1
|
Biswas R, Schiller A, Casolani C, Daoud E, Dode A, Genitsaridi E, Jacquemin L, Liyanage N, Lourenco M, Makani P, Parameshwarappa V, Riha C, L Santacruz J, Shabbir M, Simoes J, Trpchevska N, Schoisswohl S. Doctoral Studies as part of an Innovative Training Network (ITN): Early Stage Researcher (ESR) experiences. OPEN RESEARCH EUROPE 2021; 1:34. [PMID: 37645158 PMCID: PMC10446088 DOI: 10.12688/openreseurope.13094.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Background: The Marie-Skłodowska-Curie Actions' (MSCA) Innovative Training Network (ITN) is a doctoral training programme jointly implemented by academic institutions and industries from countries across Europe and beyond. To our knowledge no study has examined the experience of students participating in MSCA-ITNs. This study aims to evaluate and report MSCA-ITN Early Stage Researcher (ESR) experiences. Methods: The Innovative Training Network - Evaluation Questionnaire (ITN-EQ) was developed to assess supervision, training, collaborations and experiences of ESRs and forwarded to two tinnitus-related ITNs and seven ITNs of other disciplines. Results: Key advantages identified included better career prospects, multidisciplinary research opportunities/collaborations, international exposure, personal/professional development, plus generous salaries and research budgets. However, lack of a common EU framework resulted in the experience being largely dependent on the host institution, country and supervisor. Moreover, managing the dual requirements of ITNs and host institutions while completing a three-year PhD seemed challenging for most ESRs. ESR involvement in workshop and training school planning was desirable. More than 80% of ESRs rated the overall ITN experience favourably and 98.3% would recommend the same to prospective PhD students. Conclusions: This report could provide valuable insights in planning and management of future ITNs and could assist prospective students in their decision of joining an ITN for their PhD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roshni Biswas
- European School on Interdisciplinary Tinnitus Research (ESIT), Regensburg, Germany
- Hearing Sciences, Mental Health and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Axel Schiller
- European School on Interdisciplinary Tinnitus Research (ESIT), Regensburg, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Chiara Casolani
- Tinnitus Assessment Causes Treatments (TIN-ACT), Groningen, The Netherlands
- Hearing System Section, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
- Oticon A/S, DK-2765 Smørum, Denmark
- Interacoustics Research Unit, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Elza Daoud
- Tinnitus Assessment Causes Treatments (TIN-ACT), Groningen, The Netherlands
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Albi Dode
- European School on Interdisciplinary Tinnitus Research (ESIT), Regensburg, Germany
- Institute of Databases and Information Systems, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Eleni Genitsaridi
- European School on Interdisciplinary Tinnitus Research (ESIT), Regensburg, Germany
- Hearing Sciences, Mental Health and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham, UK
| | - Laure Jacquemin
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
- Dept. of Translational Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Nuwan Liyanage
- European School on Interdisciplinary Tinnitus Research (ESIT), Regensburg, Germany
- University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Matheus Lourenco
- European School on Interdisciplinary Tinnitus Research (ESIT), Regensburg, Germany
- Experimental Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Health Psychology Research Group, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences,, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Punitkumar Makani
- Tinnitus Assessment Causes Treatments (TIN-ACT), Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Vinay Parameshwarappa
- European School on Interdisciplinary Tinnitus Research (ESIT), Regensburg, Germany
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Constanze Riha
- European School on Interdisciplinary Tinnitus Research (ESIT), Regensburg, Germany
- Department of Neuropsychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jose L Santacruz
- European School on Interdisciplinary Tinnitus Research (ESIT), Regensburg, Germany
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Graduate School of Medical Sciences (Research School of Behavioral and Cognitive Neurosciences), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Maryam Shabbir
- Hearing Sciences, Mental Health and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Tinnitus Assessment Causes Treatments (TIN-ACT), Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jorge Simoes
- European School on Interdisciplinary Tinnitus Research (ESIT), Regensburg, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Natalia Trpchevska
- European School on Interdisciplinary Tinnitus Research (ESIT), Regensburg, Germany
- Experimental Audiology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stefan Schoisswohl
