Following the success of the first World Life Sciences Forum BioVision in 1999, it was decided to further integrate the concerns and expectations of the younger generation of PhDs, Postdocs and MBAs. Consequently, the BioVision.Nxt initiative was launched with the support of the European Commission to further the careers of the most promising talents in Life Sciences worldwide.

As one of the three pillars upon which The World Life Sciences Forum is constructed, BioVision.Nxt will gather together 100 top flight PhDs, Postdocs and MBAs from leading universities and research institutions around the world.

Applicants

The criteria on which the selection of the “Class of 2007” will be based is as follows:

1. Be a graduate student or postdoc in 2007. If not a postdoc, the candidate should have obtained her/his Ph.D. degree not prior to April 2001.

2. Be engaged in research or other activities related to the life sciences, preferably in the field of healthcare, agriculture-nutrition or the environment.

3. Have excellent communication and organisational skills, and indicate the leadership positions held in organisations or companies, including the year(s) to date.

4. If active in research, provide a list of publications, including those in peer-reviewed journals. First author publications will be given more weight.

5. Indicate the awards, prizes and other distinctions obtained to date.

6. Describe the entrepreneurial activity that she/he may be engaged in.

7. Be a permanent resident or citizen in the place where she/he works or, if training abroad, be committed to returning to her/his home country. Foreign students or postdocs working with temporary visas will not be eligible to represent the country in which they are working or studying, but will be eligible to represent their home country if they are committed to returning when training is completed.

8. Agrees to submit her/his perspective relative to BioVision and the BioVision.Nxt programme within sixty (60) days. This feedback will be structured based on a template which will be provided on arrival.

9. Agrees, to the best of her/his ability, to “Reach Out to Help Out” at the nearest secondary school to serve as role model for school children who are turning away from science and math. Guidance in achieving this objective will be provided.

10. Agrees to indicate new potential BioVision.Nxt Fellows for the 2009 programme.

Candidates with the following qualifications will be encouraged:

1. Competitive fellowships granted from a prestigious institutions;
2. Interest in a multidisciplinary approach to the life sciences;
3. Capacity to network and disseminate information.

The World Life Sciences Forum BioVision will support all direct costs with regard to accommodation and participation of the “Class of 2007” Fellows in all BioVision-related events. The BioVision.Nxt Fellow will cover the cost of her/his travel expenses.