Information for PhD students

Courses for PhD students

NWO-I has developed a range of training courses especially for its PhD students and trainee researchers. 

Compensation printing costs thesis

The entire regulation can be found in the IR-8 Specific provisions for researchers in training (Dutch: 'onderzoeker in opleiding', oio). 

One can be compensated for the costs of printing the PhD thesis up to a maximum of € 1,500. A claim for compensation of the printing costs can be made up to twelve months after the ending of the employment agreement, as long as the costs were in fact made during this period and the date of the doctoral defence has actually been set. 

How do I submit my application?

If you work at AMOLF, CWI, DIFFER, Nikhef, a university workgroup (BUW) or at the NWO-I office, then please submit your application via NWO-I People. After application the form it will automatically end up at the right place for processing. Send a copy of your invoice as well as a copy of your proof of payment with the form. You should also send two copies of your PhD thesis by post to the P&O Department of NWO-I.

Do you work at another NWO-I location? Then please ask your P&O department (or check your local intranet) how to submit your application and where you hand off your PhD thesis. 

Acknowledgment and use of NWO logo

NWO-I asks NWO-I PhD students from the university workgroups (BUW) to include the acknowledgement below (in Dutch or English) in their thesis:

• Dit werk maakt van oorsprong deel uit van het onderzoekprogramma van de Stichting voor Fundamenteel Onderzoek der Materie (FOM), en valt vanaf 1 april 2017 onder de verantwoordelijkheid van Stichting Nederlandse Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Instituten (NWO-I), die deel uitmaakt van de Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO). 
• This work originates as part of the research programme of the Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (FOM), and falls as of April 1, 2017 under the responsibility of Netherlands Foundation of Scientific Research Institutes (NWO-I) (NWO-I), which is part of the Dutch Research Council (NWO).

The NWO logo (see the NWO website) should be placed with your acknowledgement.

Coaching for PhD students

Generally speaking, coaching is a means of supporting professional and personal development. During a series of sessions the coach and the member of staff examine existing behaviour and consider and experiment with more effective forms of behaviour. The starting point for this is always the member of staff's question.

If you are a PhD who - from the perspective of your work situation - is interested in individual coaching, then please contact the P&O Department or the Personnel officer of your NWO Institute. NWO-I will then put you in contact with a professional coach. If an initial consultation reveals that there are enough starting points then a number of coaching sessions will take place.

NWO-I will cover the costs involved. In return NWO-I expects a small investment from you in the form of paid leave. For more information, please contact your P&O department,

Even though this coaching is in principle ment for PhD's, other employees will have the need for individual coaching. If so, please contact your P&O Department. 

Extending the employment contract

A temporary employment contract ends automatically. About four months before the end date, you will receive a message from NWO-I that your contract will be administratively settled. If you or your line manager are considering extending the temporary contract, then your line manager should arrange the extension with the P&O Department of your Institute or the P&O Department NWO-I for university workgroups (BUW). In principle, NWO-I will not extend the employment agreement with a researcher in training (PhD). NWO-I will only deviate from this position under certain conditions. For more information about this, please see Article 9.2 Provisions on extension for oio's with an employment contract of the Collective Labour Agreement Research Institutions.

Resignation

If you wish to resign, then you should make this known in writing to your line manager. He or she will check whether the correct term of notice has been adhered to and whether further consultation with you is necessary. You and your line manager do not have to adhere to the period of notice agreed upon if both parties agreed that. If you work in a university workgroup (BUW) you can send the the resignation letter to the P&O Department NWO-I. Your line manager should sign your resignation letter for approval.

Planning and evaluation interviews for PhD students

On all locations you as a PhD student will have a yearly interview with your line manager. These interviews will help you and your line manager to work and plan effectively. How these interviews are name and which form you use, varies per location. Please ask your P&O Department about the local process. 

If you are a PhD at AMOLF, ARCNL, DIFFER or at a university workgroup (BUW), then you will have a so called 'planning and evaluation interview' each year. Such an interview will be held at least once a year. During the entire appointment, you and your line manager will hold a planning and evaluation interview at least three times. The first time will be at the end of the first year, the second interview at the end of the second year and the last interview at the end of the third/start of the fourth year. If you are in your fourth year, then the continuation of your career after NWO-I will also be considered.

A detailed form is available for the reporting of the three annual planning and evaluation interviews.

Each year, you and your line manager can use this form to evaluate the previous year and plan the next year. In the first part, your line manager evaluates the achievements and research results realised in the previous year. Based on these, your line manager will assess you. You make agreements about supervision and/or education and training. In the second part, you discuss with your line manager the planning of the research for the coming year. You make agreements about the planning.

The entire regulation can be found IR Annex II.

Contact

For the university workgroups (BUW), please contact Annette Bor.
For the other locations, please contact your P&O Department.