TERRA-MED predoctoral programme – 2 PhD positions open at ICIQ

ICIQ recruits two doctoral researchers as an implementing partner of TERRA-MED, an international MSCA COFUND doctoral programme coordinated by the Euroregion Pyrenees–Mediterranean that is recruiting 33 doctoral researchers across Occitanie, Catalonia and the Balearic Islands to address the environmental and climate challenges of Mediterranean territories around the water–land–energy nexus. ICIQ2 – Mo speciation in biological systems: the MoSto protein (theoretical and computational chemistry; physical chemistry of biological systems), co-supervised by Carles Bo and Albert Solé-Daura at ICIQ and Matthieu Chavent (CBI, University of Toulouse); keywords polyoxometalates, DFT, speciation, molecular dynamics, force fields and coarse-grained, meso-scale modelling.

ICIQ3 – Understanding the keys to efficiency in mechanochemistry (theoretical and computational chemistry, organic synthesis, physical chemistry), co-supervised by Feliu Maseras at ICIQ and Evelina Colacino (Institut Charles Gerhardt, University of Montpellier); keywords mechanochemistry, density functional theory, microkinetic modelling, ball milling, reaction mechanisms, process intensification and green-chemistry metrics. ICIQ also co-hosts a third project led from the LAPLACE laboratory in Toulouse on how intermittent renewable electricity affects the dynamic behaviour and ageing of water electrolysers.

The programme offers international co-supervision and mobility, intersectoral collaboration and dedicated training; expected start September 2027.

Applicants must hold a master’s degree or equivalent by the call deadline. Applications go through the TERRA-MED central application portal (linked from the ICIQ offer) by 31 December 2026, 12:00 Paris time, with a narrative CV, answers to the motivation-statement questions, a statement on understanding of the research topic, and copies of academic degree certificates and master’s transcripts. See the TERRA-MED Guide for Applicants for eligibility and mobility rules.