Aims of the training program

The development of the project mentioned in theabstract requires the achievement of a multidisciplinary knowledge which can not be acquired within a national context. As a consequence, the training program is addressed to both pre- and post-doctoral researchers. The latter are, in fact, expected to be expert in only one of the fields covered by the training program, but need to achieve knowledge in other fields not dealt with in their Ph.D. program. The training program will be supported by the following activities.

 
1. Individual training
2. Doctoral formation
3. Summer schools
4. Workshops
5. Exchange programs
6. Participation in and presentations at conference

• Individual training: The young researchers will come into contact and co-operate with experts in all fields during visits, summer schools and workshops. In addition, the researcher will have exchange programs involving teams which are working either on the same Task (see the Research Workplan) but with different methods or from a different perspective, or using similar methodologies to address different problems. Individual training will be provided by assigning to each young researcher a pair of tutors which will help him with the contents of the Ph.D. courses and with his research project. Acquisition of skills specific to particular projects, e.g. use of commercial computer packages, or knowledge of specialized mathematical techniques will also be organized within each research unit. In addition, as most teams collaborate in situ with bio-medical laboratories, the researcher will be asked to behave (jointly with one of the tutors) as an interface between the mathematical and the bio-medical world. In those teams which do not have this connection already, this expertise will be achieved through stays in other teams.

• Doctoral formation: Up-to-date information and valuable insight into specific aspects of the proposal will be provided in the form of several intensive courses given by leading experts in these areas. Teams which are less experienced in a particular topic may organize a course in that area by inviting experts from other teams to their institution. Leading experts from outside the network may also be invited to give courses on their areas of expertise. In most cases, these courses will be incorporated into pre-existing graduate programs of the host universities of the relevant research units.

• Summer schools: Once a year, an extensive summer school will be organized. Each team will contribute to the school, both via the teaching activities, and by sending students to participate in the school. Leading experts exterior to the network may be invited to the summer schools to ensure that everyone is familar with recent developments within the research field. Part of the summer school will be devoted to short communications presented by the young scientists on the progresses made on their research.

• Workshops: General workshops will involve all the members of the network. They will be organized periodically and  leading experts exterior to the network may be invited to participate. Workshops on more specific topics or Research Tasks will also be organized. 

• Exchange programs: Both doctoral students and post-doctoral researchers will be encouraged to visit other teams for short or medium periods of time. This will enable them to take advantage of the specific expertise of different teams and to acquire knowledge in these areas. It can be anticipated that each young researcher financed by the European Community will spend at least 12 months involved in such exchange programs.

• Participation in and presentations at conference: Both the doctoral students and the young post-doctoral researchers will be encouraged to participate in international workshops and conferences at which they will present results of their research activity.