The doctoral programme at the Children’s Hospital aims to supervise and support junior researchers specialised in pediatrics and closely related fields. The programme was established in 2001 as a pilot project by the Institute of Clinical Medicine (previously the Clinical Departments) of the Faculty of Medicine, after which its operations have been consolidated. The programme is headed by professor Kim Vettenranta. All new research projects entering the programme are evaluated by an evaluation committee made up of senior researchers, in addition to which a monitoring group will be established for each project. On average, six to seven doctoral dissertations are completed in the programme each year. The programme organises educational events for researchers and can also award travel grants. Financing for research projects must be arranged from external sources. This, however, is the responsibility of the project coordinators.
Programme director
Professor Kim Vettenranta, kim.vettenranta@hus.fi
Other members of the steering group:
Professor Markku Heikinheimo
Professor Taneli Raivio
Professor Mikko Pakarinen
docent Samppa Ryhänen
M.D Lilli Leimi
The primary elements in the doctoral programme at the Children’s Hospital are
- Project evaluation at the commencement stage
- The establishment of monitoring groups
- Annual reporting
- Educational events
- Travel grants
All researchers completing their doctoral dissertation at the Children’s Hospital will be entered into the programme. Each new research project will be evaluated in a meeting held with the researcher and his/her supervisors, as well as the monitoring group and the evaluation committee. Dissertation evaluations will be arranged as per agreement, usually once a month during terms. Two experienced researchers will be asked to join the monitoring group (which convenes with the researcher at least once a year), one of whom preferably comes from outside the hospital. The evaluation committee (convenes only at the beginning of the project) consists of the professors of the Children’s Hospital, the chair of the Ethics Committee, an expert on statistics and the relevant monitoring group. In addition to the researcher, the evaluation meeting will be attended by the dissertation supervisor. Only one evaluation meeting will be arranged for each project.
Evaluation appointments are made with the programme secretary by email at carola.antman@hus.fi. A research proposal must be submitted in electronic format to the secretary for distribution no later than two weeks before the evaluation meeting. At the evaluation meeting, the researcher presents the project, after which the evaluation discussion will take approximately half an hour.
Evaluation meetings
Evaluation meetings in 2020 at 15.00–16.30 in the Park Hospital:
16 january, 13 february, 19 march, 9 april and 28 may.
The doctoral programme includes annually organised research afternoons at the Children’s Hospital, researcher meetings and Journal Clubs, as well as other joint educational events.
Further information concerning the doctoral programme at the Children’s Hospital is provided by Professor Kim Vettenranta by email at kim.vettenranta@hus.fi.
The following documents must be submitted to the programme annually by email at tko.info@hus.fi:
- The annual report for the doctoral programme (in Finnish only; to be submitted no later than 15 November). The form will be completed by the researcher and the monitoring group together.
- A summary (instructions partly in Finnish only) for the research afternoon (to be submitted no later than 15 January)
- Notification of registering the doctoral dissertation at the Faculty (once)
Documentation
Applying for travel grants
Travel grants in the doctoral programme are awarded for scientific conferences and education related to research proposals for doctoral dissertations. Applicants need not give presentations at the conferences for which travel grants are awarded. No more than €1000 will be granted annually per researcher.
Instructions
Submit the completed expense report form (in Finnish only) with original receipts enclosed for approval to the following address:
Marjaana Peussa
Biomedicum 2 C
PO Box 705 (Tukholmankatu 8 C)
FI-00029 HUSC
Have an interesting journey!
Kim Vettenranta
Markku Heikinheimo
Sampo Kallio
Travel report
Travel grant recipients must give a travel report on the conference/training they attended (a presentation of five to ten minutes) at the Christmas get-together of the doctoral programme.
Annual calendar
January–February
* Research afternoon
August
* Doctoral programme summer training
November
* Submission deadline for annual reports (15 November)
December
* Travel report presentations
