Application platform to open by 21 July – Submission deadline 21 September 2026
3rd call for up to 6 PhD contracts now open.
PHD PROJECTS in THIRD CALL – TEST YOUR ELIGIBILITY
If you participated in Call 1 or Call2, you may apply to any PhD project, but can re-apply to the same project only if you were waitlisted for an interview or waitlisted for a fellowship for that project.
⚛️ Molecular Spectroscopy & Chemical Physics
LUMINeSCe – Light-induced Ultrafast dynamics in Metalloporphyrins: investigating Ionic and Neutral Species with Coincidence detection and X-ray probes (Domain – EDOM)
QUASAR – QUAntum chemical and experimental Spectroscopy of Astrochemical Reactive isomers (Domain – EDOM)
💎 Quantum Materials & Semiconductor Physics
ELIXIR2 – ExpLoring Indirect eXcitons in Innovative 2D semiconductoR hetero-nanostructuRes (Domain – EDOM)
PLUTO – PLasmonic Ultra-fast Tunneling Optoelectronics (Domain – EDOM)
UltrafastCARS – High-speed coherent Raman metrology for the study of transient and non-equilibrium reactive flows (Domain – ONERA)
💡 Photonics & Optical Technologies
OSER – Optical SourcEs in silicon photonics: the Rare-earth approach (Domain – EOBE)
SCALING – Study of complex gradient index optics compatible with laser structuring manufacturing (Domain – ONERA)
SYNOX – Symmetry-Driven Nonlinear Optics in Hexagonal Polytype Semiconductors (Domain – EOBE)
WILIA-HR – Ultra-High-Resolution Wind Lidar for Aerodynamics using frequency modulation (Domain – ONERA)
🧪 Photochemistry & Functional Molecular Materials
CHISOS – CHIral Saddle-shaped Organic Semiconductors (Domain – 2MIB)
1 – 2 more projects may be added at the end of July (application platform will be accordingly updated)
PhD fellowships will be attributed by (Selection) Domain with up to: 1 for 2MIB, 1 for EOBE, 2 for EDOM and 2 for ONERA
Finances the salaries of 30 PhD fellows with the support of the EU*, Université Paris-Saclay, and 6 non-academic / industrial partners to a tune of 3 M€
*Funded through the Horizon Europe action TMA Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) COFUND Doctoral programme
An MSCA COFUND Doctoral Programme in the field of Sciences of Light
Aimed at promoting interdisciplinary, international and intersectoral research projects at University Paris-Saclay (UPSaclay).
Find out about the doctoral programme at UPSaclay …
An initiative of the Institute for the Sciences of Light (ISL) of Université Paris-Saclay
ISL fosters synergies between the Graduate Schools of physics, chemistry, engineering, geosciences and life sciences and promotes interdisciplinary, international and intersectoral collaborations.
Paris-Saclay University gathers scientists working in all aspects of the sciences of light as well as many companies. It makes it a unique place to develop interdisciplinary, intersectoral, and international research.
Implementing partners
Successful candidates will be employed by one of the programme’s implementing partners,
which include AbbeLight, Imagine Optic, ONERA, Pasqal, Quandela, Thales and Université Paris-Saclay.
Associated partners
Horiba, Saint Gobain, Amplitude will mainly be involved in secondments and networking events.
Funding acknowledgment
SUPPORTED BY MSCA COFUND ACTION
The LIGHTinPARIS program has received funding from the European Union’s COFUND action, a part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Program within the European Commission MSCA framework.
LIGHTinPARIS Grant Agreement ID: 101177177
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or MSCA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.