EUTOPIA Doctoral Summer School
The EUTOPIA Doctoral Summer School is an immersive and interdisciplinary experience that challenges PhD students to expand their research horizons. Through teamwork, expert mentoring, and innovative dynamics, participants develop projects that bridge different fields of knowledge, exploring new perspectives and solutions.
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Apply here!
Dates:
- 18-22 July 2025
Location:
- (18 July -22 July) Convento da Arrábida
- (22 July – Last Day:) NOVA University Lisbon – Rectorate, Campolide Campus
Find all practical information (Accommodation, Transportation, Directions, Schedules, etc.) in the attached Brochure.
Discover more about the 2025 Edition of EUTOPIA Doctoral Summer School
Applications are open until June 9, 2025, via the application form.
Competitive selection of participants;
Selection Criteria:
-
- Motivation Letter (max. one page) outlining the applicant’s interests and objectives.
Applicants will be notified on acceptance.
- NOVA PhD Students: Free
- PhD students from EUTOPIA Universities and Global Partners: 600€
- PhD students from other Universities: 1000€
This fee includes:
Lectures content; Unrestrictive use of the facilities for classes and group work; Housing in double-rooms at the Arrabida Covent; Full meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the program; Transport to and from the Covent (meeting point at NOVA central office); An award for the final winning project among the groups.
EUTOPIA Doctoral Summer School course includes plenary sessions with keynotes, brainstorming sessions with the aid of mentors and work in teams.
This course is ideal for participants with the following profiles:
- Keynote Speaker: an active researcher specialized in the area, able to explain how his/her research relates to other areas of knowledge;
- Mentors: mature interdisciplinary researchers in the topic’s area of knowledge;
- PhD Candidates: students in PhD programs from all areas of knowledge in order to stimulate cross-fertilization.
Projects will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Quality of the report and presentation of the final research project;
- Presentation quality;
- Analysis of the state of the art;
- Quality of contribution:
- Nature of the research question;
- Interdisciplinary nature of the contributions;
- Design of the research plan.
- Professor Paula Macedo (NOVA Medical School)
- Professor Kevin Gallagher (NOVA School of Science and Technology)
- Professor Iva Miranda Pires (NOVA School of Social Sciences and Humanities)
Meet the trainers leading the Course in the Brochure.
Download the programme here.
Day 1 – Exposure and Integration
| Time | Activity |
| 12:00 | Welcome meeting and introduction – Announcement of the challenge theme by Keynote Speaker 1 (30 min) |
| 13:00 | Networking lunch |
| 14:30 | Keynote Speaker 2 (45 min) followed by 15 min discussion |
| 15:30 | Keynote Speaker 3 (45 min) followed by 15 min discussion |
| 17:00 | Philosophical Coffee Break |
Day 2 – Team Building and Identifying the Challenge
| Time | Activity |
| 9:00 | Teamwork to identify a topic-related challenge using the different skills of all team members |
| 12:00 | Keynote Speaker 4 on teamwork |
| 13:00 | Networking lunch |
| 14:00 | Presentation of the challenge selected by each group and open public discussion |
| 16:00 | Restructuring of the topic-related challenge based on feedback from the public presentation, with the aid of mentors |
Day 3 – Transforming the Challenge into a Research Project
| Time | Activity |
| 9:00 | Brainstorming with mentors to define: a. Project title b. Research question c. Interdisciplinary methodology d. Clear definition of each member’s contribution |
| 12:00 | Keynote Speaker 5 on challenges in interdisciplinary research |
| 13:00 | Networking lunch |
| 14:00 | Literature review on the project topic from different areas of knowledge |
| 16:00 | Brainstorming with mentors on the structure of the project report to be presented |
Day 4 – Writing and Consolidation (Group Work)
| Time | Activity |
| 9:00 | Individual writing of each member’s section based on the agreed structure |
| 11:00 | Presentation and discussion within the group, with the aid of mentors |
| 12:00 | Keynote Speaker 6 on challenges in multi-author scientific writing |
| 13:00 | Networking lunch |
| 14:00 | Writing of a unified document |
| 17:00 | Preparation of the PowerPoint presentation of the project |
Day 5 – Projects Public Presentation
(NOVA University Lisbon Rectorate, Campolide Campus)
| Time | Activity |
| 10:00 | Presentation of the projects |
| 11:00 | Break while the jury evaluates the projects |
| 12:00 | Jury feedback on the presentations |
| 13:00 | Award nomination for the best project |