SymbNET PhD Summer School on Host-Microbe Symbioses 
Oeiras, Portugal

About
The SymbNET PhD Summer School is designed to train PhD students in Host-Microbe Symbioses, in the scope of fundamental biology, environmental and health sciences. It offers a comprehensive understanding of the field, through exploring diverse perspectives with the participation of international experts, using different model systems and levels of analysis. 

Topics and Contents
The program explores both pathogenic and mutualistic Microbe-Host interactions. The focus spans from molecular to ecological and evolutionary perspectives regarding the host, microbes, microbial interactions within the microbial community, and the interplay between all these factors. 
A wide diversity of hosts ranging from plants and animal, across terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, are addressed. 

Main component
A main component of this summer school is a project based learning approach where students work in groups to develop a research project. The students are guided by the faculty, to reflect and identify major research questions and future directions in the field, and write and present a research proposal.

Duration and participants
Running since 2015, the course is typically two weeks long and it hosts around 20 lecturers and 35 PhD students, fostering a strong interaction between faculty and students. It includes lectures and research seminars.

Where
The course is hosted at the Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM) and Católica Biomedical Research Centre (CBR), in Oeiras, at the beautiful Atlantic coast, near Lisbon, in Portugal.

“ Exploring & expanding the frontiers of host-microbe symbioses
with the new generation of researchers "