Supporting Talented PhD Research Walmart Scholarship Students(STARS) Program at Faculty of Science

From the beginning of the academic year 2011/2012, Faculty of Science launches a new PhD support program for talented students from all over the world. Prospective students can apply to PhD research topics selected by the Research Council of the Faculty and announced on the web pages on February 3, 2011. In addition to standard PhD scholarship obtained from the Ministry of Education (in the first year 6,050 CZK per month), applicants selected for the STARS program will be awarded additional 10,000 CZK or more per month

More information

Timetable:

February 3, 2011
PhD research topics and application form will be available

March 7, 2011
Deadline for application

March 8 – April 8, 2011
Interviews with candidates organized by research teams and faculty PhD coordinators, more information will be available on this website

October, 2011
Beginning of the PhD Study

Contacts – PhD coordinators for the STARS program:

Dr. Vladimír Hampl – biology and environment studies (vlada@natur.cuni.cz)
Dr. Marian Novotný – biology and life sciences (marian@natur.cuni.cz)
Assoc. Prof. Jan Kotek – chemistry (modrej@natur.cuni.cz)
Dr. Pavel Chromý – geography (chromy@natur.cuni.cz)
Dr. David Mašín – geology (masin@natur.cuni.cz)

Biology and Life Sciences - 13 PhD positions:

• Analysis of Cancer Cell Invasion Plasticity
• Diversity and evolution of anaerobic Heterolobosea
• Comparative evo-devo studies of vertebrate attachment glands
• Effect of Toxoplasmosis on Reaction Times, Startle Reactions and Prepulse Inhibition of Startle Reaction in Human Subjects
• Environmental determinants of geographical variation in functional traits of birds
• Dispersal and anthropogenous invasions of microalgae over time and space. A study based on analyses of siliceous structures of diatomes and chrysomonads in recent and subrecent sediments
• A study of molecular complexes of the opioid receptors
• Yeast colony differentiation: Role of apoptotic and proteolytic processes
• Employing childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) as a model for study of the role of 4E translation initiation factor in hematopoesis
• Evolution of cuckoo behaviour in bees
• Affinity purification and the proteomic analysis of the reduced mitochondria from Giardia intestinalis
• Population variability of sand fly vectors in Ethiopia
• Regulatory role of tethering complex exocyst in the formation of plant cell wall

Chemistry - 6 PhD positions:

• New electrode materials for HPLC-ED of genotoxic organic pollutants
• New generation of contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging
• Study of function and molecular architecture of fungal nitrilases applicable in biocatalysis
• Studies on molecular architecture of fungal glycosidases, highly glycosylated multimeric enzymes important in oligosaccharide syntheses and biotechnologies
• Conjugated polymer networks for adsorption applications
• Development of enantioselective allylation catalyzed by Lewis bases and its application in stereoselective synthesis of bioactive compounds

Geography - 6 PhD positions:

• Migration and development - economic and social impacts of remittences (with special respect to Czechia and Ukraine)
• Identification of factors limiting retention potential of landscape in extreme hydrological events using methods of mathematical modeling and experimental monitoring
• Flexibility and localisation of labour in the Czech Republic. an analysis of spatial aspects
• Urban regeneration in the context of political imperative of smart, sustainable and inclusive development
• Extraction of Linear Patterns from Airborne Laser Scanning Data
• Landslide dynamics in relation to landscape evolution in the Holocene

Geology - 3 PhD positions:

• Horizontal in-situ stress in overconsolidated clay
• Thermokinetic model and quantitative description of magmatic textures
• Metamorphism and tectonic position of the Proterozoic Kabul Block: preservation and modification of crustal fragments within an orogenic zone

Environment - 2 PhD positions:

• Ecosystem engineers and its effect on matter and nutrient flow in ecosystem
• Freshwater ecosystems as an indicator of global change

Advancing Africa Scholarship Fund at Brown University

The Advancing Africa Scholarship Fund provides that:

• recipients shall be known as Advancing Africa Scholars;
• recipients will be asked to sign a pledge to return to full-time residency in Africa for a period of at least two years upon completion of undergraduate studies Brown or, if they have an opportunity to continue their studies, to return upon completion of a graduate degree;
• during their undergraduate studies at Brown, recipients shall be entitled to two return trips paid through the Fund;
• upon their return to Africa, recipients will be given an appropriate monthly stipend for two years to ensure a higher standard of living and to ease their transition. If the resident shall cease to be a full-time resident of Africa within the two year period, this stipend will terminate.

