Chrono
Scientific & technical skills
- Chronobiology, cellular and molecular biology, imaging and circadian experimental designs.
- Animal models where relevant, iPSCs, organoids and patient-derived cells.
- Multi-omics, bioinformatics, statistics, R and Python.
Home / Training & network
Training & network
Grow as a scientist
Build your network
A doctoral journey combining research, European mobility, shared learning and personal career support for 12 doctoral candidates.
100+ hoursScientific and transferable-skills courses
2–3 monthsOf research placements at other labs of the network
3 congressesShared learning across the network
6+ coursesWith three years of Nature Masterclasses access
Skills tailored to your research
Your individual training plan combines at least 60 hours of scientific courses and 40 hours of transferable-skills courses. Techniques are selected for your project and career goals. Language courses are also available through local programs.
Skills for your next career step
- Scientific writing, presentations and intercultural communication.
- Project management, ethics, entrepreneurship and intellectual property.
- Grant writing, job applications and interview preparation.
- Experience mentoring bachelor’s and master’s trainees.
Keep learning together
Continuous network training is planned from the second half of 2027 to the first half of 2030.
Bioinformatics Club
Monthly online sessions of 1–1.5 hours, organised by doctoral candidates with EPFL and Helmholtz Munich support. Share pipelines, troubleshoot analyses and build multi-omics and data-visualisation skills.
Writing Club
Develop papers, conference abstracts, your thesis and funding proposals through peer feedback and exchanges with researchers and editors. Includes a grant-writing clinic supported by EPFL.
Discussion Club
Explore new research through critical reading and discussion, alongside drug-development sessions with Bienta. The exact frequency of the Writing and Discussion Clubs will be confirmed.
Nature Masterclasses
Unlimited access for three years, with at least six courses in your career plan. Topics include publication, grant writing, presentations, networking, collaboration, data analysis and bioethics.
Your network calendar
Indicative dates. Exact dates, venues and registration arrangements will be confirmed by the coordinators.
22nd of January 2027
Applications close
Recruiting institutions
Closing of applications for the doctoral positions.
February-March 2027
Interviews and candidate selection
Recruiting institutions
Interviews and selection of doctoral candidates.
April - May of 2027
Doctoral school registration
Host institutions
Selected candidates enrol in their host institutions’ doctoral schools.
May - December 2027
Start of doctoral research
Host institutions
Doctoral candidates begin their research at their host institutions.
Second half of 2027
1st ChronoBridge congress
University of Geneva · 4 days
Experimental chronobiology, cellular and animal models, ethics, research integrity and project management.
Second half of 2027
Bioinformatics Boot Camp
BGI · Poland · 4 days
Hands-on RNA-seq, single-cell analysis, multi-omics, data visualisation and trustworthy AI.
Second half of 2028
2nd ChronoBridge congress
Université Paris Cité · 4 days
Inter-organ communication, scientific presentations, public engagement, gender and diversity. Doctoral candidates help organise the scientific program.
Second half of 2029
3rd ChronoBridge congress
Charité · 4 days
Lifestyle medicine, nutrition, exercise, chronopharmacology and science-to-business skills. Doctoral candidates help organise the scientific program.
First half of 2030
ChronoBridge Open Conference
Organised by KI and Inserm · 1 day
Project results and dialogue with clinicians, patients, the public and policymakers. Venue to be confirmed.
Date to be confirmed
European Biological Rhythms Society (EBRS) satellite session
Led by TUM and the University of Lübeck
Selected doctoral candidates will contribute to a session connecting chronobiology and chronometabolism.
Experience other laboratories
Each candidate undertakes at least two research placements, known as secondments, totalling 2–3 months. They provide complementary methods and international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral experience, with a co-supervisor at each host.
