About the Doctoral Student Forum

The U21 Health Sciences Doctoral Student Forum (DSF) is an annual event open to health sciences dcctoral students studying in U21 HSG member institutions to apply to, and present their research. Held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting, the DSF provides international networking opportunities and a chance for doctoral students to share their research across a network of research intensive universities.

We are delighted to announce that the 2025 Doctoral Student Forum will be hosted by the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Dates of the 2025 Annual Meeting: 25 - 28 August

Theme: Aging Across the Lifespan

Doctoral students from a range of disciplines across the U21 HSG member institutions are invited to present their work at McMaster University during the DSF. Successful applicants will be invited to make either a podium or poster presentation. During the application process, applicants are not required to give an overview of their whole project but rather, a summary of their research. Applicants should apply using their email provided by the university.

The Doctoral Student Forum will take place on Monday 25 August. Presentations focused on the theme, “Aging Across the Lifespan” will be prioritised for selection. Applications are due before Friday 28 February 2025. The Selection Committee expects to inform its decision by 1 April 2025.

Successful applicants will be invited to stay for the entirety of the 2025 Annual Meeting, including to join the plenaries, workshops, forums and relevant Discipline Group meetings. Students will have the opportunity to obtain feedback from an international review panel, attend a masterclass in this area, join a collaborative group activity and network with students and academics from 20 global leading universities.

New in 2025 - Student Forum!

Doctoral Students are invited and encouraged to also attend the Student Forum which will beging in the morning of 25 August, and include a masterclass on design thinking lead by faculty from McMaster University. There will be a collaborative interprofessional group activity that aims to solve an aging related program using design thinking concepts.

Please note: there is no travel cost (transportation or hotel) covered by the U21 Health Sciences Group to attend the Doctoral Student Forum.

If you have questions, please contact Alicia at alicia22@hku.hk.


2024 Doctoral Student Forum

The 2024 Doctoral Student Forum, held in conjunction with the U21 HSG 2024 Annual Meeting was hosted by the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Doctoral students from a range of disciplines across the U21 HSG member institutions presented their work during the forum. Congratulations to all students!

Key highlights from the 2018 U21 Health Sciences Group Doctoral Student Forum hosted at the University of Melbourne