Apply for up to six LIGHTinPARIS MSCA COFUND PhD contracts in France. Check salary, B2 English requirement, mobility rule and the critical 15 and 21 September 2026 deadlines.
Number of positions
Up to 6 PhD fellowships/contracts selected from 11 advertised projects.
Fields
•Molecular spectroscopy
•Chemical physics
•Quantum materials
•Semiconductor physics
•Photonics
•Optical technologies
•Photochemistry
•Functional molecular materials
•Related light-science disciplines
Who can apply?
Qualified applicants of any nationality and age may apply, provided they meet the academic, mobility, English-language and security requirements.
Benefits
•36-month full-time French doctoral employment contract
•Additional €200 monthly MSCA travel and mobility allowance
•25 days of annual leave
•Doctoral-school annual enrolment fee covered
•French and European Optical Society membership fees covered
•Access to scientific and professional training
•Possible industrial and international secondments
•French employee healthcare and social-security arrangements, subject to applicable deductions and rules
Gross salary is not take-home pay. Healthcare, retirement contributions and applicable income tax affect the net amount.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
•Not already possess a doctoral degree by the call deadline
•Hold a Master’s degree or equivalent, or complete all academic requirements—including any - internship, research project or thesis defence—by 21 September 2026
•Obtain the official qualifying diploma before recruitment
•Demonstrate at least B2 English
•Not have resided or carried out their main activity in France for more than 12 months between 22 - September 2023 and 21 September 2026
•Accept that employment is conditional upon receiving the necessary French security clearance
•Meet the scientific requirements of the chosen project
Time spent in France solely as a tourist, in compulsory national service or during a refugee-status procedure may receive special treatment under the programme’s stated mobility rules. Applicants with unusual residence histories should obtain written clarification from the programme.
Required documents and information
The official process requires or requests:
•Europass-format CV
•Bachelor’s degree certificate
•Bachelor’s transcripts
•Master’s degree certificate, if already available
•Master’s transcripts
•English translations alongside original-language transcripts where applicable
•Evidence of B2 English or acceptable proof that previous education was conducted in English
•Signed eligibility declaration
•Signed ethics self-assessment declaration
•Project-specific scientific background and skills
•Work or internship history
•Motivation responses
•Details of two referees
•At least one submitted recommendation for the application to be valid
Two recommendations from different internship or work supervisors are viewed positively. Recommendations using non-institutional email addresses may be independently verified.
Application steps
1.Review the 11 available thesis projects.
2.Check the academic and mobility requirements.
3.Contact the relevant thesis supervisor with your CV and explain your scientific fit. This is strongly encouraged but not mandatory.
4.Register on the official application portal.
5.Complete the online eligibility check.
6.Download, sign and upload the generated eligibility declaration.
7.Select the desired PhD project before 15 September at noon.
8.Complete all application sections and upload the required documents.
9.Enter the referees’ correct email addresses and request their recommendations.
10.Sign and upload the ethics declaration.
11.Submit the application before 21 September at noon.
12, Send the submission PDF and Europass CV to the prospective thesis supervisor, as instructed in the applicant guide.
Applicants may apply to a maximum of three distinct projects, but each requires a separate application and separate recommendation handling.
