15 Fully-Funded PhD Positions in Control & Systems Engineering, Machine Learning, XAI, Computer Science, and Human-centred Design for Resilience in Cyber-Physical Systems (SPRING MSCA Doctoral Network) Université of Orléans in France

The SPRING MSCA Doctoral Network is offering 15 fully-funded PhD positions in the fields of Control & Systems Engineering, Machine Learning, Explainable AI (XAI), Computer Science, and Human-centred Design for resilience in large-scale cyber-physical systems. The network brings together leading European institutions, including Université d'Orléans, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Bielefeld University, Universitetet i Oslo (UiO), University of Cyprus, Technische Universität Graz, and others, to train the next generation of researchers in critical infrastructure resilience.

Each doctoral candidate will be employed for 36 months and benefit from an international training network, with opportunities for secondments across Europe and real-world impact on energy, water, and transport systems. The research topics span physics-informed adversarial robustness, generative models, robust AI, and human-machine interaction in critical infrastructure domains.

Eligibility requires an Honours BSc and/or MSc degree in engineering, computer science, control systems, communication engineering, applied mathematics, or related fields, with a minimum of 240 ECTS or equivalent. Applicants must not have resided in the host country for more than 12 months in the past 3 years and must demonstrate English proficiency at B2 level or higher. Excellent programming skills, especially in Python, and experience in machine learning and deep learning are required for some projects.

Funding is provided through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), offering a competitive salary, living and mobility allowances, and, if applicable, a family allowance. The positions are fully funded for the duration of the PhD.

To apply, candidates should submit a single application via the online Application Form, including a motivation letter, CV, certified academic transcripts, references, and a sample of written work. Applicants may rank up to three projects in their application. The deadline for applications is April 1, 2026, with interviews scheduled for April-May 2026 and a start date in September 2026.

For more information and to apply, visit the SPRING Doctoral Network website.