Training
The PULSE Program will equip you with skills to become resilient leaders and entrepreneurs in Life Science. While developing core and advanced research skills, you will actively participate in an international network that spans academia, industry, government, and healthcare.
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Program design
Personal career development plan
Organization of training
Secondments and other training options
PULSE Challenge seminar series
Program design
The PULSE Program is designed to:
- support postdocs in developing independence as life science researchers
- connect postdocs with cutting-edge knowledge in technology, methods, data management, and Open Science
- build competency in innovation and translational research
- develop strong researchers who can meet the challenge of being scientific leaders in the context of climate change and other global crises.
Personal career development plan
At the beginning of the PULSE project, each PULSE postdoc will together with their supervisor panel and the PULSE Training and Career development committee design a tailored training program in their Personal Career Development Plan (PCDP), that will be updated annually. The PCDP will empower the PULSE postdocs and support them in taking responsibility for their career development.
The PCDP considers measurable factors, e.g. scientific and transferable training goals and research output, but also favours a holistic career view by looking at work-life balance, mental health and other career influencing factors.
In addition to dedicated support structures in the PULSE program, career support offices at individual implementing partners are also available for PULSE postdocs.
Organization of training
Core scientific training will take place primarily at the hosting institution through working on an individual research project with the support of a research group. Postdocs will develop experience and independence in project design, state-of-the-art methods and technology, and data analysis.
Advanced scientific training is offered through mandatory secondments at the partner organizations that make up the PULSE Consortium. SciLifeLab also offers advanced training in technology and data-driven life science in several forms and topics — from machine learning to bioinformatics, from mentorship programs to short form courses. More information here: Training at SciLifeLab.
Transferable skills are structured into three key areas — scientific communication, sustainable leadership, and key competencies — and are designed to assist postdocs in exercising the skills needed in their next career stage, whether working as a group leader, a start-up founder, a leader within government, or something completely new.
Secondments and other training options
PULSE postdocs are required to complete a 3-6 month secondment. These can be carried out with any of the 33 PULSE partner organisations.
Academic track postdocs may split secondments into up to three placements, while those on the entrepreneurial track will work with industrial partners. The secondment’s benefits and learning outcomes must be detailed in the project description and PCDP.
Optional short visits (up to 4 weeks) to relevant institutions are encouraged, aligned with the postdoc’s career development plan. Additional training not available at the host institution or partner organisations can be arranged externally. Postdocs are also expected to attend two international and three national conferences and have access to various seminars, technology, and core training during their 3-year project.
PULSE Challenge seminar series
PULSE is highlighting a new seminar series organized by SciLifeLab Drug Discovery and Development Platform, focusing on key challenges in drug discovery.
February 19, PULSE Challenge: Properties and challenges with therapeutic oligonucleotides illustrated by hybridization-dependent off-target assessment (Recording of the seminar will be published here shortly)
February 25, PULSE Challenge: ML/AI approaches for designing proximity-inducing small molecules – PROTAC cell permeability and bioavailability
March 17, PULSE Challenge: Selection and screening of antibody based drugs
N.B. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.