FAQ: WASP Industrial PhD Student
Frequently asked questions and answers regarding WASP Industrial PhD student calls and studies.
Questions regarding the candidate
Can PhD candidates be based outside of Sweden?
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).
I’m interested in enrolling as an industrial PhD student, but I am not employed at a company or the company I am employed at are not interested in applying.
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.
Must the PhD candidate be employed at a company at the time of application?
No, but the PhD candidate must be named in the application and then employed by the company at the time of the start of the project.
What is the salary for industrial and academic PhD students?
The salary is set by the company or by the university where the PhD student is employed.
What makes a good PhD candidate? Is it required to have all the highest grades in all courses?
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.
Questions about Graduate School enrollment
Is semester abroad applicable to industrial PhD students?
Yes, all PhD students within WASP can apply for longer or shorter research positions abroad.
Is there anywhere to see a list of international partners (universities) that have welcomed WASP Graduate School students for a semester abroad?
Some examples can be found here: https://wasp-sweden.org/graduate-school/internationalization/study-stint-abroad/
Are the WASP courses taken as physical or online education?
The courses include one-three physical meetings, where the participants gather for joint exercises and activities for two days.
Application and formalities
How much do you weigh previous research experience and published research in journals in relation to grades when evaluating PhD candidates?
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.
Is there any application format? What should the application include?
The application format and other instructions related to the submission are found at the call page.
Can an adjunct professor with a docent be the academic supervisor?
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.
How is IP procedures and ownership handled?
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.
Are there any options to collaborate with a Swedish university which is not part of the WASP program?
Only the universities as specified in the call text can receive funding from WASP.
Should the application be submitted by the academic supervisor or the PhD student?
The application should be submitted by the company and the university supervisor together.
Evaluation
How is the evaluation committee constituted?
The evaluation committee consists of academic and industrial representatives selected in order to cover WASP’s main research areas. An evaluation process designed to avoid bias and conflict of interest is applied.
Is balance between sectors and companies taken into account during the review process?
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.
What is the most common reason an application is rejected?
Poor project quality and the merits of the PhD student.
Does the project idea have to be based on basic research, or can it be more applied research?
The project can include an application focus but must address fundamental research questions.
General questions
How often does WASP have open calls for industrial PhD students?
Since 2016 we have had calls for industrial PhD students every year.