Individual schedules will be confirmed with supervisors.
| Project / main host | Placement destinations | Total duration |
|---|---|---|
| DC01Charité (Berlin, Germany) | University of Geneva; Université Paris Cité; BioTalentum | 2.5 months |
| DC02EPFL (Lausanne, Switzerland) | Charité; BioTalentum | 2 months |
| DC03Université Paris Cité (Paris, France) | EPFL; Karolinska Institutet; University of Cambridge; Inserm | 2.5 months |
| DC04Karolinska Institutet (Stockholm, Sweden) | Helmholtz Munich; Université Paris Cité | 2 months |
| DC05Université Paris Cité (Paris, France) | Helmholtz Munich; EPFL; TUM; University of Cambridge | 2.5 months |
| DC06TUM (Munich, Germany) | Université Paris Cité; University of Cambridge; EPFL | 2.5 months |
| DC07EPFL (Lausanne, Switzerland) | Université Paris Cité; TUM | 2 months |
| DC08University of Geneva (Geneva, Switzerland) | Maastricht University (two visits); EPFL; Inserm | 3 months |
| DC09University of Lübeck (Lübeck, Germany) | Maastricht University; University of Geneva; Inserm; BioTalentum | 3 months |
| DC10Inserm (Nantes, France) | University of Geneva; University of Lübeck; Charité | 2.5 months |
| DC11University of Cambridge (Cambridge, United Kingdom) | EPFL; Université Paris Cité | 2.5 months |
| DC12BioTalentum (Gödöllö, Hungary) | University of Geneva; EPFL; Université Paris Cité | 3 months |
Industrial placements are planned for selected projects, rather than every candidate. All candidates benefit from industry contributions to training and a non-academic mentor.
Short clinical visits
Hospital visits linked to placements include half-day sessions in Berlin, Geneva and Nantes. Explore circadian medicine in intensive care, chronodisruption, chrononutrition and time-restricted eating trials. Individual dates remain to be confirmed.
Join a European research community
Conferences & collaboration
Each candidate is expected to present their work at at least two international scientific conferences. EBRS, SRBR, Keystone, Gordon and EASD meetings are examples; external schools and workshops such as EMBO or FEBS are also opportunities, with participation arranged individually.
Collaborate with your cohort of 12 candidates, exchange methods and meet researchers, clinicians, industry specialists and patient representatives.
Take an active role
Help organise the second and third congresses, develop public-engagement skills and share project findings beyond academia.
All candidates join the Doctoral Candidates Board, which meets quarterly. Elected representatives contribute to network boards and committees.
Industry exposure includes iPSC models and screening with BioTalentum, drug development with Bienta, and sequencing and bioinformatics with BGI.
Your goals
A team behind you
A Personal Career Development Plan (PCDP) is established early in your appointment and updated annually, connecting your research, training and career ambitions.
- Main supervisor
- Meetings every two weeks to discuss research, progress and training.
- Independent advisor
- Quarterly meetings with a consortium advisor from another institution.
- International supervisory committee
- An annual review of your progress and development.
- Non-academic mentor
- Two meetings per year for career perspectives and professional connections.
- Placement co-supervisor
- Local guidance and feedback during every research secondment.
- Your voice in the network
- Candidate representation and feedback on training and supervision.
Funding, dates & practical details
Training and mobility costs
The grant provides for the costs of implementing the program activities. Your employer will explain travel, accommodation, booking and reimbursement arrangements.
Where a four-year doctoral program is required, the host institution provides fourth-year funding; EPFL, the University of Geneva and Karolinska Institutet are explicitly identified in the grant.
Application deadlines & Eligibility
There is no single application deadline in the grant. Each vacancy will specify its closing date and appointment details. Event registrations and individual mobility schedules will be confirmed separately.
The recruitment mobility rule is separate from research placements: generally, candidates must not have lived or carried out their main activity in the recruiting country for more than 12 of the 36 months before recruitment. Defined exceptions apply.
Program information is based on the ChronoBridge Grant Agreement. Activities and dates shown here are planned arrangements and may be adjusted by the network.