, all eligibility criteria, including nationality, mobility, qualification and research experience, were applied and all ESR were recruited under an employment contract with full social security coverage lasting from 30 to 36 months.

Supported by the European Communitys Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) 12 ESR were trained at the EMBL main laboratory in Heidelberg, Germany, two were trained at EMBL outstations in Grenoble, France, and Monterotondo, Italy, and two were placed at the European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI) in Hinxton, United Kingdom, and at EMBL-Hamburg, Germany. The participation of renowned scientists with a proven track record of global impact in their fields of expertise boosted training, mentoring and teaching of these young researchers. In addition to the strong EMBL infrastructure available to all ESR, such as the core facilities for genomics, protein expression and purification, advanced light microscopy, electron microscopy, the databases and software, the broad know-how in data collection and interpretation, the scientific library, as well as the synchrotron and neutron beam lines, the success of the programme highly benefited from the international experience and knowledge contributed by partnering scientists from collaborating institutes around the world. EMBL provided the perfect setting for the young pre-docs to complement their training as molecular biology researchers with additional skills such as communication, lab management, presentation techniques, language courses and conference organisation.

A total of 12 young women and 10 young men benefited from interdisciplinary training, internationality and complementary skills training throughout their time at EMBL. They demonstrated considerable commitment to the project by reaching all of the specified milestones and deliverables. We are happy to report that all the objectives which were outlined in the E-STAR proposal were reached, and, frequently, success even exceeded the expectations. The project achievements were namely the following:

1. 13 doctoral degrees, of which 9 joint Ph.D. degrees from EMBL and one of its 29 partner universities. One of the theses was submitted by the time of the project completion and four were expected to be submitted in the near future.
2. 11 doctoral degrees with distinction.
3. 25 publications in 20 international scientific journals
4. more than 80 workshops and conferences were attended with active participation
5. more than 350 presentations in seminars and scientific meetings
6. innumerable talks, actually estimated in more than 2,800, were listened to by the participants
7. more than 100 new contacts to universities, research centres, industry and others were established.

Finally, a new partnership between the European Learning Laboratory for Life Sciences (ELLS), i.e. the EMBLs facility dedicated to science education, and the 18 E-STAR fellows resulted in more than 13 science education events for high-school teachers and further highlighted the success of the overall project.

Final Activity Report Summary - E-STAR (Early-Stage Training in Advanced Life Science Research Across Europe (E-STAR))

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