After the deadline, the submitted applications will first be checked for eligibility, and then evaluated and ranked by future PhD supervisors, using the criteria below.
| Evaluation of submitted application |
max. score | Considerations |
| Academic records & training in SusMatEner research fields | 40 | Qualifications - Academic marks and rankings at the Master’s level - Previous Training incl. Transferable Skills - Recommendation letters - Publications (if any) |
| Research experience | 30 | Research track-record - Research profile – Practical Research experience (synthesis, characterization, computing, modelling, ML, LCA,..) |
| Leadership Potential and Future Career Planning | 30 | Concreteness of career plan (academia, entrepreneurship or industry) - Ability to work independently and to take responsibility - Diversity of dissemination activities - Previous/current collaborations - International experience |
The highest ranked candidates for each project will then be invited for interviews (usually by video), and again ranked using the following criteria.
| Evaluation of interviews |
max. score | Considerations |
| Presentation | 20 | Scientific knowledge - Research Vision - Confident and clear communication |
| Research | 40 | Experience - Technical capability - Previous level of responsibility - Understanding of ethical implications |
| Leadership | 40 | Evidence of proactivity – e.g. setting up networks, partnerships - Recent outputs - Motivation |
In addition, some of our partner labs require that their future staff undergo security checks. The final decision to employ a candidate is then subject to passing these checks.
The PhD projects will then start from September or October 2025.
preliminary calendar:
| 1. March | information online |
| 24. March | website open for online submission |
| 5. May | submission deadline |
| 12. May | checks for eligibility finalised |
| 15-31 May | interviews |
| 31. May | evaluation finalised |
| Sept/Oct | PhD projects starting |
The first Joint Training School is planned for December 2025, with focus on introduction to Machine Learning and Life Cycle Analysis.
