Marie Sklodowska-Curie ITN: The EASITrain Innovative Training Network

Are you a physicist/engineer with applied knowledge of superconductivity?
Would you like to do your PhD in a stimulating international training network?  Apply now!
 
The EU-funded Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme has two main strategic objectives: to strengthen the scientific and technological base of European industry and to encourage its international competitiveness, while promoting research that supports EU policies.
 
EASITrain is a 4-year project providing a training network for the career development of 15 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) on superconducting wires, superconducting thin films, related manufacturing and processing techniques and innovative cryogenic refrigeration. Each ESR is funded by the project for 36 months and will be enrolled in a doctorate program.
The project started on 1 October 2017.
 

The challenge

The two greatest obstacles to a wide spread adoption of superconductivity remain the limited understanding of its fundamental principles and the yet insufficient capability for large-scale, cost-effective deployment of the technology. This project integrates sound research projects aimed at establishing new technologies as the state of the art, assessing their innovation capacities and equipping a new generation of researchers with the unique skills required to convert knowledge into products.

EASITrain trains early stage scientists and engineers in all aspects related to the development of superconductors, their applications and refrigeration and cooling infrastructures.

EASITrain has four research and development areas:

1)    Advance next generation superconducting materials (Nb₃Sn, MgB₂, Tl-based compounds) for wire (magnets, motors, generators) and thin film applications (radiofrequency, electronics)

2)    Improve innovative manufacturing techniques for superconductors to achieve high quality and lower costs (large batch wire production, thin film coatings, high-velocity forming)

3)    Demonstrate efficiency refrigeration and cooling technologies (Nelium refrigeration, optimised magnet cooling and cooling architectures, novel turbo compressors)

4)    Valorise the advancements to explore realistic market potentials and develop credible business cases (motors, generators, UPS, medical imaging, wireless and UWB, food safety and molecular analytics, gas liquefaction & transport)

How can you take part?

Are you a physicist/engineer with applied knowledge of superconductivity?

Would you like to do your PhD in a stimulating international training network? Courses on superconductivity and cryogenics will be given by world-leading experts and specialized research groups across Europe.

Courses on project and innovation management, career preparation, personal development will be given by experienced trainers.

Apply now! You will receive a 3-year employment contract from Columbus Superconductors in Genova, Italy (ESR7). You will be enrolled in a doctoral programme in one of the European universities in the EASITrain consortium.

The research is about the development of MgB2 wire, which is suitable for use in high field magnets at required current densities in fields above 10 Tesla. Work will also take place in cooperation with CERN and the Technical University of Vienna to understand the key performance indicators determining the wire performances and optimise the production process.

In addition to the scientific research and training, secondments at industrial partners and complementary training will contribute to enhance your career prospects in the academic and non-academic sectors.

For detailed information on the position offered, please see the EASITrain Website

ESRs must, at the time of recruitment

• Be in possession of a university degree, and (ii) have a maximum of four years of full-time research experience, including any period of research training, after obtaining the degree which formally allowed them to embark on a doctorate in the country in which the degree/diploma was obtained or in the host country (irrespective of whether or not a doctorate was envisaged).
• ESRs cannot be PhD holders at the start of their employment contract.
• The European Commission's mobility rules state: At the time of recruitment by the host organisation, researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of their host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the reference date. Short stays such as holidays and/or compulsory national service are not taken into account. Applicants for the position at CERN must not have been at CERN for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the reference date.
• Proficiency in English is required; training in other languages can be provided through the ITN's training budget.

Applications should include:

• a completed electronic application form;
• a Curriculum Vitae;
• a copy of the last (highest) qualification;
• a short letter of motivation;
• two letters of recommendation to give as broad as possible overview of your academic and/or professional achievements.

The application and ALL supporting documents have to be submitted using CERN's e-recruitment system by the application deadline.

For further information, please contact the EASITrain project office: easitrain-office@cern.ch at CERN.

• Attractive remuneration under employment contract for 36 months.
• In accordance with the European Commission's allowances for ITNs, there is an additional training allowance to cover training activities, conference attendance, etc.
• The employment contract is expected to start as soon as possible.

Interviews will be held as soon as possible after the closing date and may include a video interview. In the event of an interview at the premises of the partner, EASITrain will cover travel costs.

In view of strengthening the participation of under-represented groups, this project strongly encourages the participation of female researchers. Particular attention will be given during the selection process to achieve a well-balanced team of researchers in terms of gender representation.