Doctoral Student Programme 2026-2

What youll do

Youll spend up months working on your doctoral thesis in a truly unique environment where science technology and innovation meet. Youll be part of an international community of experts gaining experience at the forefront of research and engineering.

Your responsibilities

Carry out your doctoral research in collaboration with CERN and your home university.

Contribute to ongoing projects in domains such as applied physics computing engineering or related technical fields.

Present and document your work as part of your academic and research objectives.

Learn from and work alongside world-class scientists engineers and technicians within an international and multidisciplinary team.

Your profile

Your field of study is in Applied Physics Engineering Computing or a related area.

You are motivated to develop your research in a hands-on collaborative and innovative environment.

You enjoy teamwork and learning from others in a collaborative setting.

Your skills

Solid theoretical foundation in your research area combined with an interest in practical applications.

Curiosity precision and a proactive attitude towards learning.

Good communication skills and ability to work effectively in a multicultural team.

Additional Information :

Application Deadline: 23/02/26 at 23:59 (Geneva time)

Employment Conditions:

• Ideal Start Date: 01/7/26
• Weekly Working Hours: 40
• Contract duration (in months): 12 to 36
• Job Flexibility: Fully Onsite

Global Benefits

• A monthly allowance of 3891 Swiss Francs (tax free).
• 30 days of paid leave per year plus 2 weeks annual closure.
• Coverage by CERNs comprehensive Health Insurance scheme (the contribution will be automatically deducted from your allowance).
• Family supplement to subsistence allowance depending on your individual circumstances.
• Travel expenses to Geneva upon joining CERN depending on your individual circumstances.
• A contract duration for 12 months renewable up to 3 years with possibility to spread over a maximum duration of 4 consecutive years to allow you to spend time at the university.

Be sure to meet the eligibility criteria

• You are a national of a CERN Member State or Associate Member State.
• You have a good knowledge of English or French.
• Your university must support your participation in the programme. This means that your university should agree that the research you conduct at CERN will contribute to your PhD thesis. Additionally your field of study should align with CERNs research areas including but not limited to physics engineering computing and related applied sciences.
• You must be enrolled in a doctoral program in a relevant field such as physics engineering computer science or a related discipline. You should have begun your doctoral studies at the time of application.

You will need these documents to complete your application

• Your CV (English or French)
• Any document you consider relevant to your application
• An academic reference letter (optional)
• An academic transcript (optional)

Overview of CERN - Discover a world where the impossible is made possible!

At CERN the European Organization for Nuclear Research we are pushing the frontiers of science and technology. Our groundbreaking work brings together not only physicists but also a diverse range of professionals from engineering technical scientific and administrative fields. Together we foster an environment where innovation and collaboration thrive.

Every day we face exciting new challenges and opportunities to contribute to cutting-edge research that shapes our understanding of the universe. We meet these challenges through the diverse perspectives within our teams ensuring every contribution is valued and driving our shared sense of inclusion and purpose. Diversity is a core value of CERN since its foundation and it remains central to our mission and continued success.

If you are ready to be part of a dynamic inclusive community pushing the boundaries of knowledge CERN is the place where your curiosity and skills can thrive. Be part of our mission to uncover what lies at the heart of the universe! TAKE PART!

More information about us here:

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time