Nestlé’s commitment to support emerging scientists has taken a step forward with the signing of a framework agreement with the University of Lausanne (UNIL). The agreement sets the basis for students from UNIL's Faculty of Biology and Medicine to obtain their PhD or MD-PhD title from UNIL, while performing their project at Nestlé Research.
Nestlé Research, primarily based in Lausanne, Switzerland, performs fundamental science at the highest level to accelerate the translation of discoveries into breakthrough innovations. UNIL is one of the leading public institutions of higher education and research in Switzerland. The agreement strengthens interactions between both organizations, making it a key academic partnership.
UNIL students will be able to apply for PhD/ MD-PhD training positions within Nestlé Research’s Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS), with the opportunity to carry out projects in areas related to Brain Health, Gastrointestinal Health, Metabolic Health, Musculo-Skeletal Health, Nutrition & Dietary Recommendations, Multi-Omics Profiling and Cell Biology. UNIL academics and Nestlé Research scientists will co-supervise the students while providing them with relevant professional guidance.
Students who participate will also have the opportunity to gain high-quality research experience, in an interdisciplinary environment in state-of-the-art facilities. Meanwhile, Nestlé Research will be able to build a pipeline of emerging talents, contributing to their education and raising the standards of science.
Nestlé Research first started the collaborative PhD Programme in 2012, and there are currently 15 students completing their PhDs from the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and Technische Universität München (TUM).
The programme plays an integral role towards Nestlé’s commitment to support young people in their transition towards their professional life, for which Nestlé has a range of activities, as part of the Global Youth Initiative.