MGICIAN MSCA Doctoral Network: 15 Fully Funded PhD Positions in Europe

Applications are now open for 15 fully funded PhD positions in the MGICIAN project. This is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) Doctoral Network funded by Horizon Europe. The project focuses on developing next-generation magnesium-based thermoelectric materials and solid-state cooling technologies for energy-efficient and environmentally friendly applications.

These positions offer excellent international training, industry secondments, and a competitive salary package. There is no application fee. The programme is open to candidates from all nationalities who meet the MSCA mobility and eligibility rules. The application deadline is 30 April 2026, with positions starting around 1 July 2026. You can check out BS, MS, PhD and postdoc positions here.

Key Details:

Degree Level: PhD (Doctoral Candidate positions)
Duration: Up to 36 months (full-time)
Host Countries: Cyprus, Portugal, Germany, UK, Ireland, Spain, and France
Application Deadline: 30 April 2026
Start Date: 1 July 2026
Funding: Fully funded
Application Fee: None
Open to: All nationalities

Interested in More Positions? Follow links below

What This Scholarship Offers:

A competitive salary according to MSCA rules, including living allowance, mobility allowance, and possible family allowance.
Full coverage of tuition fees and research costs.
High-quality interdisciplinary training in materials science, engineering, and related fields.
International experience through secondments in academic and industry partners across Europe.
Participation in workshops, training schools, and an orientation event in Cyprus.

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MGICIAN Doctoral Projects (DC1 to DC15):

DC1 – Development of Mg-Based Thermoelectric Materials for Solid-State Cooling
Host: University of Cyprus (UCY), Cyprus
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Theodora Kyriatsi
Focus: TE materials synthesis & characterisation Suited for: Physics, Materials Science

DC2 – Synthesis and Transport Studies of Magnesium-Based Thermoelectric Materials
Host: Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Lisbon, Portugal
Supervisor: Dr. E. M. S. Branco Lopes
Focus: TE materials synthesis & characterisation Suited for: Physics, Materials Science

DC3 – Microstructure, Defect, and Interface Engineering of Magnesium-Based Thermoelectric Materials
Host: Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials (SUSMAT), Düsseldorf, Germany
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Christina Scheu
Focus: Structural properties (XRD, SEM, TEM, APT) Suited for: Physics, Materials Science

DC4 – Atomistic Modelling and Design of Thermoelectric Materials and Interfaces
Host: King’s College London (KCL), UK
Supervisor: Dr. Ivana Savic
Focus: Computational materials modelling Suited for: Physics, Computational Materials

DC5 – Development of Interface Materials for Magnesium-Based Thermoelectric Devices
Host: University College Cork (UCC), Ireland
Supervisor: Dr. Kafil M. Razeef
Focus: Interface materials & bonding Suited for: Materials Science, Engineering

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DC6 – Diffusion Layers, Soldering Concepts, and Thermal Management Components for Magnesium-Based Thermoelectric Devices
Host: CSIC, Madrid, Spain
Supervisor: Dr. Marisol Martin-Gonzalez
Focus: Diffusion barriers & heat management Suited for: Materials Science, Mechanical Eng.

DC7 – High-Performance Magnesium-Based Thermoelectric Modules for Solid-State Cooling
Host: German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Johannes de Boor
Focus: Module fabrication & integration Suited for: Materials Science, Engineering

DC8 – Mechanically Robust Design of Magnesium-Based Thermoelectric Modules
Host: German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Johannes de Boor
Focus: Module fabrication & testing Suited for: Mechanical Eng., Materials Science

DC9 – Fabrication of High-Performance Thermoelectric Modules for Solid-State Cooling
Host: Leibniz Institute (IFW), Dresden, Germany
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Kornelius Nielsch
Focus: Module fabrication & testing Suited for: Materials Science, Engineering

DC10 – Scalable Fabrication and Advanced Coating of Magnesium-Based Thermoelectric Coolers Host: Leibniz Institute (IFW), Dresden, Germany
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Kornelius Nielsch
Focus: Module fabrication & durability Suited for: Materials Science, Chemistry

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DC11 – Hybrid Refrigeration System with Precise Temperature Control Using Thermoelectric Cooling Host: Public University of Navarra (UPNA), Spain
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. David Astrain
Focus: Thermoelectric-assisted refrigeration Suited for: Mechanical Eng., Energy Systems

DC12 – Thermoelectric Sub-Cooling Systems for High-Efficiency Refrigeration
Host: Public University of Navarra (UPNA), Spain
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. David Astrain
Focus: Refrigeration efficiency optimisation Suited for: Mechanical Eng., Energy Systems

DC13 – Thermal Optimisation of Photonic Devices Using Thermoelectric Cooling
Host: III-V Lab, Palaiseau, France
Supervisor: Dr. Alexandre Shen
Focus: Thermal management for photonics Suited for: Physics, Electrical Eng., Photonics

DC14 – Thermoelectric Cooling Solutions for Active Thermal Management of Photonic Integrated Circuits
Host: University College Cork (UCC), Ireland
Supervisor: Dr. Kafil M. Razeef
Focus: Thermoelectric cooling for PICs Suited for: Physics, Electrical Eng.

DC15 – Smart Design of Thermoelectric Coolers for On-Chip Cooling Applications
Host: University of Southampton (SOTON), UK
Supervisor: Dr. Ruomeng Huang
Focus: On-chip cooling & optimisation Suited for: Electrical Eng., Mechanical Eng.

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Eligibility Criteria:

You must not have a doctoral degree at the time of recruitment.
You must meet the MSCA mobility rule: You cannot have lived or worked in the host country for more than 12 months in the last 36 months before recruitment.
You should hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field.
Strong academic background matching the specific DC project you apply for.
Good English language skills (required for all positions).

Also Check: 15 MSCA Fully Funded PhD Positions Across Europe