Call for Applications: PhD Opportunities with EU-DOCS for SmUCS 

Are you ready to take your research to the next level? The EU-DOCS for SmUCS program, part of the prestigious MSCA COFUND (Horizon Europe) initiative, is recruiting ambitious PhD candidates for groundbreaking research on Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability. Led by La Rochelle Université, this project offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with world-class researchers and academic partners across the globe. 

What is EU-DOCS for SmUCS? 

The EU-DOCS for SmUCS project focuses on the Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability (LUDI) topic, tackling challenges at the crossroads of environment, technology, and societal development. Under this programme, selected candidates will join a vibrant international research community and work on cutting-edge topics and challenges to contribute to building a more sustainable future. 

Each PhD student will be enrolled for 3 years at La Rochelle Université and will benefit from dual supervision by leading researchers from La Rochelle Université and one of our partner universities. 

Why apply? 

• Work on innovative research: Explore high-impact topics such as AI, renewable energy, biomedical materials, and climate-resilient infrastructure. 

• Global collaboration: Partner with renowned universities in Europe, North America, Asia, and beyond. 

• Comprehensive training: Gain expertise through advanced training programs, interdisciplinary supervision, and international mobility. 

• Professional opportunities: Benefit from secondments with industry leaders and non-academic organisations to enhance your career prospects. 

PhD topics available 

Here are the thesis topics available under this call: 

• Thesis topic 1: Artificial intelligence-driven design and development of antimicrobial materials upon transductive inductive graph neural network approaches for biomedical applications. 
  Partner university: Catholic University of Valencia (UCV), Spain. 

• Thesis topic 2: Fast simulation of particle flows for the next generation of green energy systems. 
  Partner university: University of Seville (USE), Spain. 

• Thesis topic 3: An AI-Driven Approach for minimally disruptive repairs of reinforced concrete maritime ports in response to climate change. 
  Partner university: Rostock University (UROS), Germany. 

• Thesis topic 4: Development of bio-based antiviral materials based on biopolymers and marine bacteria-derived compounds for biomedical applications. 
  Partner university: Catholic University of Valencia (UCV), Spain. 

• Thesis topic 5: Green biocoat: anticorrosion coatings by bio sourced molecules for renewable energies. 
  Partner university: Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Spain. 

• Thesis topic 6: Multi-disciplinary knowledge management of Coastal Area publications. 
  Partner university: University of Helsinki (UH), Finland. 

• Thesis topic 7 : Investigation of the regulation of post-translational modifications by Heparanase 1 And Membranetype matrix metalloproteinase 1 in macrophages during Inflammatory processes (HAMI). 
  Partner university: University of Calgary (UC), Canada. 

Interested candidates can also propose their own thesis topics in alignment with the project’s objectives. 

Eligibility criteria 

• Mobility rule: Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity in France for more than 12 months between March 2022 and March 2025. 

• Academic qualifications: A Master’s degree (or equivalent) is required at the time of PhD registration (September 2025). 

• No prior PhD: Candidates who already hold a PhD are not eligible. 

How to apply? 

The application, including a CV, cover letter, ID, Master’s degree copy, and the application form, must be submitted in English by March 15, 2025 to eudocs_cofund@univ-lr.fr, in a file named “ProjectAcronym_NameApplicant.” 

If proposing your own thesis topic, include the Subject Proposal Form and ensure it meets the following criteria: 

• Co-supervised by researchers from La Rochelle Université and an eligible partner university. 

• Aligned with the program’s objectives (Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability challenges). 

• Includes a relevant non-academic partner for secondment. 

Join the info session 

An online information session will be held on February 12, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM (CET). Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about the program, eligibility, and the recruitment process. 

For more details, visit this link or contact eudocs_cofund@univ-lr.fr.