FAQ: WASP Industrial PhD Student

The PhD student needs to be in Sweden to be able to take part of the WASP Graduate School. In addition, the PhD student needs to be registered at one of the WASP universities (as described in the call text).

You cannot apply as an individual student. When it comes to industrial PhD studies, it is always the company that applies for a joint project together with a senior researcher at a university. The student candidate for the project is often an existing employee. If you are interested in enrolling in industrial PhD studies, you should talk to your employer.

The PhD candidate must be named in the application and then employed by the company at the time of the start of the project.

The salary is set by the company or by the university where the PhD student is employed.

One of the main criteria is the assessment of the candidate’s ability to pass the doctoral courses within WASP. High grades in courses relevant for the PhD studies is an important factor.

Yes, all PhD students within WASP can apply for longer or shorter research positions abroad.

Some examples can be found here: https://wasp-sweden.org/graduate-school/internationalization/study-stint-abroad/

Most courses include one-three meetings, where the participants gather for joint exercises and activities for two days. Due to the present corona restrictions, they are however at the moment held online.

Research experience and published research in journals will be considered as merits. The assessment of the candidate’s ability to pass the doctoral courses within WASP is still an important factor.

The application format and other instructions related to the submission are found at the call page.

WASP accepts adjunct professors with docent as academic supervisor if it doesn’t contradict the local rules at the university in question. However, it cannot be the same person that is both the academic and the industrial advisor.

Any formal agreements concerning for example IPR is handled by the company and the supervisor involved in the specific project. WASP is not involved in the process.

Only the universities as specified in the call text can receive funding from WASP.

The evaluation committee consists of academic and industrial representatives selected in order to cover WASPs main research areas.  An evaluation process designed to avoid bias and conflict of interest is applied.

The main consideration is to cover all main research areas. The industrial members of the committee are engaged based on their expertise in a specific topic and not as a representative for their company.

Poor project quality and the merits of the PhD student.

The project can include application focus but must address fundamental research questions.

Since 2016 we have had calls for industrial PhD students every year.