PhD Association
The PhD Association was born to create the ideal space for PhD students to support each other and to make their journey as smooth as possible. The PhDA aims to foster interaction, collaborations and a sense of community at our center! We also want to provide resources for career and personal development and to represent the PhD students at executive level.
What does a good PhD experience look like for you?
“A good PhD experience for me includes being able to passionately work on my research in a stimulating and supportive environment with the help of my colleagues, friends and family." Dufie, PhD student in the Ludo Van Den Bosch Lab shares. "Finding a work-life balance that still allows me to focus on my research as well as my main extracurricular activity - dancing, including being a dance teacher - is really important to me.”
Initiatives
The Optimist
A journal to help you survive the ups and downs of PhD life? That's the Optimist: written by PhD students, for PhD students!
Training
There are lots of training opportunities with VIB & KU Leuven. Explore all courses and workshops available!
PhD Symposium
Each year, the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research and NERF join forces to organize a PhD week and PhD symposium.
Mentor Sessions
The PhD Association organize mental health sessions, to promote wellbeing and facilitate chats with senior postdocs and other peers!
Social Activities
The committee facilities groups to connect PhDs according to shared interests: basketball, hiking, board games, and more.
Welcome Package
A survival kit for every new PhD student which includes an eco-conscious goodie bag with a USB stick, mug, gym bag, and more.
PhD Association Representatives
PhD Resources at KU Leuven
A lively community counting over 1200 PhD students, more than 250 supervisors and a dedicated administrative staff, the doctoral school provides an integrated framework for PhD training and offers career perspectives for doctoral graduates in different sectors.
Want to join us for your PhD?
To find out more about current opportunities to do your PhD within our Center, check out our current vacancies.