Location: Research Center in Emergency and Disaster Medicine, Universita del Piemonte Orientale, Italy
For those who want to get engaged with humanitarian assistance through the field of medicine and health sciences, the international doctoral program offered by the Research Center in Emergency and Disaster Medicine (CRIMEDIM) of the University del Piemonte Orientale is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This interdisciplinary program, ran jointly with the Vrije Universiteit in Brussels, trains researchers in the fields of global health, humanitarian aid and disaster medicine and aims at promoting top-notch scientific work in these areas all around the world.
By inviting researchers from around the globe who work in different fields of study, the institution aspires to help make international cooperation and exchange of knowledge of humanitarian aid and global health stronger and create viable solutions for some of humanity’s most burning issues.
Applications for this highly competitive program are typically open in June. Applicants are evaluated on the basis of their academic record, research experience (preferably international), and interest in the study topics. In addition to their academic records and resumes, candidates should also submit a cover letter and a personal statement. In addition, to become a part of the program, candidates must submit a proposal relating to one of the three broad topics, namely global health, humanitarian aid or disaster medicine. Whatever the topic is, candidates should keep humanitarian contexts in focus. Some of the narrower topics that could be researched include humanitarianism, emergency public health, and health and medicine in humanitarian crises. After the initial evaluation of the application, selected candidates will be invited for an interview.
Once accepted, Ph.D. students are obliged to complete an induction course during the first year of their studies. This course consists of an introductory block which takes place in Italy and a research skill development block held in Belgium. Some of the mandatory courses include Research Methodology and Epidemiology, Statistics, and Scientific English. After the completion of these study sessions, Ph.D. students dedicate the rest of their time to their doctoral dissertations.