For projects at ILL and ESRF, applicants will be required to submit their application electronically via the ESRF Recruitment Web Portal where each PhD project will be advertised individually. The application form, C.V. and cover letter are to be completed in English. A direct link to the job adverts list is here: https://esrf.gestmax.eu/search

Round 1 will begin 03/02/2020 and Round 2 will begin on 01/02/2021. The PhD post announcements will be available for applications until 31/03/2020 for Round 1 and until 31/03/2021 for Round 2.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions is a European Commission programme supporting young scientists in their doctoral and postdoctoral training and research. You can read more on the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions website.

InnovaXN is an MSCA co-funded programme. “Co-fund” describes how the programme is financed: the European Commission will provide up to 50% of costs, while the remainder will be provided by the ESRF, ILL and industrial partners.

20 posts at the ILL and 20 posts at the ESRF.

The duration of each PhD student training period will typically be 36 months, with registration of the PhD student at Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA) or other collaborating European university. Details will be provided in each PhD project announcement.

The students will be based primarily in the laboratories of the large scale research institutes, ESRF and ILL, on the EPN Campus in Grenoble. Certain projects may require periods at other European institutes, universities or companies.

Student supervision will be carried out by ESRF and ILL scientists, who will usually be the formal academic supervisor, with co-supervision by scientists from the industrial and academic partners.

Unless otherwise specified in the PhD project announcement, Univ. Grenoble Alpes will be the registering university of the student. When a different European university has been selected for a particular project, then that university will be the registering university.

Yes. PhD students are salaried employees of the ESRF or ILL. Their average net salary per month will be around 1860 € (EUR) before taxes.

The eligibility criteria are:

• Compliance with the Marie Sklodowska-Curie mobility rule (as defined in MSCA Cofund Guide for Applicants 2018): candidates may not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in France for more than twelve months in the three years immediately before the date of recruitment (doctoral thesis starting date). Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays in France are not taken into account.

• ESR eligibility criteria: at the date of recruitment, early-stage researchers must be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers (career breaks excluded) and have not yet been awarded a doctoral degree. Career breaks refer to periods of time where the candidate was not active in research, regardless of employment status.
• The candidate must be, at the time of recruitment, in possession of/or finalising a master degree or equivalent degree which would formally entitle the candidate to embark on a doctorate.
• The candidate must be available for employment at the defined programme start date.
• Candidates must have a demonstrable level of English. A proof of upper-intermediate level must be included in the application; this should take the form of one of the recognised international qualifications (minimum CEFR B2, Cambridge English First (FCE), Cambridge Bulats >60, PTE Level 3, IELTS 5-6.5, TOEFL >72, TOEIC >750). Applicants originating from native-English-speaking countries can apply without the need for proof of level. An official degree (including postgraduate) conducted in English as the only language will be also accepted as a proof of level.
• Specific doctoral school requirements in terms of marks, experience, or any other matter that is a prerequisite to enrolment to the doctorate programme must be met. When applicable, specific doctoral school requirements will be indicated in each job advert/description.

The candidate must have submitted a complete application through the ESRF recruitment web portal. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

We use the term “Early-stage Researcher” interchangeably with “PhD student”. Early-stage Researcher is defined in H2020 MSCA as: ESRs shall, at the time of recruitment by the host organisation, be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers and have not been awarded a doctoral degree. Full-time equivalent research experience is measured from the date when the researcher obtained the degree entitling him or her to embark on a doctorate, (either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the researcher is recruited) even if a doctorate was never started or envisaged. Part-time research experience will be counted pro-rata.

You may apply to 4 projects per call,  if 2 for ESRF projects and 2 for ILL projects.  Candidates applying to more than 4 will not be taken seriously and probably marked down. Candidates applying to all posts in a call are unlikely to be considered for any of the posts.

Non-European candidates can apply. There is no distinction made on nationality. For this programme, students are expected to change country. The only restriction is the H2020 MSCA mobility rule which applies only to students already living in France, or who lived here in the past 3 years: must not have worked or studied in France for more than 12 months in last 3 years.

The MSCA Cofund mobility rule will be applied during recruitment. All candidates, regardless of nationality, will be required to provide proof of compliance with the rule: Candidates may not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in France for more than twelve months in the three years immediately before the date of recruitment, i.e. doctoral thesis start date, 7 September 2020 for cohort 1 and 6 September 2021 for cohort 2. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays in France are not taken into account.

The official start dates are 7 September 2020 for cohort 1 and 6 September 2021. Some flexibility (days) will be tolerated if there is a genuine need to advance or delay the start and subject to acceptation by the thesis supervisor. There may also be project related reasons for an earlier or later start date. The goal of the programme is for all students in one cohort to be present in October so that everyone participates in the organised taught courses of the programme. For projects that have been delayed, for example readvertised, it is unavoidable that the ESRs will start later than the cohort, and therefore they will have as many courses as possible with their cohort, and probably have to join other groups to complete the soft-skills curriculum. The most important training events are annual, and there should be at least two opportunities to join them.

