Doctoral Studies

Vilnius University PhD students participated in the Arqus PhD Week

The third Arqus PhD Week took place in Granada on May 9 and 12 to discuss career opportunities outside academia. 30 PhD students and career development experts from nine universities in the Arqus Alliance gathered to explore new professional fields. Over four days, a wide range of training sessions were held, with 10 international career development experts addressing relevant topics such as the skills and competences needed for employment in the private sector, project development, open innovation, career development in knowledge transfer and more.

Doctoral students from Vilnius University also participated in the third Arqus Doctoral Week and agreed to share their impressions:

“It was very insightful and interesting…Trainers for each session were exciting and shared all the possibilities to improve a career inside or outside academia.”

“I made many connections, shared many experiences, and got important advice regarding my career path and even for some everyday tasks.”

“I found some of the sessions very useful (on skills, competences, start-ups, the workshop on interviews and customer feedback).”

“The selection of speakers was really very good, and I particularly enjoyed the discussion on the prospects and possibilities of the PhD in a discussion format. I also really liked the participants (other PhD students).”

“I really liked the speakers, you could feel that they were very knowledgeable in their fields. The practical sessions were very well organised and useful.”

“During the event we were given information also already used some tools (mydocpro.org, competency list, interview checklist) which are useful for putting together our CVs, thinking about how to prepare for a job interview. I will use this when I have defended myself and decide to look for a job elsewhere.”

The PhD Week is developed in the framework of the Arqus PhD Pursuit, the Alliance’s initiative that stands for bridging research and education to prepare early-stage researchers for existing and emerging grand societal challenges by enhancing their international competitiveness inside and outside academia and contributing to regional and European innovation strategies.

For more information on the events organised by the Arqus Alliance, please visit: https://www.vu.lt/tarptautiniai-rysiai/arqus-europos-universitetu-aljansas

A Competition for the Position of a Postdoctoral Fellow Is Announced

Neoliberal politics in Lithuania and its implications for the university’s role in supporting democracy

Position for a postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute of Educational Sciences, Vilnius University, Lithuania, is available.

The deadline for applications is 29 May 2024.

About the project

A two-year postdoctoral fellowship project will explore the impact of neoliberal policies in Lithuania on the university's role in fostering democracy. The research will be carried out under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Rimantas Želvys and in close collaboration with other members of his group.

The project aims to rethink the university as a space of broader transformations and an active agent of democratic processes. The theme's relevance stems from the need to understand how neoliberal policies and their reforms affect universities, the perception of their role in society, and the capacity of universities to foster and strengthen democracy.

Various scholars' work on the international scale captures the alarming democratic decline that is taking place in the current global context - including in the old democracies of the West - and highlights the essential role of the university in preserving and expanding democracy, as well as the obstacles to the spread of this role.

The link between the university and democratic processes is, therefore, relevant in today's context. An interdisciplinary approach is needed to understand more fully and deeply the complex and dynamic relationship between the university and democracy. Therefore, the research on this theme seeks to find a synthesis between these different disciplines, thus exploiting their potential more fully and, at the same time, promoting interdisciplinary research.

Applicants may submit comparative research projects that would focus on the Lithuanian context.

Budget:

• Staff cost: full-time work position – 3177,19 Eur/per month (all taxes included); 24 months x 3177,19 Eur., at all 76252,56 Eur.
• Cost amount for project activities implementation (for e.g. internships, attendance in international conferences, services for research implementation, services for achieving scientific results, products, etc.) – up to 14 000 Eur.

Requirements:

• PhD in Social Sciences, preferably in the field of Educational Sciences;
• Experience in doing research in higher education and interdisciplinary research (advantage);
• English language skills (C1 level and above).
• Application form 

Please submit your completed Application form with Application attachments via email to

The project will be conducted at the Institute of Educational Sciences. Enquiries regarding this position should be addressed to Prof. Dr. Rimantas Želvys by email or to Ramunė Kasperavičiūtė-Černiauskienė by email

Introduction Event for New PhD Students

Date: 2022-11-08

Time: 15.00-17.00 hs.

Venue: Theatre Hall. Vilnius Univetsity Central Building. Address: 3 Universiteto St.

