PhD Opportunities – Transform4Europe

Join the “Data-driven Solutions for a more Sustainable Future” event in Sofia!

Are you passionate about sustainability and the future of our cities?
Do you want to learn how Artificial Intelligence can tackle climate change?

We are looking for motivated students to join the upcoming event hosted by Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski as part of the Transform4Europe (T4EU) Alliance!

The event will present the opportunities and capabilities of AI and GeoAI in studying the local effects of climate change across European regions. Participants will be introduced to the latest geospatial analytics and predictive modelling to directly address natural hazards and environmental risks.

Throughout the event, you will learn how to work with scalable, workflow-oriented methodologies for analysing complex data. The focus will be on geoinformation technologies, including Generative AI and no-code/low-code solutions for handling large datasets.

Finally, participants will work in groups to solve a specific issue as part of the T4EU Stakeholder Challenge, an open innovation initiative that will connect young talents with companies and public institutions.

The University of Trieste will select 3 students to take part in the T4EU event Data-driven Solutions for a more Sustainable Future, which will include:
– a virtual session on 22 October 2026;
– a physical mobility on 26–30 October 2026.

The three participants assigned to each event will be distributed as follows:
– one person from the BA;
– one person from the MA;
– one person from the PhD/Young researcher.

The target group is focused on students with no or little programming skills.

Students can ask for recognition of 3 ECTS credits.

IMPORTANT!
Before you attend the selected course, remember to inform your “Coordinatore del Corso di Studi” and the “Segreteria didattica” of your Department, following the dedicated guidelines.
Before attending the selected course, doctoral students must also inform their Doctoral Course Coordinator and the Delegate for Doctoral Studies (delegato.dottorati@units.it).
Failure to comply will preclude credit recognition.

What are you waiting for?

APPLY NOW

Application deadline: 24 May 2026.

Apply for the T4EU Summer Course in Alicante!

Applications are now open for the T4EU Summer Course Generative models and creative and artistic industries, which will take place in Alicante (Spain) from 15 to 17 September 2026, hosted by the University of Alicante.

The workshop will bridge Artificial Intelligence (AI), Computer Science, and Fine Arts/Design. Participants will delve into the technical and creative applications of Generative Models for producing high-quality imagery, video content, and 3D assets. Furthermore, the agenda will cover the physical implementation of these digital designs through 3D Printing technology. Beyond creation, the event will address critical theoretical frameworks, including AI Ethics, Security Protocols, Intellectual Property law, and Privacy issues within creative industries.

Programme

Three UniTS students will be selected from those in the Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD programmes.

Priority will be given to applicants whose degree programmes are closely related to the disciplines covered during the event.

Students who successfully complete the programme will be awarded 3 ECTS credits.

IMPORTANT!
Before you attend the selected course, remember to inform your “Coordinatore del Corso di Studi” and the “Segreteria didattica” of your Department, following the dedicated guidelines.
Failure to comply with these guidelines will preclude credit recognition.
Please also check the PhD Credits information.

Application deadline: 17 May 2026.

APPLY NOW

Selection process of UniTS students for T4EU Entrepreneurship Events in Germany

The University of Trieste has selected 6 students to participate in two entrepreneurship initiatives organised within the Transform4Europe Alliance at Saarland University (Germany).

TRANSFORM4EUROPE BOOTCAMP

27–30 April 2026

Selected students:

DR1500004
EC0104213
SM5102457

T-LAB FAIR – ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRANSFORMATION LAB

27–29 April 2026

Selected students:

SL1101267
EC01A00477
SP5500012

The T4EU team at UniTS will be contacting the successful candidates in due course with further information.

UniTS selects 6 students for T4EU Entrepreneurship Events in Germany

There is time until 20 March to apply for two international opportunities within the Transform4Europe Alliance.

The University of Trieste will select 3 students for the T4EU Bootcamp and 3 students for the T-Lab Fair, both taking place at Saarland University in April 2026.

The three participants assigned to each event will be distributed as follows: one from the BA, one from the MA and one PhD. Students may participate in one of the two events and will be awarded 3 ECTS credits. Doctoral students can also attend one of the two events and could be awarded with the CFU corresponding to conferences/symposia/workshops, following approval by their doctoral committee.

TRANSFORM4EUROPE BOOTCAMP

Turning societal challenges into entrepreneurial solutions
Saarland University, Saarbrücken (Germany)
27–30 April 2026

The Bootcamp focuses on how societal challenges can be transformed into entrepreneurial solutions. Over four intensive days, participants will experience the full founding lifecycle in a hands-on, international environment, working alongside students, researchers and stakeholders from across the Alliance.

Application deadline for University of Trieste students: 20 March 2026.

Apply now

T-LAB FAIR – ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRANSFORMATION LAB

Transform innovative ideas into tangible impact across academia, business, and society
Saarland University, Saarbrücken (Germany)
27–29 April 2026

The T-Lab Fair explores the entrepreneurial mindset through interactive sessions, visits to local startups and innovation hubs, and collaborative project work addressing real-world challenges.

Application deadline for University of Trieste students: 20 March 2026.

