Title:

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

Description:

The TERRA-MED international doctoral programme is recruiting 33 doctoral researchers to address the environmental and climate challenges facing Mediterranean territories.

Co-funded by the European Union through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA COFUND), TERRA-MED, coordinated by the Euroregion Pyrenees–Mediterranean, brings together the Regions of Occitanie (France), Catalonia and the Balearic Islands (Spain), forming a cross-border research ecosystem brings together 12 research institutions.

🌟 What does TERRA-MED offer?

🎓 33 funded doctoral positions across France and Spain

🌍 International co-supervision and academic mobility

🤝 Collaboration with academic and non-academic partners

🔬 Access to complementary research expertise and facilities

📚 Dedicated training and career development opportunities

🌱 Research contributing to Mediterranean sustainability and climate resilience

📅 Applications open 15 October – 31 December 2026

Expected start: September 2027

The overall programme offers an international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral research environment, with doctoral projects addressing the Water–Land–Energy Nexus across six research areas:

💧 Water, Aquatic Systems & Water Resources

🌿 Environment, Biodiversity & Circular Economy

🌾 Food, Agriculture & Plant Sciences

⚡ Energy, Hydrogen & Decarbonisation

🧪 Chemistry, Materials & Biotechnology

💻 Digital Technologies, AI & Societal Transitions

Fundació Institut Català d’Investigació Química (ICIQ) participates in the programme as Implementing Partner recruiting two PhD candidates:

- ICIQ2 - Mo Speciation in Biological Systems: The MoSto Protein.

• Host institution: ICIQ. Co-supervisors: Carles Bo & Albert Solé-Daura

• Co-host institution: CBI, U. Toulouse. Co-supervisor: Matthieu Chavent

• Disciplines: Theoretical and computational chemistry; Physical chemistry of biological Systems

• Keywords: POMs, DFT, Speciation, Molecular Dynamics, Force Fields, Coarse Grain, Meso-scale, Oligo-elements

• Link to full offer: https://terra-med.euroregio.eu/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/ICIQ2_PhDoffertemplatev2_.pdf

- ICIQ3 - Understanding the keys to efficiency in mechanochemistry.

• Host institution: ICIQ. Co-supervisor: Feliu Maseras

• Co-host institution: Institut Charles Gerhardt, U. Montpellier. Co-supervisor: Evelina Colacino

• Disciplines: Theoretical and computational chemistry; Organic synthesis; Physical chemistry

• Keywords: Mechanochemistry, Density functional theory, Microkinetic modelling, Ball milling, Organic Chemistry, Reaction mechanisms, Process Intensification, Green Chemistry, Green chemistry Metrics

• Link to full offer: https://terra-med.euroregio.eu/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/ICIQ3_phd-offer1.pdf

Additionally, ICIQ will co-host and co-supervise a third PhD candidate:

- UT14 - Study of the impact of intermittent electricity generation from renewable power sources on the dynamic behaviour and aging of various water electrolyzer technologies.

• Host institution: LAPLACE laboratory, U. Toulouse. Co-supervisors: Christophe Turpin & Santiago Suarez

• Co-host institution: ICIQ. Co-supervisors: José Ramón Galán-Mascarós & Felipe Garcés

• Disciplines: Electrical engineering; Electrochemistry; Solid state materials chemistry; Energy systems

• Keywords: Electrolyzers, intermittent renewable energies, experimentations, performances, ageing, modelling

• Link to full offer: https://terra-med.euroregio.eu/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/UT14_PhD-offer-Final-Version-LAPLACE-UCIQ.pdf

How to Apply:

Applications are managed through the TERRA-MED central site, you can find more information here: https://terra-med.euroregio.eu/how-to-apply

Candidates are requested to submit the following required documents to present an application:

• Narrative CV: All basic CV information including personal information, education background (undergraduate and other degrees), research activities and skills, track record and professional experience.

• Cover letter: Applicants must respond to the motivation statement questions directly through the application portal.

• Understanding of the Research project topic: understanding of the candidate on the thesis topic offered, and all the research and working experience, attendance to conferences/events, participation to international programs related to the position.

• Academic degrees certificates: Certificate copies of any academic degrees and marks reports during master’s studies. All candidates must be in possession of the master’s degree or equivalent by the call deadline.

The programme is strongly committed to providing equal opportunities to all candidates and fellows, regardless of gender, nationality, age, disability, socio-economic background or career stage. This principle is embedded at every stage of recruitment and implementation, in full alignment with the European Charter for Researchers.

Download the Guide for Applicants for more information: https://terra-med.euroregio.eu/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Guide_for_applicants-TERRAMED_oct2026.pdf

Apply by December 31st (12:00 pm European/Paris time), through the dedicated application portal: https://euroregio-epm.wiin.io/fr/login?backTo=%2Ffr%2Fapplications%2Fterra-med%3Fpage-section%3Dabout-terra-med

The TERRA-MED project is co-funded under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND 2025 call of the European Commission’s Horizon Europe programme, Grant Agreement No. 101261763, and led by the Euroregion Pyrenees-Mediterranean.

ICIQ participation in the TERRA-MED programme is co-funded by the Severo Ochoa Excellence Accreditation CEX2024-001469-S funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033