Application

Submit your application information and documents via the CIVIS platform (registration required). Visit https://civis.smapply.io/prog/spaxio_msca_doctoral_network/ to apply and become part of the MSCA DN spaXio.

Important: Please be sure to check the EU application guidelines for MSCA doctoral networks: https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/doctoral-networks. In brief, EU-funded Doctoral Networks support research. Each fellowship lasts 48 months for Joint Doctorates (such as spaXio). Researchers funded through these networks must not already hold a doctoral degree, can be of any nationality, and must be enrolled in a doctoral programme during the project. For Industrial Doctorates, candidates are expected to spend at least half of their time outside academia. They must also comply with EU mobility rules, meaning they should not have lived or worked in the host country for more than 12 months in the three years prior to recruitment. The EU provides financial support covering a living allowance, a mobility allowance, and, where applicable, family allowances (4 years Phd funding: living allowance EUR 4,010, mobility allowance EUR 710 family allowance (if applicable) EUR 660; A correction coefficient applies depending on the hosting country). Project 14 is funded by the State of Salzburg and salary agrees with local guidelines. Additional funding is provided for research, training, networking, management, and indirect costs—ensuring comprehensive support for high-quality doctoral training and international collaboration. 

Project 14 funded by the State of Salzburg does not follow this funding and requirement scheme.

Application Period:
October 14th – November 8th, 2025

What to Submit:
CV, Master's certificate, transcript of records, thesis summary (1000 characters), recommendation letter using this template, and complete all form fields on motivation, skills, ... (2500 characters), language skills, and project preferences. Please see this preview of application form for details.

Selection Process

• Step 1: Application Review
  Applications are screened for eligibility and evaluated by project PIs based on motivation, qualifications, research experience, and references. Top candidates will be invited for interviews.

• Step 2: Personal Interviews
  Interviews include a presentation of your Master’s thesis, a short paper discussion, and conversations with PIs and lab members to assess research, communication, and teamwork skills.

• Step 3: Matching
  Successful candidates are matched with projects based on their performance and fit.

Timeline

• Application: Oct 14th – Nov 8th, 2025

• Interviews: Dec 2025 – Jan 2026

• Decisions: Jan - Mar 2026

• Project start: Between Jan and Apr 2026

Preview of the application form can be found here.

Template for the mandatory reference letter can be found here.

The application form can be accessed here.