NEXTSTEP

The “Neutrons, Electrons and X-rays serving Transition towards a SusTainable Environment Doctoral Programme” (NEXTSTEP) brings together complementary analytical X-ray, neutron and electron microscopy techniques available at the cutting-edge European Research Infrastructures (RIs): ESRF, ILL and three e-DREAM facilities at FZJ, NTNU and AREA Science Park. EMBL is an associate partner of the programme. 

Programme overview

Supported by a Horizon Europe MSCA COFUND programme¹, 38 PhD students will exploit the unique and transversal capabilities of these RIs in tackling challenges associated with sustainable development and industrial competitiveness in the areas of “Health”, “Digital, Industry & Space”, “Climate, Energy and Mobility”, “Food, Bio-economy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment” and “Industrial Innovation”.

The 38 PhD students will be hosted as follows: sixteen each at ESRF and ILL, four at FJZ and one each at NTNU and AREA Science Park. There will be two cohorts of students: cohort 1 with recruitment starting in March 2025 for projects to start in autumn 2025, and recruitment starting in February 2026 for projects to start in autumn 2026.

Students will be recruited following MSCA rules, which stipulate a maximum of 12 months in the country of their host institute within the past 36 months before the start of the PhD contract.

PhD Requirements

PhD students are to be enrolled in a university in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe associated country. We expect projects in collaboration with universities in the EU, UK and Switzerland.

Each PhD project will be hosted at one of the RI partners and funded for 36 months through the MSCA cofund programme. On a case by case basis, additional support from project partners may permit longer duration projects, with the student hosted by an academic partner for additional months. Every project will include a secondment of at least two months to a partner of the PhD project.

Students will be jointly supervised by the host research infrastructure and an academic and/or industrial partner, depending on project requirements.

Key Dates 

• Second round of application: February 2026

Discover more on the project website here. 

¹Horizon Europe MSCA COFUND programme grant agreement number 101177133