‘Cotutelle’ Joint Doctorate PhD Exchange Program - Flinders University Australia
Our PhD candidates are students selected from the University of Amsterdam (UvA), University of Groningen (RUG), Radboud University, and the Erasmus University Rotterdam, as well as from Flinders University (FU), and enrolled in both respective educational PhD curricula and FU Graduate Schools. High-potential PhD candidates will be waived their $36,000 annual tuition fees and will receive an annual $12,000 high-potential PhD stipend.
The PhD candidates will spend at least one year at the Department of Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery at Flinders Medical Centre (FMC) in Adelaide, Australia, and at least one year at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Academic Medical Centres in the Netherlands. They will undertake state-of-the-art scientific research: clinically focused experimental studies and patient trials. In addition, our PhDs are required to do a minimum 6-month elective PhD Research Fellowship at Dell Medical School, Austin, Texas, USA, or Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA – an experience that will further contribute to their comprehensive education to become fully trained clinician-scientists and leaders in their field.
After fulfilling the requirements for a PhD degree (a) coursework, (b) exams, (c) publication of a spectrum of five basic, biomechanical, experimental, imaging, cohort, and/or randomized studies in peer-reviewed journals, and (d) final successful PhD defense, the PhD candidate will obtain both a Dutch PhD degree from their own university and an Australian PhD.
Our goal: To train junior Medical Doctors (MDs) from the Dutch Universities and Flinders University, to become fully skilled – and ever curious! – clinician-scientists by obtaining their PhDs degrees and become leaders in their field to inspire future generations of surgeons!
The Netherlands – Boston Research Collaboration
In 2003, as a result of the decision to pursue a clinical PhD, prof. dr. Job Doornberg established a fruitful research collaboration between the MGH Orthopaedic Hand and Upper Extremity Service in Boston and the Academic Medical Center (AMC), Amsterdam. This has now expanded to several other institutions in the Netherlands. The international collaboration has already led to dozens of publications and multiple PhDs. It has also enhanced our understanding of the cultural, traditional, and political aspects of orthopaedic practice.
In addition to the experience of living abroad for a while, students get exposed to all aspects of clinical research, get more comfortable with statistics, and get the chance to present their research at national and international meetings in Europe and throughout the United States. Furthermore, it may help them to get accepted into an orthopaedic residency program back home in the Netherlands. The way research is organized at the MGH guarantees that there is always sufficient work. After all, nearly every patient that comes in can be enrolled in one of the many active research protocols in our departments. For the PhD fellows specifically, this, in combination with the highly specialized character of the departments (less frequently seen in a small country like the Netherlands), ensures a fast enrollment in studies and consequently shortens the time they need to spend on their PhD research. The Dutch research students get funded in three ways: by unrestricted research gifts from foundations and industry to the MGH; by multiple private Dutch funds, usually founded out of inheritances and supporting students who go abroad to pursue medical research; and from private loans.
Apply for Scientific Rotations and/or a Double Degree PhD Exchange Program
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