Prospective UL Doctoral Students are Invited to Apply for “Mikrotīkls” Scholarship

The scholarship has been established to promote excellence at the University of Latvia, to increase the personal growth and research opportunities of outstanding young doctoral students, as well as popularize the performance of Latvian researchers on an international scale. The amount of one doctoral scholarship for the patron “Mikrotīkls” is EUR 1 000 per month.

The scholarship competition is open to those first-year doctoral students from the University of Latvia Faculty of Biology, Faculty of Computing, Faculty of Physics, Mathematics and Optometry, Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry and Faculty of Medicine, who do not have contractual obligations under European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) projects implemented by the University of Latvia.

The first scholarships managed by the University of Latvia Foundation were awarded in 2016. So far, 15 researchers have received the support of the patron “Mikrotīkls” for the development of their doctoral theses.

Application

Until September 16, 2020, 23:59 all the applicants must submit the following documents electronically to the email address fonds@fonds.lv:

• CV;
• application form;
• description of their research;
• 2 letters of recommendation from the teaching staff.

Research application, application form and criteria >>

Evaluation criteria

Candidates are evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

• Candidate's qualifications, education and academic performance during previous research;
• Novelty of the research topic and feasibility of achieving the goals set for student’s research work during his/her doctoral studies;
• The experience of the scientific supervisor and the previous performance of the scientific group, including the conditions and material basis for the implementation of the selected research;
• Potential benefits to the University of Latvia and the industry from the successful development of the research, as well as the technical quality and presentation of the submitted materials.

Applications will be evaluated by a committee consisting of delegated representatives of the patron organisation, the University of Latvia Foundation and the University of Latvia management. In their activities, the members of the committee comply with the principles of ethics and prevention of conflict of interest.

Results

The results of the open competition will be announced until September 30, 2020.

Other conditions to be met by scholarship recipient

• The scholarship recipient must devote full time to his/her doctoral studies and preparation of the doctoral thesis. The scholarship recipient may combine the scholarship with other paid work only upon obtaining a permission from the University of Latvia Foundation.
• The scholarship recipient must not apply for a scholarship funded from the state budget.
• The scholarship recipient may engage in teaching work at the university to the extent that does not interfere with the implementation of the research project for a period within 3 years, without receiving additional remuneration.
• The scholarship recipient is obliged to submit a completed doctoral thesis to the relevant promotion council after 36 months of work. In case of objective circumstances preventing compliance with this term, it may be changed upon receiving an agreement from the University of Latvia Foundation.
• The scholarship recipient must engage in publicity activities that promote excellence scholarship and doctoral research.

In case of further questions, please, contact

CEO and Board Member of the University of Latvia Foundation
Laila Kundziņa
email: laila@fonds.lu.lv
mob. tel.: (+371) 29 212 426

About the University of Latvia Foundation

Since 2004, the UL Foundation provides an opportunity to patrons and cooperation partners to support both the University of Latvia and other leading higher education institutions of our country, thereby investing in the future of Latvia. The priorities of the UL Foundation are to support the most outstanding, dedicated students and researchers, to advance creation of a modern study environment, as well as to promote construction and refurbishment of university’s buildings.