Program Overview

University of Fribourg Doctoral Programme in Earth Sciences

The Earth Sciences Unit of the Department of Geosciences at the University of Fribourg offers a doctoral programme in various fields of Earth sciences.

Areas of Research

• The Earth Sciences Unit's activities are developing in several fields, including:
  • Research on the understanding of carbonate rock formation processes (sedimentology) and the study of the evolution of living organisms (palaeontology and micropalaeontology)
  • The tectonic group is investigating the formation of mountain ranges and rock deformation mechanisms
  • Others are studying the properties of mineral materials and rocks (petrology), with applications in both industrial development and environmental protection (applied mineralogy)

Contents of the Doctoral Programme

• The PhD programme focuses on a personal research project conducted under the supervision of a professor over a period of three to four years
• The final product is a doctoral thesis, which is an original written document meeting the requirements for scientific publication
• As a general rule, doctoral research projects fall within one of the research orientations of one of the unit's professors
• They include field work in Switzerland or abroad in addition to laboratory work
• During their research, PhD students participate in national and international conferences and prepare publications
• They also participate in teaching (practical assignments, field camps, supervision)
• PhD students are strongly advised to participate in conference cycles, professional development courses, and CUSO doctoral school activities

Competences Acquired

• Developing in-depth knowledge in a field of Earth sciences by mastering specific knowledge, methodological concepts, and analytical methods
• Completing high-quality personal scientific research as part of a large-scale research project
• Making an innovative contribution to the chosen field and critically evaluating knowledge
• Teamworking and communicating with the specialised scientific community and society at large

Positions for Doctoral Candidates

• Open positions are published on the Earth Sciences Unit website
• Interested persons can also contact the unit's professors to express their interest or propose a research project

Funding and Salary

• Doctoral research is financed through a job as an assistant within the unit or by outside funds obtained by the thesis supervisor
• PhD students' pay is determined according to the university's salary scale

Supervisors

• PhD theses are supervised by professors and senior researchers from the Earth Sciences Unit and associate researchers from the Jules Thurmann Foundation (Jurassica/Porrentruy)
  • Prof. Anneleen Foubert: Sedimentology
  • Prof. Walter Joyce: Palaeontology
  • Prof. Esther Schwarzenbach: Mineralogy-Petrography
• In the field of palaeontology, there is close collaboration with the Jurassica Museum in Porrentruy (Dr Damien Becker and Dr Olivier Maridet)

Studies Organisation

Structure of Studies

• No ECTS credits can be earned

Doctoral School

• No additional information provided

Admission

• In order to be admitted to a doctorate, the candidate must have been awarded an academic bachelor's and master's degree or an equivalent qualification from a university recognised by the University of Fribourg
• Before applying for a doctorate, the candidate must contact a professor who would be willing to supervise the thesis work
• There is no general right to be admitted to a doctorate
• The respective conditions of admission for each doctoral study programme are reserved

Key Points

Degree Conferred

• Scientiarum doctor in scientiis terrarum / Doctor of Philosophy in Earth Sciences (PhD)

Commencement of Studies

• An application for admission may be submitted at any time

Regulation

• Available in French and German only

Application Procedure

• Candidates with Swiss qualifications
• Candidates with foreign qualifications

Degree Details

• The PhD programme in Earth Sciences at the University of Fribourg is designed to provide students with advanced knowledge and research skills in their chosen field of Earth sciences
• The programme is structured to allow students to develop their research skills through a combination of coursework, research projects, and thesis work
• The programme is designed to be completed in three to four years, with the final product being a doctoral thesis that meets the requirements for scientific publication
• The programme is supervised by experienced professors and senior researchers from the Earth Sciences Unit, with opportunities for collaboration with other researchers and institutions
• The programme is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue a career in research, academia, or industry, with a focus on the application of Earth sciences to real-world problems.