faculty of science graduate school of science

and engineering and engineering

Mrs A.H.T. Korringa

T +31 (0)50 363 45 04
F +31 (0)50 363 74 53
Phd.start.gsse@rug.nl
CONICYT
Chile Nijenborgh 9
9747 AG Groningen
In view of the PhD scholarship Room 410
application The Netherlands
of Pablo Andrés González Cortes
www.rug.nl/fse

Cc
Prof.dr. Francesco Picchioni

Handled by
Mrs A.H.T. Korringa

Date Our reference

21 February 2020 GSSE20/ak

Subject
CONICYT Scholarship Application Pablo Andrés González Cortes

This letter is to attest that Pablo Andrés González Cortes, born on 2nd of December 1987, in
Chile, currently PhD student at University of Chile, has the full support of the Graduate School
of Science and Engineering at the University of Groningen, Faculty of Science and Engineering,
in applying for a PhD scholarship from CONICYT PhD scholarship of the Chilean government.
His research project will be “the development of chemically modified poliketones by Paal-Knorr
reaction, using imidazole-derived groups”, under the supervision of Prof.dr. Francesco
Picchioni.
Prof. Picchioni is an experienced researcher and academic teacher. His research is devoted to
macromolecular structures and their relationship with products properties. Prof. Picchioni has
(co) authored over 100 peer reviewed publications and holds 4 patents. Over the years Prof.
Picchioni successfully supervised more than 15 PhD students. He is director of both bachelor
programs for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.
Beyond research, PhD-level training includes the opportunity to take part in scientific courses
organised locally, nationally and internationally. Active participation in scientific conferences is
strongly encouraged. Furthermore, a number of courses in transferable skills are offered.
Students emerge from the training programme well-equipped to contribute to society in their
future careers. To support these training activities, each PhD candidate receives an annual
budget of €675.
After nine months, the supervisor conducts a result and development interview with the PhD
student to determine whether progress is sufficient to continue the PhD project.
Pablo Andrés González Cortes’s level of English has been rated as acceptable. We foresee a
starting date of 1st of June 2020 and a total stay of 1 year. Tuition fees will be waived. However,
Pablo Andrés González Cortes will require a scholarship from CONICYT to cover living expenses
and meet Dutch residence permit requirements. The costs of the research will be borne by
Professor Picchioni’s research group. Upon awarding of the CONICYT Scholarship, Pablo
Andrés González Cortes will receive a Double Doctorate contract to work in the group of Prof.
Picchioni for 1 year.
After nine months, the supervisor conducts a result and development interview with the PhD
student to determine whether progress is sufficient to finalize the PhD project in due time.

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 Pablo Andrés González Cortes will require the CONICYT scholarship to cover all expenses
related to the envisioned PhD study in Groningen for the 1 year of his PhD study. The
scholarship includes at least a subsistence living allowance of 1250 euro per month single
person’, or 1750 euro per month in case the PhD brings his partner’, health insurance allowance
and a registration-benchfee of 14,000 euro per year.
The Graduate School of Science and Engineering aims to support original and independent PhD
research, and we therefore hope you will be able to fund Pablo Andrés González Cortes’s grant
application. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance in answering any
further questions.

Sincerely,

Prof. Dr. M.J.E.C. van der Maarel

Director, Graduate School of Science and Engineering

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