INPhINIT, the training program that contributes to a good development of the professional career of the researcher during the PhD

The CNIC, as a “Severo Ochoa” center of excellence, participates in the International Predoctoral Program “INPhINIT” as a reception center for predoctoral researchers who wish to carry out their doctoral thesis in any of the center’s laboratories. Promoted by the Social Project “Obra Social ‘la Caixa’” and co-funded by the European Commission through the Horizon 2020-Marie-Sklodowska-Curie ActionsCOFUND program (Grant Agreement nº713673), the INPhINIT is a PhD scholarship program designed to integrate young international researchers in the best Spanish research centers, in the fields of technology, engineering, physics, mathematics, health sciences and life sciences.

Promoted by the Social Project “Obra Social ‘la Caixa’”, INPHINIT aims to support the best scientific talent and encourage high-quality and innovative research in Spain by hiring outstanding international students, who are in turn offered an attractive and competitive environment where to carry out a research of excellence. In every call, INPhINIT selects 57 young researchers of all nationalities who are offered a 3-year work contract to carry out their PhD in the accredited centers with the Severo Ochoa or Maria de Maeztu distinguishment and in the Carlos III Health Research Institutes. In addition, the researchers establish a professional career development plan which includes transnational, intersectoral, and interdisciplinary mobility opportunities. They will also be given a complementary training program.

On this occasion, the CNIC welcomes Rocío Muñiz, who has already joined the group "Experimental Pathology of Atherosclerosis", directed by Professor Jacob Fog Bentzon. Rocío chose the CNIC over other centers that participate in this program because, in her opinion, it is one of the most important centers in cardiovascular research in Spain. "Both the facilities and the technology and ease are very good. I studied the Master's degree in Cardiovascular Research in the Netherlands and I knew for sure I wanted to do a PhD in a leading center in this field " “And why Jacob's group? " “For two reasons: first, for the topic of the group, atherosclerosis, a chronic disease that causes most heart attacks and ischemic strokes. Atherosclerosis has always caught my attention because it affects thousands of people around the world every year and, nevertheless, the pathological mechanisms that trigger the disease are still not fully understood. Also, because my experience in the internship that I did in the past in this group was very satisfactory and I learned a lot. Finally, Jacob is an excellent group leader. "

INPhINIT collaborates with the best research centers in Spain, which welcome the INPhINIT interns in one of their PhD programs. INPhINIT aims to revolutionize European doctoral training in terms of quality, excellence of the researchers, scope of the benefits offered and the expected impact. Rocío learned about the INPhINIT program during her internship at the CNIC. "My experience at the CNIC was very positive, which led me to look for scholarship possibilities with the intention of returning to the center to do the PhD once I finished my studies and stay abroad. With this intention, the scientific management department of the CNIC recommended the INPhINIT program as a very good option to do the doctorate.”

My experience at the CNIC was very positive, which led me to look for scholarship possibilities with the intention of returning to the center to do the PhD once I finished my studies and stay abroad

Among the reasons which most motivated her to apply is the fact that it is a new program of the La Caixa Foundation, which in itself has a great prestige, aimed at international students and offered a three-year contract as a PhD student in research centers of excellence such as the CNIC. In addition, she adds, "because it offers a complementary training program to contribute to good development of the professional career of the researcher during the doctorate.”  Rocío believes that initiatives of this kind, that promote research, are absolutely "necessary" to promote research in Spanish centers. "It is important to instill the recognition of the value of research from a social point of view, especially in regards to the personal effort and ethical values of the people involved, and as a way to achieve long-term sustainable socio-economic development." In her opinion, initiatives, such as INPhINIT, will undoubtedly “contribute to this by holding on to national and international talent for the completion of projects organized in Spanish centers.”

However, the researcher believes that, in Spain, unfortunately, the PhD scholarship program options are limited. "Spain has good research centers and excellent scientists, but many students, both Spanish and international, decide to continue their scientific training outside the country due to the scarcity of quality programs, which do exist in some northern European countries, such as The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, etc. " From her stay at the CNIC, Rocío hopes to "do a good PhD and develop my professional profile as a researcher, learning from mistakes and achieving results.”

Rocío hopes to "do a good PhD and develop my professional profile as a researcher, learning from mistakes and achieving results

Requirements to access to INPhINIT

At the time of hiring, the candidates must meet one of the following options:

• • Have completed an official University Degree in Spain (or another country of the European Higher Education Area) which grants 300 ECTS credits, of which at least 60 ECTS credits correspond to the Master’s Degree.
  • Have a degree in a non-Spanish university not part of the European Higher Education Area which allows access to PhD studies. The verification of an equivalent level of studies previously mentioned will be carried out by the university when the admission process begins.

  To be eligible, the candidates must:

  • Be in the first four years (experience of research equivalent to full time) of their research careers without having obtained the PhD yet
  • Not have lived nor carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Spain for more than 12 months in the 3 years prior to the date of hiring. Short stays such as holidays will not be taken into account.
  • Have a demonstrable level of English (B2 or higher)

  The program offers:

  • 3-year contract
  • Very competitive salary
  • An award of 7,500€ for the PhD, in the case of the completion of the thesis in a period of 3.5 years
  • Additional training in transferable skills

   For more information: www.inphinitlacaixa.org