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Eligibility and How to Apply

Eligibility

  • Candidates are eligible to apply for CAFE-BIO positions if they have (or expect to have by September 2026) an excellent first degree that qualifies for PhD study in physics, mathematics and adjacent fields, with preferably a strong background in statistical physics.

  • Candidates with a degree in the biological sciences with strong quantitative skills are also encouraged to apply.

  • Candidates must not be in possession of a doctoral degree (PhD) at the date of recruitment.

  • Candidates can be of any nationality.

  • At the time of recruitment no candidate may have resided or carried out their main activity (work, study etc.) in the country of the eventual host institution for more than 12 months in the last 3 years.

  • CAFE-BIO aims to promote gender equality. Suitably qualified female candidates, and candidates from any other under-represented group, are therefore explicitly encouraged to apply.

  • PhD research projects are to begin on September 1st 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Funding

  • All the positions advertised on this website are fully funded for a period of three years by the European Union. Some institutions may support a longer period of study towards submission of the final PhD thesis - see the PhD research project descriptions for more information.

  • A generous allowance for living expenses of between €35,652 and €68,184 per year (before deductions for social insurance, tax etc) is paid to each Doctoral Candidate. The precise figure depends on the country where the position is held, as set out by the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023-2025. The base allowance is stated on p118 of the Work Programme as €4,010 per month (before deductions), and is multiplied by a country-dependent factor given on pp156-7 of the Work Programme, to reflect differences in applicable deductions and the cost of living between countries. The relevant factors are extracted for convenience below; note however in the event of mistranscription, the figures in the Horizon Europe Work Programme will apply.

    Country

    DE

    ES

    FR

    IT

    LU

    NL

    PL

    UK

    Factor

    101.2%

    95.6%

    118.1%

    95.3%

    100%

    111.6%

    74.1%

    141.7%

  • In addition, the network budget includes a mobility allowance of €8,520 per year to support living in a new country. Where applicable a family allowance of €7,920 per year is available. Long-term leave and special needs allowances can also be applied for. These allowances are not subject to the country correction factor described above.

  • All research, training and networking activities (including secondments) are funded by the network.

How to apply

  • Any queries on the projects themselves should be sent directly to the contact email given in the PhD project description.

  • Candidates are requested to apply for three PhD research projects that they are eligible for, in ranked order of preference, in a single application.

  • An application be started by clicking the Apply now link available on each of the PhD project pages. Please only submit a single application.

  • You will be asked to fill out a web form with basic information and you will also need to upload a single PDF containing the following information:

    • Letter of motivation: describe your academic background and why you are applying to CAFE-BIO, including the reasons for your project preferences.

    • Scientific CV including names and contact details of potential referees.

    • Digital copies or scans of all certificates/transcripts (e.g. school-leaving certificates/qualification for university entrance, vocational training certificates, diplomas, Bachelor & Master degree certificates)

    • Proof of previous employment where applicable (e.g. certificates of employment, work slips, references)

    • (Except for native speakers) Evidence of English language skills (e.g. Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English, Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency, IELTS Academic, TOEFL-iBT/PBT, UNIcert, evidence of successful completion of a course of studies in English or of at least two years of study or work in an English-speaking country)

  • Project preferences will be considered when allocating projects to candidates, in combination with a ranking based on the Letter of Motivation and Scientific CV, and performance at interview for shortlisted candidates.