<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class="" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class="" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div class=""><div class="" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: inherit; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><font face="Helvetica" class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;">Dear Colleagues,</span><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"></span></font></div><div class="" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: inherit; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"><font face="Helvetica" class=""><br class=""></font></span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: inherit; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><font face="Helvetica" class="">the ILL, ESRF and e-DREAM, together with EMBL, submitted a proposal entitled “NEXTSTEP" to the <a href="https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/cofund" class="" style="color: rgb(175, 18, 114);">Horizon Europe MSCA-COFUND</a> call. This proposal was accepted and will support a total of 36 fully-funded PhD studentships, each involving an academic partner and (optionally) an industrial partner. </font></div><div class="" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: inherit; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"><font face="Helvetica" class=""><br class=""></font></span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: inherit; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"><font face="Helvetica" class=""><b class="">Herewith, we open a call for interested academic and industrial partners to submit PhD projects with a deadline of 04 November 2025.</b></font></span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: inherit; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"><b class=""><font face="Helvetica" class=""><br class=""></font></b></span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: inherit; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"><font face="Helvetica" class="">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.</font></span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: inherit; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"><font face="Helvetica" class=""><br class=""></font></span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: inherit; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"><font face="Helvetica" class="">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. </font></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: inherit; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"><font face="Helvetica" class=""> </font></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class=""><div><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class="" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class="" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div class=""><div class="" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: inherit; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><font face="Helvetica" class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;">What NEXTSTEP expects from the partners:</span><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"></span></font></div><ul type="disc" class="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><font face="Helvetica" class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;">A science project driven by excellent science built in cooperation with ILL and/or ESRF scientists.</span><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"></span></font></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"><font face="Helvetica" class="">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. </font></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><font face="Helvetica" class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;">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.</span><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"></span></font></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><font face="Helvetica" class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;">Participation in regular PhD project follow-up meetings and attendance to the NEXTSTEP general assemblies.</span><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"></span></font></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"><font face="Helvetica" class="">According to their capacity, external partners (academic and industrial) are more than welcome to contribute to project costs, although this is not a requirement.</font></span></li></ul><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: inherit; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><font face="Helvetica" class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;">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 ILL projects.</span><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"></span></font></div><div class="" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: inherit; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"><font face="Helvetica" class=""><br class=""></font></span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: inherit; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><font face="Helvetica" class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;">If you need more information please do not hesitate to contact the ILL Graduate School or the Industrial Liaison Office. </span><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"></span></font></div><div class="" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: inherit; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"><font face="Helvetica" class=""><br class=""></font></span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: inherit; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><font face="Helvetica" class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;">The proposal shall consist of the filled application and terms-of-agreement forms (see below), including CV of the partner supervisors and project description.</span><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"></span></font></div><div class="" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: inherit; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"><font face="Helvetica" class=""><br class=""></font></span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: inherit; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><font face="Helvetica" class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;">Kind regards,</span><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"></span></font></div><div class="" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: inherit; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"><font face="Helvetica" class=""><br class=""></font></span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: inherit; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><font face="Helvetica" class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;">Peter Fouquet and Michael Marek Koza</span><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"></span></font></div><div class="" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: inherit; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"><font face="Helvetica" class=""><br class=""></font></span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: inherit; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"><font face="Helvetica" class="">ILL Graduate School</font></span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: inherit; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"><font face="Helvetica" class=""><br class=""></font></span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: inherit; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"><font face="Helvetica" class="">NB: There will be no ILL General PhD Call in 2025.</font></span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: inherit; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"><font face="Helvetica" class=""><br class=""></font></span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0cm; font-size: inherit; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; background-image: none; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-origin: padding-box; background-clip: border-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;"><span class="" style="font-size: 9pt;"><font face="Helvetica" class=""></font></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>