PRISM PhD Positions - 14 MSCA-Funded PhD Fellowships at PSL University

About the Position

The PRISM (PhD Research Programme for International Training in Sustainable Soft Matter) programme has launched its first call for applications, offering up to 14 fully funded PhD fellowships starting from 1 March 2027 at Paris Sciences & Lettres (PSL) University. The programme trains researchers to address ecological transition challenges through sustainable soft matter science, with projects focused on eco-friendly chemical processes, circular economy, renewable energies, and carbon capture, storage, and valorisation. Co-funded by the European Union under Horizon Europe MSCA COFUND (Grant Agreement 101261637) and partner institutions, PRISM provides interdisciplinary, international, and intersectoral training, including mobility opportunities, secondments, and courses in sustainability, innovation, entrepreneurship, career development, and transferable skills.

Research Themes

PRISM is structured around 4 major scientific themes:

• T1 – Development of eco-friendly chemical processes
• T2 – Building a circular economy
• T3 – Innovative concepts for renewable energy
• T4 – Carbon capture, storage and valorisation

The PhD projects cross the frontiers between soft matter, microfluidics, chemistry, physics, biology, and materials science.

Available PhD Projects

• AIM-CO₂: AI-assisted high-pressure microfluidics for CO₂ capture, transport and utilization (Engineering)
• BUBBLE-AFM: Molecular processes at electrode/electrolyte interfaces during water electrolysis (Physics)
• NWARPS: Nucleation, Wetting, Adhesion, and Rheology of Polymeric Surfaces (Physics)
• ROOTSTOCK: Plant root development affected by soil mechanical stresses (Physics)
• RubisCO.2: Engineering new RubisCOs with increased CO2 catalytic activity (Physics)
• CAPTURE: Development of Smart Materials for Reversible Low-Energy CO₂ Capture (Chemistry)
• Micado: Microdroplet catalysis of CO₂-amine C-N bond formation (Chemistry)
• PlasticPhase: Micro- and Nanoplastics as Modulators of Phase Separation and Protein Aggregation (Chemistry)
• POAT-CO2-V: Plasma-driven Oxygen Atom Transfer for CO₂ Valorisation (Chemistry)
• SMART-HAIR: Sustainable Multifunctional Adaptable Responsive Treatment for Hair (Chemistry)
• SOFTMAT4MET: Functional Soft Matter for Sustainable and Selective Extraction of Critical Metals (Chemistry)
• STREAM: Seawater Treatment for CO2 Removal via Electrochemical Microelectrode Arrays (Chemistry)
• UltraHighResNMR: Ultra-high resolution proton NMR at no cost (Chemistry)
• WISELY: New Chemistries for the Design of Recyclable Polymers (Chemistry)

Candidates may apply to up to five PhD projects before the application deadline.

Salary and Benefits

• Competitive salary above the national average for PhD candidates in France.
• Approximate net monthly salary of €2,200.
• Additional family and mobility allowances available for eligible fellows.
• Employer's benefits include remote working opportunities, access to sports and leisure activities, free access to public Paris city council's swimming pools, access to CROUS canteen, scientific campus in central Paris, professional development programs, well-being workshops, social benefits through CNAS, partial health insurance support, and 75% support for sustainable mobility.
• All PRISM doctoral candidates will be employed by ESPCI Paris, regardless of the host laboratory.

Eligibility and Requirements

• Must possess a Master's degree or equivalent/postgraduate degree which formally entitles them to start a doctorate. All applicants with a doctoral degree are ineligible.
• Minimum English proficiency level of C1 (Advanced) required for applicants from non-English-speaking countries. No French language skills required.
• Must fulfil the transnational mobility rule: open to all nationalities but all incoming applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity in France for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the call for applications deadline.
• Must be available to start the program on 1 March 2027.
• Completeness of the application, submitted in English on the PRISM dedicated website, before the deadline of 31 October 2026.

Selection Process

• Eligibility checks to ensure administrative compliance.
• Remote evaluation of each application by different reviewers.
• Interview and selection of shortlisted applicants via videoconference (presentation and questions).
• Recruitment: once selected, the management team initiates the recruitment process. For some nationalities, mandatory security clearance procedure will be launched at the final stage.

About Université PSL

Université PSL is a research university in Paris, France, bringing together institutions including École normale supérieure and Paris Dauphine. It offers education and research across science, engineering, humanities, social sciences and the arts. Its community supports interdisciplinary inquiry and collaboration, connecting specialist expertise with scientific discovery and broader cultural questions.

Official website: https://psl.eu/en

Application dates

Milestone	Date
Application Deadline	31 October 2026, 23:59 Paris time
Programme Start	1 March 2027
Duration	3 years (36 months)

Official Link

• Projects Page: https://prism.psl.eu/-Projects-
• Programme Website: https://prism.psl.eu/en/

Important Notes

• Up to 14 fully funded PhD fellowships available.
• Co-funded by the European Union under Horizon Europe MSCA COFUND (Grant Agreement 101261637).
• All projects are open PhD projects; research plan will be further developed collaboratively by the selected candidate and supervisors.
• Candidates are encouraged to contact project supervisors before applying.

MSCA 2026 rates: doctoral candidates receive a living allowance of €4,010 per month plus a mobility allowance of €710 per month (€660 family top-up where eligible), adjusted by the national correction coefficient.

Contact

Questions about this position, eligibility or the application process should be raised through the contact channel given on the official announcement page (see the Official Link section above). Always quote the position reference in your message so the admissions or HR team can route your enquiry quickly.

How to Apply

Submit your application through the official portal before the deadline: 31 October 2026 (time not specified by host). Read the eligibility requirements carefully and prepare all requested documents — early applications are strongly recommended for competitive awards.

Open the official application page ↗

Application guides

• How to Email a PhD Supervisor: 7 Templates and Practical Tips
• How to Read a PhD Job Advert: Funding, Eligibility and Application Steps