NEXTSTEP – PhD Programme

NEXTSTEP is a Horizon Europe co-funded doctoral programme designed to train 36 young researchers to exploit the unique and transversal capabilities of analytical research infrastructures (RIs) in tackling the challenges associated with sustainable development and industrial competitiveness. The programme focuses on key areas at the heart of Horizon Europe, including Health, Digital, Industry & Space, Climate, Energy and Mobility, and Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment.

By leveraging advanced techniques such as synchrotron X-ray imaging, neutron scattering, and electron microscopy, participants will gain unprecedented precision in understanding materials, biological systems, and complex processes at the atomic and molecular levels. Through a collaborative ecosystem bridging academia, industry, and research institutions, NEXTSTEP fosters impactful scientific discovery and sustainable innovation.

The NEXTSTEP Host Institutions represent a network of world-class research infrastructures and academic centers dedicated to fostering innovation and scientific excellence. Central to this network are ESRF – The European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, the project coordinator,  and ILL- The Institut Laue-Langevin, both co-located on the European Photon and Neutron Campus in Grenoble, France. Their proximity and complementary expertise offer unmatched opportunities for collaboration. Joining them is e-DREAM- European Distributed REsearch Infrastructure for Advanced Electron Microscopy, a distributed research infrastructure specializing in advanced electron microscopy, which provides PhD students access to cutting-edge analytical techniques across Europe.

Together, these institutions empower doctoral candidates with state-of-the-art facilities, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the tools to tackle the most pressing challenges in science and sustainability. PhD students will be hosted by the five implementing partners—ESRF, ILL, FZJ – Institutes of Forschungszentrum Jülich , NTNU – Norwegian University of Science and Technology – NTNU e Area Science Park—located in France, Germany, Norway, and Italy, while being enrolled at universities across Europe. They will also have the opportunity to complete secondments with academic, industrial, and research and technology organization (RTO) partners.

The first round of student recruitment will open in March 2025, with the first cohort starting in September 2025. A second round will follow in 2026, completing project selection and recruitment.

Through its unique combination of advanced research infrastructure, academic excellence, and industry collaboration, NEXTSTEP offers an exceptional training environment that prepares researchers to drive sustainable innovation.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nextstep-programme/

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