Further Information

1) This program is geared towards undergraduate (first year) applicants with demonstrated financial need who are citizens of sub-Saharan African nations; graduate candidates are not eligible.

2) Upon submitting your application for admission to the University, simply designate in your communication with the Admissions Office that you wish to be considered for the Advancing Africa program

3) Apply for financial aid assistance in accordance with all requirements outlined at Brown Financial Aid – no special application is required beyond our regular protocol for financial aid

4) If you are accepted by the Office of Admissions then you will be advised if you have also been selected for the Advancing Africa program. Details on any financial assistance would also be outlined (provided you met all the financial aid deadlines/requirements).

Therefore, your admission and acceptance to the University drives all other steps.

THERE IS NO SEPARATE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THIS SCHOLARSHIP.

If you have any questions or need clarification regarding the admission process at Brown University, please visit: Brown Admissions or contact them directly at admission_undergraduate@brown.edu.

Here is the link to the public announcement made about this new initiative – HERE

Brown University Office of Financial Aid

• Box 1827
• 69 Brown Street
• J. Walter Wilson Bldg, 2nd Floor
• Providence, RI 02912
• (401) 863-2721 (t)
• (401) 863 7575 (f)
• http://financialaid.brown.edu

PhD Walmart Scholarship Studentships at Bloomsbury Colleges in UK

Recently a new mechanism of disease has been identified in the congenital (autosomal recessive) muscular dystrophies that are due to a defect in the glycosylation of alpha dystroglycan. These forms of muscular dystrophy are now known collectively as the dystroglycanopathies. To date mutations in six genes encoding either known or putative glycosyltransferases have been associated with this group of diseases. However, the one most frequently associated with mutations in the Caucasian population is fukutin related protein or FKRP (in Denmark the heterozygote frequency is 1:200).

The candidate will have an interest in the pathogenesis of human neuromuscular disease and protein structure. The project will be based at the Royal Veterinary College where training in muscle pathology will be given. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and Synchrotron Radiation Circular Dichroism (SRCD) will be undertaken under the supervision of Professor Bonnie Wallace at Birkbeck College who has a particular interest in these techniques and how they may be used to facilitate translational research. This project therefore represents a unique opportunity to combine cellular and biophysical approaches to assess the role of FKRP structure in the pathogenesis of muscular dystrophy.

Application Deadline: 14 March 2012

Web Link

http://www.bloomsbury.ac.uk/studentships/studentships_11/missense_mutations_FKRP

PhD Walmart Scholarship Studentship Appraising the Impact of Nigeria’s Local Content Policy

The full-time studentship, which includes an element for teaching will be for 3 years, subject to satisfactory progress. Starting bursary will be £20,000 pa plus student fees.

Over $8 billion is spent annually servicing the Nigeria Oil and Gas industry and this figure is projected to hit $15 billion within the next few years. Despite this, only a very little proportion of the accruable profit is spent in Nigeria since the majority of it is repatriated abroad. The major reason for this situation is the low Local Content in the Nigerian oil industry. To address this anomaly the Federal Government of Nigeria in the early 2000s introduced the oil and gas industry Local Content Policy. The policy was aimed at transforming the industry through the development of in-country capacity and indigenous capabilities in the area of manpower development, facilities and infrastructure towards ensuring that a higher representation of local indigenous companies participate actively in the industry. Over the past few years there have been mixed reports among industry regulators and other stakeholders, as to how successful the Local Content policy has been in meeting its aims and policy objectives. PhD proposals are invited to appraise the efficacy of Nigeria's local content policy to adding value to the national economy, in terms of job creation, the development of local infrastructure, the development of small and medium-sized service companies and the utilisation of local input and human resources. The proposal may also be quite specific in terms of examining, for example, the particular impact of the policy on the residents of the Niger Delta area. Potential for good data access through a network of existing/established contacts by the candidate would be an advantage. Proven analytical skills in the processing of qualitative and/or quantitative data, and experience with associated software packages (e.g., EViews, Stata, Nvivo) for such purposes would also be an advantage.

