As the end of the second year of the NAWA–STER project: Internationalization of PhD Schools at NCU: a platform for joint and double degree (PhD@NCU) is approaching rapidly,  it was the time for our doctoral students, the beneficiaries of the project, to reflect on their progress and participate in the evaluation seminar.

The evaluation seminar was held on January 18^th 2023 in the Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences. It was designed for the benefit of the doctoral students as a non-intimidating, hands-on opportunity to present their research and receive an effective feedback propelling and fostering their work forward. Its main purpose was to share the results of their current work, important milestones that they have achieved so far and gather insights about their existing and future research.

Doctoral students were invited to give a brief (a 10-minute slot) presentation which included the overview of their research area, project objectives, achievements and findings, as well as  forthcoming future research plans.

Each of the students gave an outstanding presentation demonstrating their field of research and keeping their audience engaged. There were 5 presentations in total, each followed by a 5-minute question and answer session/a brief discussion.

Invited guests included the Directors of NCU Doctoral Schools, NCU supervisors, Dean of the Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, and Chairs of Respective Research Discipline Councils.

The project Internationalization of PhD Schools at NCU: a platform for joint and double degree (PhD@NCU) is coordinated by prof. dr hab. Katarzyna Hrynkiewicz, Head of the Academia Copernicana Interdisciplinary Doctoral School and the Directors of four other Doctoral Schools.

The STER project is a pioneering undertaking aimed not only at developing cooperation with renowned foreign research units, but above all at developing a path to increase the scientific potential of the university through the implementation of international doctoral projects aimed at obtaining diplomas in the joint and double degree system.

Beneficiaries of NAWA-STER project:

1. Benedikt Weigand, Doctoral School of Humanities, Theology and Arts, a PhD project aiming to obtain a double degree diploma in the field of history entitled: “A comparison between Prussia and Burgundy (Lotharingia)”, cooperation with University of Würzburg, Germany.
2. Amina Laouid, Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, a PhD project aiming to obtain a double degree diploma in the field of physics entitled: “Nanostructures and thin films of metalorganics complexes and hybrid perovskites for applications in optoelectronics and photovoltaics”, cooperation with National School of Applied Sciences, El Jadida, Morocco.
3. Matteo Marangi, Academia Copernicana Interdisciplinary Doctoral School, PhD project aiming to obtain joint degree diploma in the field of microbiology entitled “Potential of S. europaea endophytes in decreasing colonization of plants by HPMOs”. Cooperation with University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
4. Emilia Wesołwska, Doctoral School of Social Sciences, a PhD project aiming to obtain a double degree diploma in the field of law entitled: „Dignity as a Condition for Releasing Al-Related Medical Machines and Systems to Market”, cooperation with University of Naples Parthenope, Italy.
5. Ameneh Mikaeeli, Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, a PhD project aiming to obtain a double degree diploma in the field of physics entitled: “Experimental and theoretical investigation of heat propagation in polymer nanolayers”, cooperation with z Ruhr University Bochum, Germany.