FAQ « EU-DOCS for SmUCS » – MSCA COFUND

Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability (SmUCS) means to focus on defining, understanding and addressing challenges from coastal regions (rivers, seas and oceans).

Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability (SmUCS) is not a subject-driven thematic framework, but a challenge-driven education and research domain. Coastal environments are interfaces between inland areas and marine offshore parts where social and economic activities interact with highly valuable and unique coastal ecosystems. Socio-economic activities along our coasts have a direct and indirect connectivity and impact on these ecosystems through the provision of goods and services. The functioning and evolution of coastal societies and environments in the context of climate change and increasing anthropogenic pressure are major challenges that are addressed in the framework of Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability.

To be eligible, the subject should comply with the EU rules regarding ethics for research and address SmUCS challenges; it should also identify a non-academic partner or business area for the secondment. The co-supervisor should be part of the EU-DOCS for SmUCS academic partners and have got formal approval from his or her home Doctoral school or equivalent based on their quality and experience as supervisors.

A maximum of 10 pages is recommended. The information submitted in the PhD subject application will be used for the call for applicants. Thus, it must be both concise and clear.

Yes, PhD candidates are also be able to propose a subject of their own. To do so, they need to identify co-supervisors using the EU-CONEXUS Research & Innovation Information System. To be assessed, a subject will need to be validated by the two supervisors and go through the eligibility check by the Steering Committee before being published; the candidate will then be able to send his application.

We have not specified a particular format for the CV. Indeed, more than the academic and professional background of supervisors, it is primarily the project itself that will be evaluated (especially its alignment with the SmUCS themes). We will also pay attention to the relevance of the supervision in relation to the topic being addressed, the consideration of ethical/open science and partnership aspects, the organization of co-supervision, and the quality of doctoral supervision. Therefore, a CV of up to 5 pages should be sufficient.

EU-CONEXUS Partners

• University of Zadar – Croatia
• Frederick University – Cyprus
• University of Rostock – Germany
• Agricultural University of Athens – Greece
• South East Technlogical University – Ireland
• Klaipeda University – Lithuania
• Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest – Romania
• Catholic University of Valencia – Spain

International partners

• Deakin University – Australia
• University of Calgary – Canada
• University of Sherbrooke – Canada
• University of Helsinki – Finland
• University of Cape Coast – Ghana
• Universita Degli Studi Dell’Aquila – Italy
• Sapienza University of Rome – Italy
• University of Barcelona – Spain
• Universidad de Sevilla – Spain
• Case Western Reserve University – USA
• University of Science & Technology of Hanoi – Vietnam

A non-academic partner refers to any socio-economic entity outside the academic sector, such as NGOs, museums, hospitals, associations, or private companies.

At the subject selection stage, no. However, non-academic partners should be contacted when setting up the project, as they must agree to host a PhD student for a three-month secondment. If the PhD subject is selected and a candidate is recruited, the non-academic partner will need to be added to the European Commission’s Funding and Tenders Portal. Therefore, non-academic partners must have a PIC (Participant Identification Code) to be added as an associated partner in the project.

As part of the EU-DOCS for SmUCS project, PhD funding is provided for a duration of 3 years. If the PhD extends beyond this period at the partner institution in the cotutelle arrangement, the academic partner is responsible for covering the additional year of funding. Please get in touch with La Rochelle Université’s Doctoral School  for more information as the usual duration of a PhD in our institution is 3 years.

The students participating in the EU-DOCS for SmUCS programme will be enrolled both in LRUniv Doctoral School and in the academic partner’s Doctoral School. The student will be co-supervised by a PhD supervisor from each university. A cotutelle bilateral agreement will specify all the necessary and specific conditions for delivering the two PhD degrees and legal diplomas. It will also define the training that is necessary for the thesis, with a total of 30 ECTS or 750 hours including a minimum of 10 ECTS (250 hours) of shared courses and 20 ECTS (500 hours) of work (shared courses or other research activities such as research reports, participation in the EU-CONEXUS summer school, etc.). The PhD should spend at least 6 months (consecutive or not) at the cotutelle partner.

