Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Fellow, Dana Venkert from Israel, Shares Her Journey of Pursuing a PhD in Synthetic Biology at the Center for Molecular Biology, Heidelberg University, Germany

I am Dana Venkert, from Israel, and I am a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Candidate at the Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH) and am part of the SigSynCell Doctoral Network. My academic studies, right from the start, are most characterized by usual programs and paths. While this was (and is) a very interesting and unique experience, it had the tendency of making any interaction with bureaucratic offices rather challenging.

I have an M.Sc. in Neuroscience, and have a background in biomedical engineering, cancer research, and biotechnology. After graduating from Tel Aviv University’s interdisciplinary 4-year program, which was a direct-to-M.Sc. path, I aspired to pursue a PhD abroad, and at the end of 2025 moved to Germany and joined the Göpfrich Biophysical Engineering of Life research group.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Fellowship Details

My fellowship is funded by the SIGSYNCELL Doctoral Network. The program funds 12 PhDs across Europe with a 4-year MSCA Co-Fund fellowship in the years 2021-2022. The fellowship includes a salary and the university's tuition fee. While I am working at Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, other members of the doctoral network are in London, Bordeaux, Münster, Amsterdam, Ljubljana, Granada, and Wageningen, and we are required to perform certain parts of our research in at least one additional laboratory among the network’s members.

Educational Background

I’ve started attending academic courses and research programs at Tel Aviv University at the age of 14, being lucky to have such designated programs for high-school students who wish to engage in academic studies and research from a young age. I was always drawn to the natural sciences, with biotechnology and biomedical engineering as my main fields of interest. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I was employed in a governmental research institute, where I gained even more hands-on experience and decided to pursue an academic path, and began planning my studies.

After achieving high scores and GPA in my school years and the Psychometric test (SAT equivalent), I applied to both Tel Aviv University’s and the Technion’s top study programs. Both programs offered a full scholarship, as well as a unique curriculum and yearly stipends, and required a rigorous selection process. ‏Each year, only fifteen students are accepted into each program. The highly competitive selection process is based on applicants’ scores in the Israeli Standardized Matriculation and Psychometric exams, as well as a short essay, a personal interview, and a concourse examination.

As part of this application process, I tailored each assay, presentation, and interview preparation by reaching out to current and past students of the programs and asking for their feedback and guidance. I talked with multiple students and alumni of each program and tried to understand the profile of candidates who are accepted. I was accepted to both programs and chose to follow Tel Aviv’s excellence program, graduating with an M.Sc. in neuroscience and a background in biology, chemistry, engineering, and physics. The same strategy was later helpful when crafting my PhD applications.

During my years in academia, I aimed to gain as much “hands-on” research experience as possible and would prioritize it over dedicating more time to courses and theoretical study. While this is a strong part of my CV and helped me to stand out when applying for my PhD, many scholarships and university committees still give a significant weight to applicants’ GPA. Yet, in experimental research, such experience can be a greater proof of competence than any grade and has greatly helped me in my application process.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Heidelberg University?

How Did You Find Information About Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Fellowship and Heidelberg University?

Funnily, I was initially unaware of the open position of the MSCA network at Heidelberg University. Originally, I aimed to apply to a different PhD program, in which my current supervisor is also affiliated. While the program was a constructed M.Sc. + PhD program (and I have already had an M.Sc.), I’ve reached out to the administrative staff and asked for their assistance in independently contacting a potential PhD supervisor affiliated with the program.

With this assistance, I’ve managed to receive a warm introduction to a potential PhD supervisor and interview for the lab. It was Prof. Göpfrich herself who informed me of the MSCA scholarship position available in her lab, to which I applied with the specific intention of pursuing my PhD in the field of synthetic biology.

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

I have, as part of my PhD application process, taken a TOEFL test – although this is not strictly required for the MSCA scholarship. I prepared by practicing mock exams available on the official TOEFL website and reading designated tutorials for this specific test.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Fellowship?

Similar to every application process in my academic education, I prepared by tailoring my CV, cover letter, and application documents for the scholarship. I’ve reached out to students who already received the scholarship and inquired regarding the application process and interviews, as well as doing the same with students and alumni of the research group in which I was interested.

I mapped the profile of successful candidates and asked for their feedback on my application documents, as well as friends and colleagues, thus ensuring my application is clear, concise, and communicates well why I am a suitable candidate. I’ve spent time researching the specific research group in which I was interested, as well as the MSCA doctoral network and the institute, and made sure my application reflects not only why I am a suitable candidate, but also what is my interest in this very specific program, institute, and laboratory.

Later, to prepare for presentations and interviews, I practiced with colleagues and mentors from the field, asking for assistance from my M.Sc. supervisor and the head of my study program. I found it particularly helpful to receive feedback from professors and academic group leaders, who could share what they believe makes a PhD applicant most successful from their perspective. I made sure to practice the professional aspects of the presentation with both people from the academic field (for critical professional feedback) as well as with family and friends who could demonstrate my scientific communication skills and clarity, as not all interviewers will be strictly from the field of my research, but all must be convinced by the presentation.

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Academically Not Knowing German?

I arrived in Germany with a basic level of German, allowing me to converse fluently (even if not eloquently) converse. While this is not required for my professional work, it is pleasant for both my social life abroad and the day-to-day handling to be able to speak the local language. Particularly in Germany, governmental offices and many services in English are limited.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

When writing my application, I strictly followed the “show, don’t tell” rule – meaning that I avoided as much as possible from using superlatives and even adjectives, and let the reader understand from concrete examples and plain description that my background is “diverse” and my previous study programs were “prestigious and competitive”. This helped me to keep my writing compelling and concise. I also read the scholarship’s description and aims thoroughly and made sure to emphasize in my application that I possess the specific characteristics and qualities that they wish to see in their applicants.

Furthermore, I included information about extracurricular activities, such as hobbies and volunteering, and emphasized the usual aspects of my CV – making them a point of interest rather than a peculiarity. This provided an option to give a fuller image of me as a person, and spark interest, as when likely all candidates are highly accomplished and meet all criteria, finding creative ways to stand out helps to improve one’s application.

I strongly believe that being proactive and taking initiative, reaching out and touching base rather than simply waiting for replies, assists greatly in leaving a positive impression. Furthermore, I think that researching the labs of interest and asking questions of your own, inquiring, and showing critical thinking of the research, helps to stand out. It both shows that you’ve “done your homework” and indicates that you are being proactive and curious.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

 In hindsight, I would advise thoroughly evaluating and rethinking the position/project offered in the research groups of interest. Often, the positions depict a rather vague general concept, and it is important both for the interviews as well as for the research itself to have a clear vision of the future project. I would have made an outline for the project and arrive to the interview with feedback, specific questions, and ideas of my own for the project. This, rather than focusing on demonstrating that I am a suitable candidate for the project, focuses on making sure how much I could design the project to be suitable for my interests and background.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

I believe that each application process, regardless of being successful, is an opportunity to improve and learn. Not only regarding how to improve one’s application, but also each application requires contemplation over very important questions for any young academic: where do I see myself in the future? What are my weakest and strongest points? What am I good at? What do I want to improve at? Where do I want to go and why?

The application process is reflective and helps you to re-evaluate your goals and ambitions as well. Remember that any unsuccessful application may as well be “dodging a bullet”, because a program you’re not suitable for would also be unsuitable for you. Such scholarships are competitive, and I would advise applying to as many relevant opportunities as possible to gain confidence in the application process and in yourself. At the same time, consider what is important to you and don’t apply to irrelevant programs simply for the sake of prestige, as a PhD is a long and important part of the academic career.