CERN-STFC Non-Member State Doctoral Student Programme

Company Description

At CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, physicists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the universe. Using the world's largest and most complex scientific instruments, they study the basic constituents of matter - fundamental particles that are made to collide together at close to the speed of light. The process gives physicists clues about how particles interact, and provides insights into the fundamental laws of nature. Find out more on http://home.cern.

Diversity has been an integral part of CERN's mission since its foundation and is an established value of the Organization.

Job Description

Imagine getting involved in cutting-edge research and technology before you have left university. Imagine working in an international environment, acquiring skills to bring back to your country.

As part of the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s Africa-UK Physics Partnership Programme, funded by the UK Government’s International Science Partnerships Fund, CERN is launching a capacity-building program. This program aims to support advanced studies in Physics, Engineering, and Computer Science for nationals of certain CERN Non-Member States (NMS).

The objective of the scheme is to provide opportunities through the award of studentships to encourage young and high-calibre PhD students in particle physics, as well as in applied physics, information technology/computing and engineering from the NMS to allow them to obtain world-class exposure, supervision and training primarily within the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiments, without excluding other scientific and technological activities at CERN.

The studentships offer the chance to students from one of six African countries to work towards a PhD thesis at their home institution in Africa while spending one year at CERN, at the forefront of science, over the full period of their PhD studies.

This is an invitation to PhD students to further their knowledge in a truly unique organization, to get involved in world-famous experiments and accelerator projects of unprecedented scale and scope, and to bring back to their home countries and regions new skills and a varied expertise.

You will have the opportunity to work in a diversity of fields at the cutting edge of science and technology: particle physics, applied physics, engineering, information technology/computer science, instrumentation, materials science are but a few of the examples of the many domains in which successful applicants will learn and contribute their knowledge.

Qualifications

In order to be eligible to apply for a place on the programme you will need to meet the following requirements:

• You must be a national of South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Rwanda or Uganda who is registered on a PhD programme in one of the subjects mentioned above in a higher education institution in one of these six countries.
• Students must be enrolled in a university and have completed at least one year of their PhD studies, thus ensuring that the necessary basis through coursework is acquired together with an overall proof of commitment and capacity. In the case the thesis work would be related to an experiment, the university needs to be affiliated with the corresponding experiment collaboration.
• The work envisaged at CERN is all or part of the thesis work required to obtain the PhD degree. While the daily co-supervisor during the stay at CERN could be a CERN Staff Member, the full PhD supervision and the award of the degree remains the responsibility of the home university. Academic arrangements will be agreed between the university thesis supervisor and the CERN supervisor, thus setting up a partnership between the home university and CERN covering the full duration of the PhD studies of the student.
• Good knowledge of English and/or French.

!Important note! Nationals of a CERN Member or Associate Member State are eligible for the CERN Doctoral Student Programme and will not be considered for this capacity-building initiative.

Additional Information

During your studies, CERN will provide you with:

• A contract of association of one year with a start in late 2026 and no later than March 2027;
• An allowance of 3907 Swiss Francs per month (net of tax).
• A travel allowance.
• Depending on the personal circumstances, a supplement if the student is married, in a registered partnership, and/or has children and these dependents will accompany the student in their stay at CERN;
• Coverage by CERN’s comprehensive Health Insurance scheme (the contribution will be automatically deducted from your allowance).
• 2,5 days of paid leave per month.

CERN will not contribute to any cost related to the home university, pay any allowance during the periods the students are not at CERN, nor will CERN reimburse any tuition fees.

This is how you can apply:

Required documentation:

You will need the following documents, in English or in French, clearly labelled (e.g. “CV”, “Motivation letter”, “Academic transcript”, etc.) and in PDF format to complete your application:

• A CV.
• A letter of motivation, also mentioning the impact of obtaining this grant on their studies, career, and capacity building in the academic community in the student’s country and region.
• A statement of research interest.
• Two letters of reference, of which one from the university professor who is supervising the PhD studies in the home institution.
• A letter confirming the interest of a team from the home university to accept to co-supervise the thesis work.
• A copy of the most recent academic transcript and the last diploma.
• Proof of enrolment in a PhD programme at a university in an eligible country.

Your application along with all supporting documents should reach us no later than September 24th (at  23:59 CET). Please note that your application may also be shared during the process with an external panel to assess its capacity-building potential. Ultimately, it will be reviewed by a panel of CERN experts with an expected start date for the placement by December 2026.

Global Benefits

• A monthly allowance of 3907 Swiss Francs (tax free).
• 30 days of paid leave per year plus 2 weeks annual closure.
• Coverage by CERN’s comprehensive Health Insurance scheme (the contribution will be automatically deducted from your allowance).
• Family supplement to subsistence allowance, depending on your individual circumstances.
• Travel expenses to Geneva upon joining CERN, depending on your individual circumstances.
• A contract duration for 12 months, renewable up to 3 years, with possibility to spread over a maximum duration of 4 consecutive years to allow you to spend time at the university.

Be sure to meet the eligibility criteria

• You are a national of a CERN Member State or Associate Member State. Currently, we cannot consider applications from Pakistani, Lithuanian, Latvian, Cypriot and Croatian nationals, as the ceiling defined under Article II.5 of the Associate Membership Agreement has been reached.
• You have a good knowledge of English or French.
• Your university must support your participation in the programme. This means that your university should agree that the research you conduct at CERN will contribute to your PhD thesis. Additionally, your field of study should align with CERN’s research areas, including, but not limited to, physics, engineering, computing, and related applied sciences.
• You must be enrolled in a doctoral program in a relevant field such as physics, engineering, computer science, or a related discipline. You should have begun your doctoral studies at the time of application.

You will need these documents to complete your application

• Your CV (English or French)
• Any document you consider relevant to your application
• An academic reference letter (optional)
• An academic transcript (optional)

Overview of CERN - Discover a world where the impossible is made possible!

At CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, we are pushing the frontiers of science and technology. Our groundbreaking work brings together not only physicists but also a diverse range of professionals from engineering, technical, scientific, and administrative fields. Together, we foster an environment where innovation and collaboration thrive.

Every day, we face exciting new challenges and opportunities to contribute to cutting-edge research that shapes our understanding of the universe. We meet these challenges through the diverse perspectives within our teams, ensuring every contribution is valued and driving our shared sense of inclusion and purpose. Diversity is a core value of CERN since its foundation, and it remains central to our mission and continued success.

If you are ready to be part of a dynamic, inclusive community pushing the boundaries of knowledge, CERN is the place where your curiosity and skills can thrive. Be part of our mission to uncover what lies at the heart of the universe! TAKE PART!

More information about us, here: careers.cern