PhD students will be co-supervised by industrial partners. Each industrial partner is expected to host the student working on their project for a minimum of 3 months over the duration of the project. The student will work at the premises of the industrial partner and so gain valuable work experience.

The names of two referees are essential in the application. The referees will be consulted for each candidate selected for interview.

The working language of the ESRF and ILL is English. There is no requirement for an ability to speak French, however, some knowledge will make living in Grenoble much easier. A course in French is offered to all new employees of the ESRF and ILL.

The working language of the ESRF and ILL is English and the thesis is expected to be written in English. The candidate must have a demonstrable level of English. A proof of upper-intermediate level could be advantageously included in the application; this should take the form of one of the recognised international qualifications (minimum CEFR B2, Cambridge English First (FCE), Cambridge Bulats >60, PTE Level 3, IELTS 5-6.5, TOEFL >72, TOEIC >750). Applicants originating from native-English-speaking countries can apply without the need for proof of level. An official degree (including postgraduate) conducted in English as the only language will be also accepted as a proof of level. Students with a high level of English but without the above listed qualifications may still apply and their level of English will be checked during the interview.

We are very unlikely to be interested by your application. Please finish what you have started and then apply to our institutes for post-doctoral research opportunities.

All required documents on the application form must be provided before the deadline.

Yes. Proof will be required, and candidates should indicate the expected date of reception of certificate. A copy of the certificate will be required, and the employment (or continued employment) of the student will be conditional on its reception.

Yes. Proof will be required and candidates should indicate the expected date of thesis defense and expected date of reception of certificate. A copy of the certificate will eventually be required, and the employment (or continued employment) of the student will be conditional on its reception.

No, those documents must be presented to the HR Office on the first day of work. A copy of your final diploma will eventually be required, and continued employement will be conditional on this.

Yes, through the job applicant account that you create in the ESRF Recruitment Portal when you submit your application.

Yes, you will receive a confirmation by email.

You will be contacted via the ESRF Recruitment Portal, either to invite you to an interview (in person onsite or remotely by video conferencing), or to inform you that your application was rejected. This notification is expected within 6 weeks of the application deadline.

As you can imagine we will be very busy processing applications, we ask that if you have a query that you check the Guide for Applicants and this FAQ first. Additionally, further details can be found in the PhD project descriptions which will be advertised through the ESRF Recruitment Portal. If, having read through all the guidance available to you, you are still unclear only then you can send a message by email to innovaxn-contact@innovaxn.eu.
Please bear in mind that we may be receiving a high volume of enquiries and there may be a delay in responding.

Students from EU member states may work freely in France. Students from other countries must have a scientist visa, called “passeport talent”, which will enable you to work and stay to France.

For long term contracts (exceeding 3 months, 90 days), a long term visa is needed. With a scientific contract you need to get a “convention d’accueil”* from ESRF or ILL to apply for your scientist visa “passeport talent” in the French Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence. Further information about visas can be found at the official visa website for France (france-visas.gouv.fr).

Caution: Please note that you are not authorised to start work without the necessary official documents (visa, convention d’accueil).

*A “convention d’accueil” is a document issued by the town hall (Préfecture) to non-European scientists. It is sent by the ESRF or ILL HR with the employment contract and must be given to the French Embassy of your country of residence to obtain a visa.

Yes. You should request your residence card within 3 months after your date of arrival in France.

The steps are described here, with advice for Grenoble: Univ. Grenoble Alpes ISSO (International Students and Scholars Office).

The Univ. Grenoble Alpes ISSO (International Students and Scholars Office), situated on the university campus provides advice and information, specially directed at foreign staff arriving at research institutes in Grenoble.

ISSO can help with your residence card formalities: they can check the conformity of your request and documents you need to complete and help you fill out the request about residence cards, etc.

Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, no appointment is needed.

Service ISSO

1025, Avenue Centrale

Domaine Universitaire

38400 Saint Martin d’Hères

isso@univ-grenoble-alpes.fr

https://international.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr/en/

+33 (0)4 56 52 97 89

Your family is welcome to join you. However the ESRF or ILL cannot provide your spouse, or partner, with help in finding a job. Concerning schooling and child-minding, Grenoble has several primary and secondary schools with international sections.

Visa, language test and removal costs are at the student’s expense.

The reimbursement of removal expenses when first taking up duty or on leaving the ESRF or the ILL is limited to the reimbursement of travel expenses of the staff member and his/her family members. Neither transport expenses for personal belongings and household goods, nor tax and customs expenses are paid by the ESRF or ILL.

It is your responsibility to arrange your own accommodation. Nonetheless, limited help may be offered by the ESRF and ILL. For example, a relocation service is financed by the ESRF for new employees, but this assistance depends on the employment contract and financial situation of the new employee. Details will be sent along with employment contracts.

Luce Chabert

innovaxn-contact@innovaxn.eu

+33 (0)4. 76 .88. 19.92