Organisers: the Department for Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies, VU SA

Registration: https://forms.office.com/r/adpvCx8kQw

Programme

15.00-15.15 Welcome address by the Pro-Rector for Research Prof. Edita Sužiedėlienė
15.15-15.30 Welcome presentation by the members of the Department for the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies
Doctoral study process from admission to dissertation defence (and receiving the diploma!)
15.30-16.00 Presentation by VU Students‘ Representation
16.00-17.00 Discussion over a cup of coffee/tea:
"How to navigate the (un)troubled waters of PhD studies - is it survival of the fittest?"
- Testimonies of current VU PhD students
- Experiences of VU PhDs and postdoctoral fellows
- Questions from new PhD students

Responsible persons:
Dr. Mariana Sueldo, Doctoral Coordinator- Email:
Neda Žutautaitė, VU SA President- Email:

RCL invites to apply for NASA internships

The Lithuanian Science Council has announced a call for international internships at the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in autumn 2025, where students will be able to gain unique knowledge and practical experience. These NASA internships are designed to encourage the participation of students in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) programmes in international projects, and to develop their skills in research and experimental development in space technology. Talented students will have the opportunity to carry out scientific internships at NASA research centres: NASA Ames Research Center (California), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (Maryland), NASA Johnson Space Center (Texas). Lithuania is one of 13 countries participating in this international internship programme.

The call is open for autumn 2025 internships for 16 weeks (August - December).

The NASA internship programme is open to students:

1. studying in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programmes at Lithuanian and foreign research and study institutions;

2. at the time of application to the Council and during the period of the NASA internship, have a valid study agreement with a Lithuanian or foreign research and study institution;

3. the weighted average of the grades for the courses studied during the entire study period for first-cycle, second-cycle, and integrated study students is 8.0 or higher. For first-year second-cycle students participating in the NASA internship program competition, the average may also be calculated based on the grades from the entire first-cycle study period, if the first exam session of the second-cycle studies has not yet taken place. In cases where one or more semesters were completed at a foreign educational institution, the weighted average of the grades for all courses studied during those semesters must meet at least 80% of the maximum weighted average applied at that foreign institution;

4. students enrolled in the third-cycle studies are assessed for the previous doctoral study period (having completed the research work plan to the satisfaction of the doctoral committee in accordance with its established procedures). This requirement does not apply to first-year third-cycle students, but the weighted average of all grades for courses studied during their second-cycle studies must be 8.0 or higher;

5. actively involved in scientific activities, i.e. participating in scientific projects, presenting papers at scientific conferences, publishing scientific articles, etc., and in activities to promote science;

6. having an interest in space exploration;

7. have a level of English language proficiency of at least B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages;

8. agree to the requirements set by NASA, including, but not limited to, the requirements for the transfer of intellectual property rights to NASA for intellectual property created during the internship.

The deadline for submission of the application is 16 December 2024 at 16:00, but the student must submit the application on the Lithuanian Research Council website https://projektai.lmt.lt/#login to the representative of Vilnius University for approval before 12 December 2024. The application is submitted to the Lithuanian Research Council after the student's application has been approved by an authorised representative of Vilnius University.

The description of the student selection and funding allocation for internships in the NASA program, the application form, instructions for completing it, and other documents can be downloaded by clicking the link titled Dokumentai pareiškėjams (NASA2024IIK) (all documents in Lithuanian, only a few in Lithuanian and English).

Applications will be divided into two groups: 1) applications from first-cycle, second-cycle, and integrated study students, 2) applications from third-cycle students. The applications will undergo administrative verification based on the administrative verification certificate (in Lithuanian), and those meeting the requirements will be forwarded for expert evaluation. The expert evaluation will be conducted by an expert committee using the standard evaluation form for first-cycle, second-cycle, and integrated study students' applications (in Lithuanian), and the standard evaluation form for third-cycle students' applications (in Lithuanian). It is therefore recommended to prepare applications based on the standard forms for expert evaluation, which outline the evaluation criteria, aspects of assessment, and the maximum possible score. Following the expert evaluation, and in accordance with the priority ranking established by the expert committee within the application groups, the Research Council of Lithuania will select and nominate up to 15 students to NASA. Please note that students from the United States and other countries participating in the international internship program also compete in these selection processes.

The Research Council of Lithuania will allocate a certain amount of funding to students selected for the NASA internship to cover the internship costs. Any internship expenses that exceed the funding provided by the Research Council of Lithuania must be covered by the academic institution or the intern themselves. For interns who are studying at a foreign academic institution at the time of signing the internship agreement, the Research Council of Lithuania does not provide funding for the internship, only the participation fee is paid directly to NASA.

The call published by the Lithuanian Research Council can be found here >>> (in English) and the NASA internship call documents, the information and the video of the information event can be found here >>> (in Lithuanian).

For more information, please contact the Department for Development:

Eglė Vanagienė, tel. (+370 5) 236 6034, email: (consulted unit: Life Sciences Centre)

Ignė Balaišytė, tel. (+370 5) 268 7238, email: (consulted unit: Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences)

Vilma Rutkauskaitė, tel. (+370 5) 219 3201, email: (consulted unit: Faculty of Physics)

Danutė Gricienė, tel. (+370 5) 268 7244, el.p (consulted units: Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics, Faculty of Medicine)