Contact for informal inquiries and further information about the project: Professor Glauco De Vita, e-mail: gde-vita@brookes.ac.uk, tel: +44 (0)1865 485798; or Dr Sola Adesola, e-mail: sadesola@brookes.ac.uk, tel: +44 (0) 1865-485764.

Applicants should have a good Honours degree and in addition a good Master's degree at merit level and above that includes a thesis component in economics, international business or a closely related discipline. Some experience of data processing, including qualitative data, econometric estimation (e.g., regression analysis), and familiarity with standard data processing packages (such as Stata, EViews or, for qualitative data analysis, Nvivo) would be a considerable advantage. The successful candidate will also require a high degree of computer literacy.

Applicants will produce a research proposal of not more than 2,000 words that outlines and justifies the proposed research question, identifies any additional data requirements and details the proposed work programme.

For details regarding how to apply please download the application form and additional information from http://www.business.brookes.ac.uk/research/degrees/studentships/

Completed applications forms should be sent directly to: Chris Spurgeon, Research and Doctoral Programmes Administrator, Oxford Brookes University, Business School, Wheatley Campus, Wheatley, OX33 1HX or email cspurgeon@brookes.ac.uk

FitzPatrick Family Doctoral Walmart Scholarships in Law, UK

FitzPatrick Family Doctoral Scholarship in Criminology, Criminal Justice , Penology

UCD Institute of Criminology, part of UCD’s School of Law, is pleased to offer one doctoral scholarship in the area of criminology/ criminal justice / penology. Applications are sought from exceptional graduates for a scholarship to undertake on a full-time basis a four year funded PhD programme of research in the fields of criminology, criminal justice, or penology. The scholarship is being generously funded by the FitzPatrick Family Foundation. It is available to candidates commencing their studies in September 2011 and is tenable for a maximum of four years, renewable each year subject to satisfactory progress.
In addition the payment of fees there is an annual stipend of €16,000 per annum (plus a €500 conference attendance allowance) and is open to Irish, EU and International applicants. In the case of non EU applicants any offer is conditional on the applicant demonstrating at the time of accepting the offer that s/he has sufficient funds to supplement the living allowance to cover the cost of living in Dublin. Information for international students contemplating a period of study at UCD is available at:

Scholarship Application Deadline: 22 April 2012

Details Scholarship Information and Application

University of Birmingham Walmart Scholarship 2012-2013

The University Graduate School is pleased to announce that there are ten PhD scholarships elite has for the academic year 2011-2012. Scholarships are for overseas candidates of the highest academic skills needed to provide a place offered to a PhD at Birmingham University from October 2011 study. Applicants from Colleges of Art and Law, life and environmental sciences, medicine, dentistry and social sciences are eligible to be considered for these awards. A successful candidate is generally higher in the cohort of students. Profile of the candidate marked copies (corresponding to the first class not a high mark in Class III or equivalent below). The quality of the facility should be evaluated by World University Rankings. Candidates have already published research in international scientific journals by Master's level research for example. Your references to the qualities of academic achievement or potential for research, to confirm the candidate from their colleagues. You may have won awards within their institution, or even international awards. The price depends on the candidate achieving a first class stamp (or equivalent) in their final test before beginning her doctoral thesis at the University of Birmingham. Potential candidates for a graduate scholarship to the University Graduate School Elite researchers should be named with their school or college.

