EVO Games plus – Evolutionary games and population dynamics

The main training objective of EvoGamesPlus is to train a new generation of 15 PhD candidates that harness novel insights and advance research skills in evolutionary game theory (especially when it comes to the structured populations aspects (WP1) and their dynamical aspects (WP2) and can use their knowledge in tackling real-world challenges, such as designing more effective cancer treatment (WP3) and predicting, preventing, and controlling epidemics (WP4).

 

Content structure

Each WP Team focuses on the work, deliverables and milestones related to that WP. Every WP Team will train its ESRs with utmost utilization of the dedicated expertise available and instantly transfer new knowledge and ideas into new modelling tools and/or applications. These WP teams, consisting of both academic and non-academic experts, where the institutions are both from the EU and third countries, have designed innovative PhD programmes that will increase the ESRs’ capacity to exploit huge potential of multidisciplinary expertise within their WP, enhance their careers in the academic and non-academic sectors, and strengthen the ESRs’ skills to move from new ideas/data to their conceptualization and application in solving real-world problems.

 

Research training

To maximize each ESR’s skills and expertise, we will rely on research training by cutting-edge individualized research projects in one of the 4 WP Teams. ESRs will learn with and from their peers who will work on complementary projects to become accustomed to both theoretical work in the field of evolutionary game theory, data-driven modelling, and relevant applications.

The structural training programme will cover:

  • Research skills training: ESRs will receive training to increase knowledge and skills in advanced research topics and methods relevant for their project, both during executing their project and through network-wide training and relevant secondments.
  • Transferable skills training: This training, offered also by local graduate schools and through complementary network-wide courses, will teach ESRs important sets of transferable skills, such as teamwork, communication, and organization skills.

 

Secondments and short visits

Each ESR will have been seconded at least two times during their PhD programme, to ensure significant exposure to academic, non-academic and third country sectors. These secondments will be arranged within the respective WP team that the ESR is aligned to, so as to minimise knowledge gaps and promote social embedding of the ESR at the temporary host. All fellows will spend at least one secondment in a non-academic or US institution. While most ESR projects involve secondments at non-academic beneficiaries, most of the ESRs will be also spending secondments at third country partners, as those partners possess key expertise for the corresponding ESR projects.

Short visits of a few days to network partners active in one of the other WP teams are to be defined within the planning. 

 
Network-wide training events

For the feasibility and effectiveness of the network-wide training activities some issues are considered.

 
Conferences & Workshops 

All ESRs will attend international conferences and workshops, as part of their training programme. These events are world top conference/workshops in the relevant topics of game theory and applications.