This short course aims to foster the development of core competences and to equip trainees with the scientific, technical and communication skills needed for scientific research. Trainees are expected to:

The course is aimed at early-career researchers, research fellows and others wishing to complement their training (e.g. trainee students). The objectives, training content and learning outcomes depend on the length of the stay in the research group and on the modules attended.

The course consists of six modules:

The syllabus is variable and flexible, depending on the group the trainee joins, the modules attended and the specific area of their work. Each module will draw on a variety of strategies, which may include lectures, practical demonstrations and workshops, but the teaching and learning process is intended to take place mainly through the trainees' regular practice (in their day-to-day tasks).

Trainees will be awarded a mark between 10 and 20 on the 0–20 integer scale, based on a report covering all the modules attended. This report must be approved by the supervisor and archived for future reference. The weighting of each component in each module will be agreed in advance between the trainee, their supervisor(s) and the course coordinator at the Organic Unit, and may include:

• assessment of the trainee's performance in the tasks set out in their work plan (through a report prepared by the supervisor);
• participation in scientific seminars or technical or communication skills training (recorded as attendance in the trainee's individual portfolio, signed by the director of the research centre);
• participation in internal events (group meetings / lab meetings / journal clubs) in line with a previously defined training plan (recorded as participation in the trainee's individual portfolio, signed by the principal investigator);
• work presented by the trainee at conferences and the preparation/co-authorship of publications (national or international);
• written report(s) by the trainee on the research work carried out.

Applications are open all year round.

To apply, please complete the application form, available here.

When completing the application form, you must submit the following documents:

• Supervision acceptance statement (mandatory), available here;
• Grant renewal statement (mandatory).

Instructions on how to complete your enrolment will be sent to each applicant by email.

For further information, please contact pedagogico@eeg.uminho.pt.