For further information on cotutelles.

The students participating in the EU-DOCS for SmUCS programme will be enrolled both in LRUniv Doctoral School and in the academic partner’s Doctoral School. The student will be co-supervised by a PhD supervisor from each university. A cotutelle bilateral agreement will specify all the necessary and specific conditions for delivering the two PhD degrees and legal diplomas. It will also define the training that is necessary for the thesis, with a total of 30 ECTS or 750 hours including a minimum of 10 ECTS (250 hours) of shared courses and 20 ECTS (500 hours) of work (shared courses or other research activities such as research reports, participation in the EU-CONEXUS summer school, etc.). The PhD should spend at least 6 months (consecutive or not) at the cotutelle partner.

For further information on cotutelles.

Students of any nationality can participate in the programme. In addition, it should be noted that there are EU restrictive measures (sanctions) in place which can prohibit the participation of and/or provision of technical training to nationals and/or residents of certain countries in specific research fields. The beneficiaries are under an obligation to ensure compliance with these restrictive measures.

An overview thereof can be found here.

The Marie Sklodowska-Curie mobility rule states that the applicant must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the host organisation’s country for more than twelve months in the three years immediately prior to the call deadline.

No, the mobility rule applies only to France. Candidates must not have spent more than 12 months in France during the three years prior to the application deadline.

The Interview Committee will be made of six members:

• Three international experts chosen by the Steering Committee for their expertise in SmUCS related fields of research and capacity to have a global perspective on interdisciplinarity with a solid background in terms of PhD supervision;
• Three internal members: a representative of our Doctoral School, a representative of EU-CONEXUS PhD programme and a rotating member, namely the two co-supervisors of the thesis (giving one common mark).

Besides, a representative of our HR for research team will attend all interviews to share her views on the interpersonal aspects of the candidates’ presentations, and answer questions from the Interview committee, but will not give a mark.

Since 2022, La Rochelle Université strictly applies a 40/60 proportion of gender balance to its selection committees, based on its GEP requiring “the balanced representation of women and men on selection boards, vetting committees and teaching committees”.

The Interview Committee will be the same for all the candidates.

Secondments in non-academic partners are mandatory as they will participate in the development of the students’ skills. There are nonetheless limited to 3 months in total.

EU-DOCS for SmUCS students will benefit from personalised assistance all along their thesis, based on a formalised Career Development Plan defining short term objectives related to the thesis (research results, research skills and techniques, communication skills, etc.) and long-term career objectives (over 5 years). The CDP will include aspects related to work life balance addressing questions such as why a PhD? What life plan? what is key to your wellbeing? what do you expect from your environment to help you achieve your project?

The CDP will be established at the beginning of the thesis with an overview in the final year. However, the PhD student may ask for an update at any point in his/her thesis. The document will be established during an interview (after having been prepared by the student) bringing together the two co-supervisors and a member of the HR for research team. This person should be identified by the PhD student as his or her entry point to go over his personal career plan or be a resource in case of reorientation issues at any moment during the thesis. She will be able to provide him with support, adequate information or turn towards other internal resources that may help, within the Human Resources team of the Orientation and Insertion team.

The social security system in France is known in French as la Sécurité sociale. The health insurance branch is called Assurance maladie. France’s universal health care system guarantees coverage of healthcare expenses for all individuals who exercise a professional activity or have been residing in France on a stable and ongoing basis for at least 3 months. It covers reimbursement of healthcare costs for insurees and their minor dependents.

On average, the basic health insurance covers 70% of medical expenses. PhD candidates may take an additional health insurance, called a mutuelle to top up the reimbursements of medical expenses for example for glasses or dental care.

Benefits for accidents at work and occupational diseases are paid by the local Health Insurance Fund. All care (medical, surgical, and pharmacy) is covered by the Fund at a rate of 100%.

Maternity and paternity insurance covers pregnancy and delivery-related costs, and must also have been registered with the social security system at least 6 months prior to the expected date of delivery or the child’s date of arrival in the household. In case of major social issues during their contract, as any staff member, PhD students may apply for funding from the Social Commission of the University.