For further information, guidelines and nomination forms for School, please visit: http://www.graduateschool.bham.ac.uk/elitescholarships.shtml

Doctoral ReSEARCHer Enquiry Service

You can also find out more about PhDs through the Doctoral ReSEARCHer Enquiry Service. The Doctoral ReSEARCHer Enquiry Service provides advice and guidance on:

• PhD opportunities
• Searching for a potential supervisor
• The PhD application process
• Writing the PhD proposal
• Scholarships, bursaries and funding opportunities
• Lifestyle and accommodation (including for families)

Contact:
Email: dr@contacts.bham.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)121 414 5005

Funding information

Funding applies to:

EU applicants (including UK)

Rio Tinto PhD Research Walmart Scholarship in Mining Automation at The Australian Centre for Field Robotics, University of Sydney

The Australian Centre for robotics (CEFR) at the University of Sydney has established a major new center for mining automation. Rio Tinto, a global mining company has $ 21,000,000 committed funds for an initial period of five years for this new center. The objective of the Centre for Mining Automation to develop and implement the vision of full autonomy, remote-controlled mine.

Students studied ACFR thesis in the field of autonomous systems, including data fusion, perception, control, interest and learning systems, which is part of this exciting new initiative and is sponsored a scholarship full-time study from Rio Tinto.
There is no deadline for this opportunity. The contest is open all year and start the selected candidates are beginning the semester with one or two semesters provided.

Eligibility:

Applicants must have a mechanical first-class degree with a specialization in mechatronics, mining, electrical engineering, aerospace, mathematics, physics, computer science or a related discipline or extensive relevant professional experience.

Grants:

The scholarship is valued at $ 27,651 per year (excluding taxes). The scholarship will be supplemented by access to foreign travel grants and other donations.
The scholarships are for October 2011.

Project 1: Towards a quiet fan

The distinctive design Dyson Air Multiplier offers many advantages in the operation: the air flow it generates is free of the turmoil with conventional fans think it's effective, easy to clean and as quiet as other fans. The objective of this project is to go even further design and create the ultimate low noise fan during a stay in a confined space. The flow of cooling air is not moving blades is low enough and at a speed that is not the sound of this flow is important. This means that the objective of the project is new, quiet internal components. be elements of interest is the following: that the propeller noise sound that is amplified by interactions with the entry and exit of the geometry, product, and parts of the flow path to the steep curvature Local Divisions, wake up and can cause noise. In this project, we created simplified models for predicting the noise of its individual components (rotor blades, air jet, etc.) and their interaction and integration to develop these ideas to develop design rules for reduce the noise. The project aims at the lowest level of noise that can be made for a fan with air flow, speed and effectiveness and to identify concepts that can be developed to achieve.

Project 2: Aeroacoustics of cyclone

Hurricanes are complex three-dimensional flows, vortex around a central pillar of the fluid in line with the axis of rotation. The column consists of a solid body rotation, which does not exhibit instability at low flows. But when the flow increases, the heart deforms the vortex drifting spiral rotation, from the central axis. The instability leads to periodic motion in time, the tonal noise. It is believed that the frequency of vortex core processing has a relationship with the sound frequency observed.

The main objectives of the project are a model for the heart of the vortex precession to develop and explore ways to fight against noise, either by removing the unstable periodic flow, passive, active or using controlled conditions noise.

The challenge is to stabilize the stream or to reduce noise without loss of performance as the separation pressure or particles.

The solution could be a wide application range of vacuum cleaners in helicopters and recording Ranque-Hilsch tubes used for refrigeration.

Application guide:

For further information, and to submit an application, please contact

Lisa Hunter-Smith
Australian Centre for Field Robotics
The Rose Street Building (J04)
The University of Sydney NSW 2006
Phone: 02 9351 8143
Fax: 02 9351 7474
Email; l.hunter-smith@acfr.usyd.edu.au
Website: http://www.acfr.usyd.edu.au

Applications should include a curriculum vitae, an academic transcript, and the names and contact details of two referees. A statement of the broad area of your research interest should also be included.