Research Organisation

The faculty of Veterinary Medicine offers a challenging and dynamic research environment for both veterinary and non-veterinary PhD students. The quality of PhD research and of PhD education and supervision are priority matters for the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

Research Council

The Research Council provides solicited and unsolicited advice to the faculty board about research policy. The Research Council monitors the quality and organization of the research. In addition, the Research Council advises the dean on the allocation of research resources. The Research Council consists of the theme leaders, the departmental research managers, the head of RSO (advisory member) and is chaired by the vice dean of research.

Members:

• Prof. dr. Celia Berkers (chair)
• Prof. dr. Marianna Tryfonidou
• Prof. dr. Frank van Kuppeveld
• Prof. dr. Mirjam Nielen
• Prof. dr. ir. Lidwien Smit
• Dr. Bart Spee
• Prof. dr. Femke Broere
• Pieta van Wees-Ester (secretary)

PhD research environment

PhD projects are carried out within the framework of the faculty’s research programs under the personal supervision of a professor. Embedded in the university’s research focus areas, the research programs provide ample, interdisciplinary scientific interactions as well as access to state-of-the-art research facilities throughout Utrecht University. Through their scientific networks the research programs also provide access to leading-edge national and international science groups. PhD students are stimulated to present research results at international scientific meetings and publish in high-ranking scientific journals. Doing so, they build their own scientific network and track record to obtain the most favourable prospect for continuation of their career after graduation. The high quality and the international standing of the faculty of Veterinary Medicine are evidenced by the ranking of its research among that of the world-top veterinary faculties.

PhD education and supervision

The faculties of Medicine, Science, and Veterinary Medicine have a joint track for PhD students in the Utrecht University Graduate School of Life Sciences (GS-LS). The graduate school offers PhD courses in a variety of research topics as well as training in generic skills. The PhD training program is composed of a selection of courses and other elements tailored to meet the PhD students’ personal demands. The GS-LS guarantees the quality of training and supervision by monitoring the quality of the courses and the progress of the PhD students.

PhD candidates

During their four-year PhD track, PhD candidates work under the supervision of a professor on a research project that culminates in a doctoral thesis.

Obtaining a PhD position 

The PhD positions at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine are related to our research programmes.

Becoming a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is possible in two ways:

• Candicates can respond to a vacancy on the Utrecht University website;
• Talented candidates with a strong motivation to obtain a research position at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine are advised to contact the research coordinator on their specific field of interest. After that, please fill in this form to apply.

Read more about obtaining a PhD at Utrecht University. In the Doctoral Degree Regulations you can find the regulations and conditions for PhD candidates and doctoral degrees.

Assessment of research quality

The Standard Evaluation Protocol 2015-2021 for scientific research assessment in The Netherlands, formulated by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) and the Association of Dutch Universities (VSNU), stipulates that universities must carry out a self-evaluation of their research activities once every three years, and that these research activities must also be assessed by an external panel once every six years. The external assessment covers the content of the research programme as well as the management, strategy and mission of the institute where the research is carried out. 

The most recent reports about the quality assessment of research at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Utrecht University are available through the following links:

• IVR Assessment Report 2018 
• External Research Assessment IVR 2012-2017:
  • Date: 8 t/m 10 October 2018
  • Terms of Reference 
  • Members of the external Review Committee:
    Prof. dr. Leo den Hartog, Wageningen University & Research (chair)
    Prof. dr. Gerald de Haan, University Medical Center Groningen
    Prof. dr. Sylvie Daminet, Ghent University
    Prof. dr. Per Jensen, Linköping University
    Prof. dr. Erika von Mutius, University of Munich
    Prof. dr. Bernd Kaspers, University of Munich

Contact details Research Support Office

You can reach out to our Research Support Office via e-mail of find more information about the Research Support Office and staff.