Planning of the PhD Day 2017 at Health is well underway and the keynote speaker is now in place: She is the Iranian-American cancer researcher, biologist and fellow at the prestigious National Academy of Sciences in the USA, Mina Bissell. She will be at the event on 27 January 2017.

2016.05.04 | Kirsten Olesen

Over 408 submitted abstracts for last year's PhD Day. Photo: Lars Kruse, AU

The final theme for next year's PhD Day at Health has not yet been finalised, but the event’s organising committee have now found their keynote speaker. 

She is the internationally recognised cancer researcher and biologist Mina Bissell, who will be delivering her speech on 27 January 2017. She is best known for showing how cancer cells interact with their microenvironment, and her prestigious CV includes her fellowship at the National Academy of Sciences.

"We are proud to be able to present such a prominent guest at the PhD Day and we hope that her lecture will add an extra dimension to the day and inspire both PhD students, supervisors and international guests," says the chair of the organising committee, Professor Bent Deleuran from the Department of Biomedicine.

Good and massive response after last year

At last year's event, British keynote speaker Rupert Sheldrake challenged conventional scientific thinking under the theme "Set Science Free", while no less than 408 students (including 40 research year students) submitted abstracts.

"We have subsequently received a lot of feedback via the evaluation forms we sent out. A total of 322 out of the 408 have replied and we are pleased with the many responses and suggestions, as they can help us make the day even better,” says Bent Deleuran.

He concludes that the PhD Day 2016 was a great success and is looking forward to the coming event:

"We consider the PhD Day to be an excellent opportunity for the PhD students to network with their fellow students from other departments and research areas. In addition, the day offers the chance to present your latest research, either with an oral presentation or as part of the many poster sessions in Health’s buildings," he says.

The day culminates with a big party and award ceremony, which was attended by 280 participants last year.

• See a TED Talk with Mina Bissell
• Find out more about Mina Bissell

 Facts about the PhD Day:

• The Organising Committee comprises members of academic staff from various departments at Health as well as participants from the PhD Association and the Graduate School at Health.
• The annual PhD Day gives all PhD students at Health an opportunity to present their work and to network – also with international guests.     
• Participation in the PhD Day gives one ECTS credit.
• The awards for supervisor of the year, The JCD award and research grant and The Fogh-Nielsen Legacy are presented at the PhD Day.
• See photos from last year's PhD Day