Call for proposals : paired PhD grants’ call 2026
As part of its ExcellencES project, PSL University is renewing its call for proposals for the funding of paired PhD grants’ call thesis.
Objectives:
This call aims to fund two paired theses, i.e. two doctoral theses in two different disciplines, but with a common subject of study and research programme. The complementarity between disciplines should enable the doctoral students to reinforce each other's work, with each contributing their own expertise and different perspectives to the research programme. Joint theses thus promote collaborative research and learning.
The proposed topics must fall within one of the following areas:
- Environment
- Health
- Public action
Conditions for responding to the call:
This call for applications is open to all research units at PSL University institutions. However, the proposed project must involve two separate research units. A research unit may submit multiple applications.
To respond to the 2026 Joint Thesis Call for Proposals, please complete the following form by 20 May 2026. You must log in to the form using an institutional email address from the PSL environment.
The submitted project must include:
- The CVs of both thesis supervisors;
- The CVs and cover letters of the two candidates;
- A description of the two thesis topics, highlighting their complementarity within the framework of a joint research programme;
- The planned methods of interaction between the two doctoral students to ensure genuine mutual benefit.
*If their joint project is selected, candidates must feel bound by a moral commitment and, consequently, must not withdraw.
Criteria:
- Scientific excellence and ambition of the proposed project;
- Diversity of disciplines involved and complementarity between the two thesis topics: the proposed project must be based on sufficiently distinct disciplines (e.g. social sciences/data sciences and physics/earth sciences; philology and AI, etc.) falling under two separate graduate programmes. They must explain how each of these two disciplines is crucial to addressing the common research issue. For each discipline, the specific skills and methodologies as well as the expected results in terms of knowledge production must be described.
Selection schedule and procedure:
- February 2026: Launch of the call for projects
- 20 May 2026: Application deadline
- May–June 2026: Review of applications
- May–June 2026: Interviews with shortlisted candidates
- Mid-June 2026: Notification of decisions
Before 20 May 2026
To apply, please complete the form before 20 May 2026. Please note that applications must be submitted from an institutional email address within the PSL environment.