The PhD/doctoral programme of the Vienna Doctoral School of Ecology and Evolution offers an internationally competitive doctoral training. It includes the writing of an original and innovative research work in the form of a dissertation and a training component.

Curriculum

Based on the Curriculum of the 'Doctoral Programme in the Natural Sciences and of the PhD Programme in the Natural Sciences in the field of Life Sciences' of the University of Vienna, the candidates can enrol to research fields as follows

• Biology (code 794 685 437): academic degree PhD
• Molecular Biology (code 794 685 490): academic degree PhD

Based on the Curriculum of the 'Doctoral Programme in Natural Sciences and Technical Sciences in the field of Natural Sciences' of the University of Vienna, the candidates can enrol to research fields as follows

• Environmental Sciences (code 796 605 299): academic degree Dr.rer.nat.
• Geosciences/Earth Sciences (code 796 605 426): academic degree Dr.rer.nat.

Requirements for PhD students

• According to the curricula, students have to obtain at least:
  • 30 ECTS in Biology and Molecular Biology
  • 12 ECTS in Environmental Sciences
  • 24 ECTS in Earth Sciences
• We encourage all VDSEE PhD graduates to obtain at least 30 ECTS in total
• sign the 'Code of Good Practice for Doctoral Schools'
• join the mandatory seminar series / journal clubs (2 or 3 ECTS, please talk to your supervisor)
• join the VDSEE seminar series (2 ECTS)
• present their research project publicly within the first six months of their PhD and no later than one year after starting.
• sign the doctoral thesis agreement & "Regulations relating to good scientific practices" subsequent to their public presentation.
• submit a progress report annually.
• write a doctoral thesis, which demonstrates the candidate's ability to master academic topics independently.
• complete and submit your thesis, and defend publicly.
• In addition, in agreement with their supervisor(s) and as stated in the dissertation agreement, PhD candidates can select lectures, seminars, etc. to fulfil the ECTS requirements from the course directory, e.g. from
  • 55 - Ecology and Evolution Directorate of Doctoral Studies or
  • Directorate of Studies 30 - Biology
• Students may obtain ECTS for oral or poster presentations at international science conferences. Please forward a proof of attendance and book of abstracts to the VDSEE executive manager.

PhD graduates are encouraged 

• To attend international conferences and workshops with active contributions.
• To attend the Annual VDSEE-Retreat, where lectures will be held by scientists and teaching personnel on topics of general interest both, societal and scientific, among other activities. 
• To organise ad hoc workshops on technical and methodological advances, e.g. on new statistical tools, bioinformatic methods, new imaging methods, etc.
• To attend transferable skills training, such as presentation skills, science communication (e.g. to/with lay public and journalists, social media), ethics in scientific research, responsible science, sustainable use of resources (SDG goals), etc.