Current PhD vacancies You can find the PhD vacancies that are open for applications below. Please submit your application directly on the university website. Urban trends analysis📍 Free University of Amsterdam (NL) & JRC Ispra (IT) 📆 30 January 2026Cross-Domain Knowledge Engineering for Crisis Management: A Neurosymbolic Approach📍 National Technical University of Athens (GR) & JRC Ispra (IT) 📆 9 February 2026Techno-economic conditions for future nuclear energy governance📍 Open University of Catalonia (ES) & JRC Karlsruhe (DE) 📆 1 February 2026 The map shows the Joint Research Centre (JRC) with 6 sites across 5 EU countries, and the partner universities in 14 countries. Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) programme The map shows the Joint Research Centre (JRC) with 6 sites across 5 EU countries, and the partner universities in 14 countries.The above PhD vacancies are part of the Collaborative Doctoral Partnership programme (CDP). The CDP programme is an initiative by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), the science and knowledge service of the European Commission. The JRC provides independent science and knowledge in the service of EU policy-making.The programme offers PhD projects in collaboration with over 40 partner universities. As a part of the CDP, you can carry out up to two years of your doctoral studies at the JRC and combine the best of both worlds: academic rigour with cutting-edge research expertise in a science for policy environment.The JRC has research facilities at six sites across five EU countries, with its headquarters located in Brussels, Belgium. The map highlights the locations of the JRC sites along with our current partner universities. We regularly call for and select new partner universities.Check the benefits of the programme: Cutting edge researchSpend up to two years at the JRC, benefiting from advanced facilities and a strong network of scientists and policymakers.Cross-Disciplinary SettingTackle your research questions in a multidisciplinary environment, collaborating with experts from both social and natural sciences.Scientific and Policy ImpactConduct research with high visibility and influence, as the JRC is well recognised scientifically and embedded in EU policymaking.Dual SupervisionReceive guidance from both your Higher Education Institution supervisor and a JRC supervisor, ensuring academic and practical support. Who is the "science for policy" professional? The science for policy professionals combine two core skills:They perform high-quality research and analysis and produce scientific evidence.They know how to communicate with policymakers by producing outputs that are concise, well-structured and actionable.At the JRC, you will work closely with EU policymakers to identify problems, study them, develop solutions, assess potential impacts and monitor progress as policies are implemented. Throughout the programme, you will receive targeted training on the principles of policymaking and learn how, as a scientist, you can effectively contribute at each stage of the policy cycle. Understanding when and how to introduce scientific results into the policymaking process is essential for ensuring that evidence is taken up effectively. Check the policy cycle and its five stepsPolicy cycle figure, with its five steps explainedText versionThe policy cycle consists of five steps:Agenda Setting: Important and urgent issues that require policy attention are identified.Policy Formulation: Potential policy options are developed and analysed, crafting a proposal that includes an impact assessment.Adoption: The proposal is presented to relevant decision-making bodies, negotiated, modified, and finally approved.Implementation: The approved measures are put into practice. Resources are allocated and the administrative structures are set up.Evaluation: The effectiveness and impact of implemented policies are assessed, and insights for future improvements are provided.Discover five PhD projects linked to the policy cycleFive PhD projects linked to the policy cycleText versionFive PhD projects linked to the policy cycle:Agenda Setting: Mapping air pollution hotspots in urban areas to highlight emerging health risks.Policy Formulation: Designing social intervention or parameters to underpin a vaccination campaign.Adoption: Investigating stakeholder perceptions of gene-editing therapies, including ethical, social and regulatory concerns.Implementation: Mapping roll-out of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in urban networks.Evaluation: Assessing the impact of free transport policies on commuter behaviour and carbon emissions. CDP stories How is it to be a CDP candidate? Meet Nevena Todorovic, a current researcher at JRC Ispra Grantholder rules The Collaborative Doctoral Partnerships PhD candidate will spend part of their time at the university and part of their time at the JRC. For the period spent at the JRC, the student will be employed by a Grantholder 20 Contract in accordance with the Grantholder rules and the applicable Vademecum. General publications22 May 2025 Grantholder Rules
Cross-Domain Knowledge Engineering for Crisis Management: A Neurosymbolic Approach📍 National Technical University of Athens (GR) & JRC Ispra (IT) 📆 9 February 2026
Techno-economic conditions for future nuclear energy governance📍 Open University of Catalonia (ES) & JRC Karlsruhe (DE) 📆 1 February 2026
The map shows the Joint Research Centre (JRC) with 6 sites across 5 EU countries, and the partner universities in 14 countries.The above PhD vacancies are part of the Collaborative Doctoral Partnership programme (CDP). The CDP programme is an initiative by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), the science and knowledge service of the European Commission. The JRC provides independent science and knowledge in the service of EU policy-making.The programme offers PhD projects in collaboration with over 40 partner universities. As a part of the CDP, you can carry out up to two years of your doctoral studies at the JRC and combine the best of both worlds: academic rigour with cutting-edge research expertise in a science for policy environment.The JRC has research facilities at six sites across five EU countries, with its headquarters located in Brussels, Belgium. The map highlights the locations of the JRC sites along with our current partner universities. We regularly call for and select new partner universities.Check the benefits of the programme:
