Additional recruitment to the Doctoral School of Natural Sciences  beyond the limit of places

Project description:    

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive and devastating X-linked recessive disease caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. Besides the muscle phenotype, which is the most characteristic feature of DMD, affected boys show alterations in other tissues. Particularly, smaller total brain and grey matter volumes as well as changes in the white matter microstructure and reduced cerebral blood flow were found in DMD patients. Neuropsychiatric phenotype that includes intellectual disability, autism, attention deficit disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, and depression can be observed in up to 60% cases and female carriers have also been reported to have cognitive disabilities. In contrast to the relatively well-defined roles of the full-length dystrophin in the muscle tissue, the functions of dystrophin isoforms and their splicing variants in the nervous system are still elusive. Similarly, the central nervous system-specific function of the dystrophin major paralog, utrophin, shown to partially compensate for the dystrophin absence in the musculature, remains unknown. To decipher both specific and compensatory roles of dystrophin and utrophin in the central nervous system, we will use a wide range of molecular biology and genetic engineering techniques in cultured cells.  Obtained data will be then validated in mouse models to further address the roles of dystrophin/utrophin in a complex in vivo system. Overall, the knowledge acquired from this project will facilitate the design of a treatment therapy to alleviate the tissue-specific symptoms of DMD.

Principal investigator: prof. UAM dr hab. Patryk Konieczny - OPUS 22 2021/43/B/NZ5/00723

Recruitment:

Selection Committeee       

Recruitment fee

The recruitment fee is 75 EUR.

Form of the selection procedure

Two-stage procedure.

Language of the selection procedure, including interviews:

Polish or English language. 

Required documents:

 1.        Candidates who have obtained the necessary education outside the territory of the Republic of Poland, shall additionally submit:

1)    a photocopy of a document which confirms their education, certified to be a true copy of the original document, i.e. a diploma with a supplement confirming completion of first cycle studies (Bachelor degree) and a diploma with a supplement confirming completion of second cycle studies (Master degree, MSc, MA) in the original language and in a certified translation into English or into Polish,

            2)    a photocopy of their passport. 

 Evaluation criteria

 1)    the grade awarded for the diploma of the second cycle studies or single cycle five year master’s studies - maximum 10 points; in the case of candidates who seek admission on the basis of superior academic achievements ("Pearls of Science") - 10 points;

 2)    evaluation of the candidate's scientific activity and scientific achievements; the candidate indicates for evaluation up to three documented scientific achievements, in accordance with the achievement criteria adopted by the selection committee for a given discipline - maximum 15 points;

 3)    evaluation of the candidate's other documented activity, based on a maximum of three achievements consistent with the achievement criteria adopted by the selection committee for a given discipline - maximum 5 points

 4)    the result of the interview, with the scope of the interview including:

 a)    the candidate's knowledge and competencies relevant to the planned research and appropriate to the indicated scientific discipline,

 b)    elements of research methodology appropriate for the discipline indicated.

 No more than 50 points can be awarded for the interview; the maximum duration of the interview is 30 minutes.

 5)    evaluation of the research project prepared and submitted for assessment to the selection committee (maximum 20 points), with particular emphasis on:

 a)    the ability to formulate the research objective and present the research problem;

 b)    research idea and the ability to propose a solution;

 c)    methodology appropriate to the discipline indicated;

          d)    knowledge of the state of research with a basic bibliography. 

Condition of admission to the Doctoral School 

Education Program

Education at the doctoral school lasts 8 semesters. Education at the Doctoral School  is offered on the basis of a framework curriculum and an individual research plan and ends with the submission of a doctoral dissertation.

The framework curriculum at the doctoral school includes a catalogue of modules of compulsory classes, elective compulsory classes and optional classes. It also:

1)    defines their schedule

2)    defines the way in which the classes are taught

3)    defines how learning outcomes are verified.

Education begins on 1st December, 2024.

Supervisors

A doctoral student works under the supervision of a supervisor or supervisors, or a supervisor and auxiliary supervisor, who will be appointed by the Deputy Rector at the request of a doctoral student (within 3 months of the start of his or her studies at the Doctoral School).

Scholarships

The scholarship is PLN 4062,86 (gross-gross)  for the first two years and PLN 6259 (gross-gross) for the next two years.