[Neutron] Call for ILL NEXTSTEP COFUND PhD projects

Fri Oct 11 14:40:52 CEST 2024

Dear Colleagues,

Last year the ILL, ESRF and e-DREAM, together with EMBL, submitted a proposal entitled “NEXTSTEP" to the Horizon Europe MSCA-COFUND <https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/cofund> call. This proposal was recently accepted and will support 36 fully-funded PhD studentships, each involving an academic partner and (optionally) an industrial partner. ILL will host 15 of these PhD studentships.

There will be two recruitment waves with 8 students and 7 students, respectively, who will start in September/October 2025 and September/October 2026. This means that 8 students will be contractually hired by ILL in 2025. Herewith, we open a call for interested academic and industrial partners to submit PhD projects with a deadline of 31 October 2024.

PhD projects funded by NEXTSTEP must focus on high-impact, challenge-driven research that is aligned with the Horizon Europe Pillar 2 clusters: “Health”, “Digital, Industry & Space,” Climate, Energy & Mobility”, and “Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture & Environment”. The underlying concept is to empower future researchers to exploit advanced research infrastructure's analytical techniques in the pursuit of applied research that delivers tangible societal benefits. In view of this, students will be expected to engage in cutting-edge studies across materials science, chemistry, biology, physics, engineering or environmental sciences, leveraging advanced research infrastructure techniques.

Whilst not mandatory, projects are encouraged to make combined use of neutron and/or electron and/or synchrotron X-ray techniques where possible to maximise both training impact and research potential. Similarly, involvement of industrial partners is encouraged in order to deliver one of the goals of “NEXTSTEP” which is to create links with Pillar 3 of Horizon Europe (Innovative Europe) which concentrates on nurturing future innovators and enhancing collaborations amongst industry, educational institutions and research facilities. 

Examples of research projects expected in NEXTSTEP, provided for illustration only:

You may use these draft guidelines in order to develop projects with your potential partners:
Science projects must be driven by scientific excellence; selected projects will be advertised worldwide for prospective students to apply.
Students will be recruited by ILL (or by ESRF or e-DREAM, respectively) according to MSCA rules (max. 12 months in France within the past 36 months before the start of the PhD contract).
PhD students are to be enrolled at Université Grenoble Alpes or another collaborating European University, as is often the case for PhD projects at ESRF and ILL. Please note that Swiss entities are excluded as main academic partners, as Switzerland is not participating in Horizon Europe.
Students hosted at ILL, ESRF or e-DREAM, respectively, with student co-supervision made by ILL and/or ESRF/e-DREAM, academic and industrial scientists, as required by each project.

What NEXTSTEP expects from the partners:
A science project driven by excellent science built in cooperation with ESRF and/or ILL scientists and an academic partner.
The project should be tackling challenges associated with sustainable development and industrial competitiveness in the areas of “Health”, “Digital, Industry & Space”, “Climate, Energy & Mobility” and “Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture & Environment”, which are at the heart of Horizon Europe. 
To host the student for at least two months (or several shorter visits adding up to at least two months) at their premises within the three-years of the doctoral project.
Participation in regular PhD project follow-up meetings and attendance to the NEXTSTEP general assemblies.
According to their capacity, external partners (academic and industrial) are more than welcome to contribute to project costs, although this is not a requirement.

The ILL Industrial Liaison Office will help in making connections to industry if necessary. The implication of an ILL scientist as a co-supervisor is expected in each of the projects.

If you need more information please do not hesitate the ILL Graduate School or the Industrial Liaison Office. 

The proposal shall consist of the filled application form (see below), including CV of the partner supervisors and project description, and a filled and signed terms of agreement form.

Kind regards,

Peter Fouquet and Michael Marek Koza

ILL Graduate School

NB: This call is distinct from the ILL general annual call for PhD student projects. If you wish you can apply to both calls.

Dr. habil Peter Fouquet

Head of the ILL Graduate School

Institut Laue-Langevin 
Spectroscopy Group
CS 20156
38042 Grenoble Cedex 9
FRANCE

Tel:  +33 476 20 72 04

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