ESRF - NEXTSTEP – Second Call for Thesis Proposals

09-10-2025

The ESRF has launched the second of two calls for PhD studentship proposals under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) COFUND doctoral programme NEXTSTEP. This initiative offers young researchers the opportunity to exploit advanced analytical techniques at leading research infrastructures in the pursuit of applied research that delivers tangible societal benefits. The deadline for the second call of proposals is 31 October 2025.

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 e-DREAM. EMBL is an associate partner to the programme.

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”.

Although not mandatory, projects are encouraged to make combined use of synchrotron X-ray, neutron and/or electron techniques. Similarly, involvement of industrial partners is encouraged, as it supports one of the key goals of "NEXTSTEP": fostering connections with Pillar 3 of Horizon Europe (Innovative Europe). This pillar focuses on nurturing future innovators and strengthening collaborations between industry, educational institutions and research facilities.

16 PhD projects at the ESRF

For the second cohort, ESRF will host 9 PhD students, with PhD projects starting in autumn 2026.

Students will be recruited by the ESRF following MSCA rules, which stipulate a maximum of 12 months in France within the past 36 months before the start of the PhD contract.

PhD students are to be enrolled at a university in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country University, which includes the UK and Switzerland (transitional agreement in place).

Financial support, duration and supervision

The NEXTSTEP programme anticipates financial support for tuition fees, up to 1000 €/year. If the proposed registering university have registration fees exceeding this amount, we strongly encourage university partners to waive registration fees, or alternatively explain how these fees will be funded or reduced, as MSCA rules require that students do not pay for registration.

NEXTSTEP offers projects with a duration of 36 months for students to start around 01 October and strictly no later than 01 November 2026. For universities in countries where the minimum project duration is set at over 36 months, we invite the project partners to contribute to the project by funding the student for an additional 6 or 12 months during which time they will be employed by the registering university or other project partner.

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

Partners are required 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 duration of the doctoral project, to participate in regular PhD project follow-up meetings and to attend the NEXTSTEP general assemblies.

According to their capacity, partners (academic and/or industrial) are more than welcome to contribute to project costs.

Areas of research

For the second call of proposals, ESRF encourages proposals in the following areas that specifically profit from ESRF-EBS and/or contain a significant innovation component:

Energy storage and battery safety, novel hard materials;
Catalysis and enzymology with time-resolved structural methods;
Biomedical and regenerative applications using advanced diffraction and imaging, infectious-disease biology and structure-guided therapeutics;
Environmental and geoscience studies on contaminant behaviour and material stability.