Symbnet PhD Summer School on Host-Microbe Symbioses
Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM) & Católica Biomedical Research Centre (CBR)
July 06 -19, 2025
Oeiras (Lisbon), Portugal
About
Host-microbe interactions shape each other’s physiology, ecology, and evolution. Human health, for instance, can be strongly influenced by the symbiotic microbial community. The impact of these interactions extends to the ecology of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. This is an expanding field of research in biology and there is a current need to summarize and integrate the knowledge that is being generated, and to extrapolate general principles to be incorporated in future innovative research projects. This Summer School aims at training the next generations of researchers in host-microbe symbioses.
The SymbNET PhD Summer School on Host-microbe Symbioses 2025 is for PhD students from diverse geographies and academic backgrounds, interested in acquiring in depth understanding of the field of Host-Microbe Symbioses from different perspectives. The Summer School is designed to teach concepts, identify new research questions, and present state of the art approaches in host-microbe symbiosis. It will consist of lectures from experts in the field, incorporating a variety of research models and topics. It will also involve the conceptual development of new research projects, by the students. The project exercise aims to promote thinking deeply about questions, future directions, and creative research approaches.
The Summer School will be two weeks long, with at least 20 lecturers and 35 international PhD students, fostering a continuous and strong interaction between faculty and students. The students will acquire critical knowledge for their future choice of research direction.
Accommodation and meals during course activities are covered for accepted students. Students from diverse backgrounds and areas, and from countries who are less represented in research and innovation, are encouraged to apply for travel support. Details below.
Audience
International PhD students with interest in the topic of host-microbe symbioses.
Preference will be given to students in the second or later years of the PhD. Talented students from diverse scientific and cultural backgrounds are welcomed.
Venue
GIMM and CBR – Oeiras site
Rua da Quinta Grande, nº6. 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal
Application and Selection
Applications must be submitted here until March, 28th. Submissions material includes: motivation letter (one page max.), short CV (two pages max.) and a letter of reference from the PhD supervisor (one page max.).
We strongly encourage applications from European widening countries, as well as from other countries less represented in research and innovation, namely from Africa, Asia, Middle East, South and Central America.
The decision will be announced on April, 14th.
Registration Fee and Sponsoring
Selected applicants will have to pay a registration fee of 300 Euros. This fee may be waived based on needs.
Accepted students from low- and middle-income countries can apply for financial support for travelling. Other students whose lab cannot cover travel may also apply.
Accommodation is covered by the Summer School. Lunch, dinner, and coffee break during classes are also covered.
Accommodation
Lodging will be in double rooms at Hotel Riviera. The Hotel is within walking distance of Carcavelos Beach, one train station away from GIMM - Oeiras site, and with easy access by train to Lisbon city center and Cascais.
Contact
For further information and administrative support contact ana.teles@gimm.pt
Lecturers
Confirmed lecturers
Jewelna Akorli (University of Ghana, Ghana)
Aileen Berasategui (Vrije University Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Martin Blaser (Rutgers University, New Brunswick, USA)
Thomas Bosch (Kiel University and Metaorganisms CRC, Kiel, Germany)
Nicole Dubilier (Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany)
Takema Fukatsu (AIST, Tsukuba, Japan)
Ilana Gabanyi (GIMM, Oeiras, Portugal)
Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello (Rutgers University, New Brunswick, USA)
Karen Guillemin (University of Oregon, Eugene, USA)
Rob Knight (University of California, San Diego, USA)
Waldan Kwong (GIMM, Oeiras, Portugal)
Margaret McFall-Ngai (California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, USA)
Nancy Moran (University of Texas at Austin, USA)
Sean Meaden (University of York, UK)
Spencer Nyholm (University of Connecticut, USA)
Howard Ochman (University of Texas at Austin, USA)
Laila Partida-Martinez (CINVESTAV, Irapuato, Mexico)
Ned Ruby (California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, USA)
Luís Teixeira (Católica Biomedical Research Centre, Lisbon, Portugal)
Karina Xavier (GIMM, Oeiras, Portugal)
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