30 years ago, António Coutinho and Alexandre Quintanilha embarked on a groundbreaking endeavor, crafting a PhD program that would go on to inspire many others. Setting it apart from any existing program in Europe at the time, their visionary approach served as a prototype for many programs to come. This initiative involved a year of immersive classes led by world-renowned researchers, fostering critical thinking, and providing an understanding of the foundations and challenges of modern biology. Furthermore, it empowered students to select mentors from anywhere in the world, encouraging them to dream beyond existing frontiers of knowledge, and define their own research projects.

 

Over the years, the IGC PhD programs have propelled over 1000 students towards success. These graduates and their scientific progeny constitute more than 50% of the ERCs in Life Sciences in Portugal and many have taken prominent roles as directors of research institutions, CEOs of companies, patent attorneys, and science managers, among other science-related professions. As the world faces diverse challenges such as global health, climate change and disinformation, the achievement of a healthy and sustainable society becomes increasingly dependent on science and technology. However, while remarkable technological tools are available to advance scientific knowledge, including AI, gene editing and the ability to understand complex systems, there is a global crisis when it comes to attracting talented individuals to pursue careers in the life sciences.

 

In our quest to envision the future of graduate education, we are bringing together a diverse group of individuals, including current PhD students, leaders responsible for graduate education in the United States and Europe, policymakers, and industry representatives. We recognize the need to critically examine existing practices and systems and seek to foster innovative thinking and challenge conventional approaches. At the core of our discussions lie fundamental questions that underpin the essence of PhD training. We aim to delve into the purpose that PhD training should serve and explore the most effective ingredients and format to accomplish this objective. Ultimately, we aspire to envision an ideal PhD training paradigm—a dream scenario that would foster the development of future scientific and societal leaders. Through the collaborative efforts of this meeting, we will generate a white paper that encapsulates emerging insights and recommendations.