- European School on Interdisciplinary Tinnitus Research (ESIT), Regensburg, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Doonan F, Taylor L, Branduardi P, Morrissey JP. Innovative training networks: overview of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie PhD training model. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2018; 365:5078865. [PMID: 30239741 PMCID: PMC6140915 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fny207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Doctoral training has changed in recent years with most PhDs now performed in structured programmes operated by university graduate schools. These schools generally superimpose a training framework onto the traditional research project to improve the education experience of the students and to prepare them for their careers. Many graduates progress to the commercial sector, where there is demand for highly skilled employees. The European Union (EU) promotes the development of transnational, training-focused, PhD programmes called Innovative Training Networks (ITNs) through Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. ITNs share many features of thematic PhD programmes, but they only recruit a single cohort of students, and they align with EU policy goals. These training networks are prestigious and very well regarded within European academia. The authors of this article were participants in a yeast biotechnology ITN, YEASTCELL, which finished in 2017. Some interesting insights into the more and less successful aspects of the project arose during discussions at the final project workshop. The views of the participants are distilled here in a discussion of how an ITN could be structured to maximise the benefits for the three main stakeholders: students, supervisors and industry partners.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Doonan
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, College Road Cork, Ireland
| | - Lucy Taylor
- PrimeUCC, UCC Academy, 2.02 Western Gateway Building, Western Road, Cork, Ireland
| | - Paola Branduardi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Università degli Studi Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 2 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - John P Morrissey
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, College Road Cork, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Rocking Aspergillus: morphology-controlled cultivation of Aspergillus niger in a wave-mixed bioreactor for the production of secondary metabolites. Microb Cell Fact 2018; 17:128. [PMID: 30129427 PMCID: PMC6102829 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-018-0975-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Filamentous fungi including Aspergillus niger are cell factories for the production of organic acids, proteins and bioactive compounds. Traditionally, stirred-tank reactors (STRs) are used to cultivate them under highly reproducible conditions ensuring optimum oxygen uptake and high growth rates. However, agitation via mechanical stirring causes high shear forces, thus affecting fungal physiology and macromorphologies. Two-dimensional rocking-motion wave-mixed bioreactor cultivations could offer a viable alternative to fungal cultivations in STRs, as comparable gas mass transfer is generally achievable while deploying lower friction and shear forces. The aim of this study was thus to investigate for the first time the consequences of wave-mixed cultivations on the growth, macromorphology and product formation of A. niger. Results We investigated the impact of hydrodynamic conditions on A. niger cultivated at a 5 L scale in a disposable two-dimensional rocking motion bioreactor (CELL-tainer®) and a BioFlo STR (New Brunswick®), respectively. Two different A. niger strains were analysed, which produce heterologously the commercial drug enniatin B. Both strains expressed the esyn1 gene that encodes a non-ribosomal peptide synthetase ESYN under control of the inducible Tet-on system, but differed in their dependence on feeding with the precursors d-2-hydroxyvaleric acid and l-valine. Cultivations of A. niger in the CELL-tainer resulted in the formation of large pellets, which were heterogeneous in size (diameter 300–800 μm) and not observed during STR cultivations. When talcum microparticles were added, it was possible to obtain a reduced pellet size and to control pellet heterogeneity (diameter 50–150 μm). No foam formation was observed under wave-mixed cultivation conditions, which made the addition of antifoam agents needless. Overall, enniatin B titres of about 1.5–2.3 g L−1 were achieved in the CELL-tainer® system, which is about 30–50% of the titres achieved under STR conditions. Conclusions This is the first report studying the potential use of single-use wave-mixed reactor systems for the cultivation of A. niger. Although final enniatin yields are not competitive yet with titres achieved under STR conditions, wave-mixed cultivations open up new avenues for the cultivation of shear-sensitive mutant strains as well as high cell-density cultivations.
Collapse
|