Apply now

IMPORTANT: Before you attend the selected course, remember to inform your “Coordinatore del Corso di Studi” and the “Segreteria didattica” of your Department, following the dedicated guidelines. Failure to comply with these guidelines will preclude credit recognition.

Before attending the selected course, doctoral students must also inform their Doctoral Course Coordinator and the Delegate for Doctoral Studies (delegato.dottorati@units.it). Failure to comply will prevent credit recognition.

Joint Call for for Visiting Professorships

Jointly, the University of Trieste and the University of Primorska launch the Second Joint Call for Visiting Professorship, open to professors and researchers from institutions outside the T4EU Alliance.

The initiative promotes international academic mobility while strengthening scientific collaboration in key areas of digital, environmental, and social transformation.

The programme is structured around 20 days of activities (10 days at each university), featuring lectures, seminars, meetings with doctoral candidates, and research engagement across the following disciplinary fields: economics and management, interpreting and translation, history and philosophy, education sciences, mathematics, artificial intelligence and data science, biology and neurosciences, and psychology.

Application deadline: 27 February 2026.

READ THE CALL and APPLY

Selection process for the First-time Researchers Academy

We are pleased to announce the results of the selection process for participation in the First-time Researchers Academy, taking place in Lisbon from 17 to 21 November 2025, with a follow-up online session in January 2026.

The following doctoral candidates have been selected:

DR1600039
DR0200011

The T4EU team at UniTS will be contacting the successful candidates in due course with further information.

First-time Researchers Academy

Applications are now open for the First-time Researchers Academy, taking place in Lisbon from 17 to 21 November 2025, with a follow-up online session in January 2026. Open to PhD students from Transform4Europe (T4EU) partner universities, this first edition of the joint doctoral training programme offers a unique chance to collaborate across institutions and enhance research skills.

The deadline for submitting applications is Friday, 17 October (12:00 noon).

APPLy

Please note that you do not need to register on the organisers’ website. Simply apply using the link above. Details of the selected candidates will be forwarded to the organisers. Successful applicants will be notified by Wednesday, 29 October.
Find out more

Important: the activity carried out at the Academy corresponds to a type 4 activity in the record book for the Recognition of credits in PhD programmes. It can be recognised for a maximum of 2.5 CFU and will be evaluated by the Doctoral Teaching Body. Please consult UniTS’s credit attribution rules and discuss with your supervisor or coordinator, following also the dedicated T4EU guidelines. Failure to comply with these guidelines will preclude credit recognition.

Eligibility

Two successful candidates will be chosen. Eligible PhD candidates at the University of Trieste must:

Be in the 2nd or 3rd year of their PhD and actively enrolled at the University of Trieste.
Have a level of English proficiency (speaking, reading, and writing) sufficient to actively engage with all courses and activities, which will be delivered entirely in English. The organisers have indicated a minimum level of B2.
Submit a motivation statement (max. 2000 characters, in English) explaining:
1. Why they wish to participate in the Academy.
2. How the programme would benefit their development at this specific stage of their doctoral research.
3. How their academic and professional goals align with the Academy’s focus on research design, academic writing, open science, impact, communication, leadership, and networking.

Applications will be assessed on:

Clarity and strength of motivation.
Relevance of the programme to the candidate’s current stage of research.
Potential for professional growth in line with the European Competence Framework for Researchers (interdisciplinarity, international networking, career management, and science communication).
Ability to participate fully in English

T4EU PhD Tracks

The T4EU PhD Tracks are doctoral projects that combine a home university supervisor with an advisor from another T4EU partner university, to add an international dimension to the PhD.

The candidate remains a doctoral student at their home university, but carries out a portion of their PhD education, research, or mobility at one or more T4EU partner institutions under the guidance of the external advisor(s)

Find out more

Phd Students will have the chance to meet up in person and learn more about the PhD Tracks proposals and other opportunities at the Matchmaking event hosted in Saint-Etienne from 25 to 28 November 2025.

Would you like to be contacted by T4EU coordinator to talk about the Phd Tracks and other T4Eu opportunities for PhD students?

FILL in THE FORM

Thesis bundles

What are Thesis bundles?

T4EU Thesis Bundles bring together PhD supervisors and their students from different disciplines to work on a common central research theme.The aim is to create groups of academics from different T4EU universities working on related questions together with their PhD Students.

These bundles function as multidisciplinary research clusters, forming an interdisciplinary scientific community.

Regular interactions will take place throughout the duration of the cluster project (ideally for a minimum of two years), including for example exchanges and visits within research units, common activities and communication about their work. At least one international mobility per year should be suggested and financially supported for the members in the scientific community.

If you are a PhD student you can either join an existing Thesis bundle or suggest a new one together with your supervisor.

Phd Students will have the chance to meet up in person and learn more about the Thesis Bundles proposals and other opportunities at the Matchmaking event hosted in Saint-Étienne at JMU University from 25 to 28 November 2025.

Would you like to be contacted by T4EU coordinator to talk about the Thesis bundles and other T4Eu opportunities for PhD students?

FILL in the FORM