Category: PhD Opportunities

Jean Monnet University will host the Matchmaking event from 25 to 28 November 2025. The meeting will bring together academic staff and project leaders from T4EU partner universities to discuss academic cooperation.

This event is particularly interesting for PhD students and their supervisors, who will have the chance to meet, exchange ideas and collaborate on joint projects e.g. Junior Labs, Thesis bundles and PhD Tracks.

Check the programme here and use the following link to show us your interest by 24^th October: Matchmaking Event Jean Monnet University.

For information contact: t4eu@univ-st-etienne.fr 

The Professional Competence Development Center at Vytautas Magnus University offers the T4EU PhD students the opportunity to join the online seminar: AI Tools to Boost Your Productivity.

This course familiarizes the participants with practical and user-friendly AI tools designed to boost academic productivity, improve teaching, and simplify administrative work. Participants will examine how artificial intelligence can contribute to lesson planning, content creation, grading, research support, and communication, while upholding ethical and pedagogical principles. Through hands-on sessions, they will acquire concrete skills and leave equipped with ready-to-use tools.

• Date: October 29, 2025, 3:00–5:00 p.m. (EEST)
• Duration: 2 hours
• Place: Online training (the link will be sent one day before the seminar)
• Target group: VMU academic staff and Transform4Europe doctoral students
• Lecturer: Lina Abraitienė, Institute of Foreign Languages, Vytautas Magnus University.
• This seminar does not award academic credits in the university curriculum.

Programme:

• Introduction to AI in Academia. Activity: Group discussion – “How are you already using AI (knowingly or not)?”
• AI for Lesson Planning and Content Creation. Activity: Use ChatGPT or other AI tools to generate a lesson plan or teaching material for your subject.
• AI in Assessment and Feedback. Activity: Test AI tools (e.g., Gradescope, ChatGPT) to create quiz questions or generate automated feedback.
• Research Support with AI. Activity: Use tools like Elicit or Scite to find sources, summarise articles, or brainstorm research ideas.
• Time Management and Task Automation. Activity: Create an AI-powered weekly planner or email response assistant (e.g., using Notion AI or Gmail smart replies).
• AI for Presentation and Visual Aid Creation. Activity: Design a slide deck using AI (e.g., Canva Magic Design, Tome.app) for an upcoming lecture.
• Ethical Use of AI in Teaching and Learning. Activity: Case study discussion – “Where is the ethical line in student use of AI?”
• Building Your AI Toolkit. Activity: Create a personalised “AI toolbox” list for your academic tasks and share it with peers

Through the Junior Labs initiative, T4EU PhD students have the unique opportunity to establish their own academic groups, or to join an existing one.

What are T4EU Junior Labs?

T4EU Junior Labs are short-term, student-driven academic networks established by PhD candidates currently enrolled at T4EU partner universities.
Their purpose is to:

• Encourage interdisciplinary academic work
• Facilitate networking among PhDs
• Promote international engagement and provide critical experience to enhance future career prospects
• Support international mobility in Europe

Each Junior Lab runs for up to two years and is coordinated by a project leader, who must remain registered as a PhD student at a T4EU university for the entire duration of the project. All participating students are likewise required to be enrolled at a T4EU partner university.
Applications for Junior Labs are reviewed by the Joint PhD Office to ensure alignment with the T4EU pillars.

Fill in the form if you would like to be contacted by T4EU to know more about the different possibilities.

Find out more:
Junior Labs and how to apply

Available Junior Labs:
TRUSTING THE CHAIN: Exploring confidence, societal impact, economic, and
technical challenges in blockchain technology

PEDAGOGIES FOR SOCIAL CHANGE: Supporting Student Engagement, Identity, and Transitions.

Suggested Junior Labs:
NEW ARTISTIC FORMS / CULTURAL INNOVATION: Dissemination and significance of contemporary art throughout Europe. 
This theme invites PhDs in contemporary art, cultural studies and related fields to explore how new artistic forms are emerging, circulating and gaining significance across Europe.

INTERDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVES ON TEACHER WELL-BEING AT WORK
This Junior Lab invites doctoral researchers in education studies, work studies, sociology, psychology, occupational health, and related fields to explore the diverse and interconnected factors that shape teacher well-being at work; It will examine how school leadership, administration, workplace culture, access to mental and physical health resources influence teachers’ sense of purpose, motivation, and long-term professional sustainability. 

EDUCATION AND INCLUSIVENESS / EDUCATION WITHOUT BARRIERS
Authentic assessment practices in higher education influence student engagement and academic achievement, with a focus on underrepresented student groups.

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