Hubrecht International PhD Program

HIPP students will receive:

• a fully funded four-year PhD position in a vibrant and dynamic city, with a globally competitive salary
• financial support for attendance at international conferences
• access to training courses, career development workshops, and opportunities for networking and public engagement (e.g., through the Hubrecht Symposium and the Weekend of Science)

For more information about being a PhD student at the Hubrecht Institute, visit the page: Working at the Hubrecht Institute.

To be eligible for admission to the HIPP, students must:

• have a solid background in molecular biology, developmental biology, or related disciplines; or training in a field that could complement molecular and developmental biology
• hold a Master’s degree in the life sciences or related disciplines OR expect to be awarded a Master’s degree before commencing their PhD

All applications must be submitted by September 15, through this portal.

Applications must include:

• a CV, with names of 2 referees
• a motivation letter (max. 300 words) explaining your scientific interests and preference for up to three Hubrecht laboratories
• transcripts/grades for undergraduate and graduate coursework

In addition, we require two referees to fill out this reference questionnaire and send it to hipp@hubrecht.eu from their work e-mail address, by September 15th.

Applications will be accepted until September 15^th 2025. Selection of candidates will happen in two phases. During the first phase selection will occur based on the documents submitted by the applicants. A subset of applicants will then be selected for the second phase, an informal interview at the Hubrecht Institute.

Online screening interviews

Selected candidates will meet with 2 members of the selection committee for 15-20 minutes. Candidates may be asked about their background, scientific interests, and reasons for applying to the Hubrecht Institute.

Online qualification interviews

Selected candidates will give a formal 10-minute presentation on their past work, followed by 20 minutes Q&A by the panel, which will consist of the selection committee and recruiting group leaders.

In-person selection visit

Selected candidates will visit the Hubrecht Institute for 3 days, during which they will have 1-on-1 meetings with several group leaders and their team members (including current PhD students). Candidates will also be given a tour of the Institute facilities. At the end of the visit, candidates will provide a ranked list of up to three labs they would like to join.

Can I apply by sending my CV, motivation letter and transcript via email?

No, to ensure a smooth recruitment process, we kindly ask all candidates to submit their application via our online portal.

Applications submitted by email unfortunately cannot be considered.

I do not hold a master’s degree. Am I still eligible to apply for the Hubrecht International PhD program (HIPP)?

To be eligible for admission to the HIPP, students must:

• have a solid background in molecular biology, developmental biology, or related disciplines; or training in a field that could complement molecular and developmental biology
• hold a Master’s degree in the life sciences or related disciplines OR expect to be awarded a Master’s degree before commencing their PhD

If you are uncertain about your eligibility, please consult the website of Utrecht University for more relevant information.

I have uploaded my CV and motivation letter, but where can I upload my transcript/grade list?

Please submit your application through the official HIPP online portal. During the application process, you will be asked to upload your CV and motivation letter.

After submission, you can log in to ATS/SuccessFactors again to upload your transcript/grade list.

Until the application deadline, you are free to make changes to your application — including adding or removing documents.

For questions, please contact hipp@hubrecht.eu