Deadline: 20 May 2025
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) is recruiting 50 PhD students in different thematic areas relevant to the organisation. The mission of the JRC is to provide independent, evidence-based knowledge and science, supporting European Union (EU) policies to impact society positively. The traineeship must last 5 months.
Areas
The JRC science and knowledge activities cover a variety of areas, including agriculture and food security, health, industry and space, energy, natural resources, mobility, creativity and an inclusive society, civil security for society, environment and climate change, nuclear safety and security, crisis management, population dynamics and migration, digital transformation and data, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence as well as innovation and growth. More detailed information, project descriptions, as well as relevant candidate profiles, are available in Annexe I of the call document.
Eligibility
– To be eligible, candidates must hold a minimum of a standard three-year higher education degree, corresponding to a complete bachelor’s cycle. Additionally, candidates must meet at least one of the following conditions: (1) Have been awarded their last university degree no more than five years prior to the closing date of the call for applications for traineeships; or (2) Be currently enrolled in a Master’s degree or Ph.D. (or equivalent) programme.
– The scheme focuses on candidates having a strong scientific background. However, some fields also allow candidates with a more generalist profile to apply. Depending on the project, the trainee will be expected to perform desktop work and/or laboratory tasks.
– To fully benefit from the traineeship and to participate effectively in meetings and tasks, candidates from EU Member States must have a thorough knowledge of at least two Community languages, one of which should be English (minimum C1 level, according to the Common European Framework for Languages – CEFR).
– Applications are not considered eligible from those candidates who for more than six weeks, within a European institution, body or agency have already benefited or benefit from any kind of traineeship (formal or informal, paid or unpaid); have had or have any kind of employment, including anyone who is or has been a temporary staff member, a contract staff member, a contract staff member for auxiliary tasks, a grantholder or an assistant to a Member of the European Parliament; have had, nor currently have, experience as an external service provider, a member of the interim staff, a seconded national expert or as a visiting scientist.
Funding
The basic monthly allowance is between € 1.297,73 and € 1.663,60. Trainees may receive a travel allowance that partly covers the expenses incurred from their place of residence to their place of traineeship. The travel allowance is a lump sum (fixed amount). The method of calculation and the procedure to be followed are published in Annexe II of the call document.
Duration
The traineeship will start in October 2025 and will run for a fixed period of 5 months. Under exceptional circumstances, a postponement of the start date may be possible.
How to apply
Applications are done through a dedicated platform (here).
Supporting information
Diana Vieira, a former researcher at CESAM, is currently working at JRC and is an ambassador of CESAM. She is now dedicated to large-scale post-fire soil erosion modelling, land degradation, healthy soils, and the assessment, fate, and remediation of soil pollution in EU soils. Diana Vieira is available to answer any questions you might have about how it is working at JRC.
Additional information on this call can be obtained here.