PharMetrX Training+ Program
Training+ offers to its students a tailored training curriculum in pharmacometrics & computational disease modelling plus a network of peers for exchange. It is open to PhD students, who do their PhD research project outside PharMetrX (e.g., at a university other than Freie Universität Berlin or Universität Potsdam).
The PharMetrX Research+ Program comprises the two components training & network.
Training
PharMetrX offers to all its PhD students a specifically tailored module curriculum of intensive, one-week block courses. The modules convey
- theoretical foundations and
- hands-on experience
in key areas. The training component joints students from the PharMetrX Research+ Program and the PharMetrX Training+ Program.
We are aware of the different backgrounds of our PhD students and thus start each module from the basics and offer support of various kinds (e.g. glossaries; summary sheets of basic principles). In the modules, discussions benefit from the complementary knowledge and skills of the participants. In the first year, the curriculum comprises four introductory modules on
- pharmacokinetic & pharmacodynamics;
- physiologically-based pharmacokinetics;
- population analysis;
- systems biology.
Every other year, a module on data analysis & statistics is offered.
While the above modules take place at the two PharMetrX host universities (FU Berlin and U Potsdam), every other year, PharMetrX also offers the industry module ‘Walking along the value chain’, a one-week program organized by two of our industry partners, on-site of their plants. This module is a unique opportunity to get an in-depths and first-hand view into the different steps of the drug discovery and development process, to talk with experts and start networking.
Network
PharMetrX has seen many PhD students since its start in March 2008. While current PhD students research on challenging problems in the field of pharmacometrics and computational disease modeling, former students continue their careers as, e.g.,
- junior professor
- junior research group leader
- head or members of modelling and simulations groups within research-driven pharmaceutical companies
- pharmacometrician in a biotech start-up
- work within hospitals
- started as entrepreneurs.
The PharMetrX Network of PhD Students was launched to maintain the connections and interactions developed in the PharMetrX program and expand these across the various PhD student years.
Every other year, all network members meet in Berlin for a one-and-a-half day PharMetrX Network meeting. It is an excellent opportunity for
- personal exchange,
- to discuss hot topics in the field,
- attend keynote lectures, or
- get some first-hand insight into possible career options.
Of course, PharMetrX PhD students also additionally meet each other regularly at conferences and workshops.