Fully Funded PhD Scholarship: Civil & Environmental Engineering – GENIUS Doctoral Network (Horizon Europe)
Are you an aspiring researcher passionate about sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy integration, and climate-resilient urban systems? The GENIUS Doctoral Network, funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA-DN 2024), is offering a prestigious PhD scholarship in Civil and Environmental Engineering—with a strong focus on energy geostructures.
Hosted in collaboration with the University of Perugia (UniPg) and coordinated by the University of Edinburgh, this opportunity invites you to become one of 15 Doctoral Candidates shaping the future of low-carbon urban development across Europe.
Application Deadline: November 30, 2025
About the GENIUS Project
GENIUS stands for “Energy Geostructures Integration: Buildings, Infrastructure and Underground Storage.” Funded under Grant Agreement No. 101226708, the project tackles one of Europe’s most pressing challenges: decarbonizing the built environment.
Energy geostructures—such as geothermally active building foundations, tunnels, and retaining walls—serve dual purposes: structural support and renewable energy exchange. Yet, their large-scale integration remains limited due to knowledge gaps in design, materials, policy, and monitoring.
GENIUS bridges this gap by training researchers to:
- Design and model multi-functional geostructures
- Evaluate thermal, mechanical, and environmental impacts
- Develop digital tools for urban energy planning
- Engage with policymakers, industry, and communities
This PhD position is embedded within the PhD scholarship in civil and environmental engineering at the University of Perugia, a leading Italian institution in geotechnics and sustainable engineering.
Key Details
- Position: Doctoral Candidate (PhD Student) – MSCA Fellow
- Host Institution: University of Perugia (Italy) – in the research group of Prof. Diana Salciarini
- Program: Doctoral Program in Civil and Environmental Engineering (Ciclo XLI – 2025/2026)
- Funding: Full MSCA scholarship (approx. €3,500–€4,000/month gross, including mobility and family allowances)
- Duration: 36 months (3 years)
- Start Date: Expected September–October 2026
- Application Deadline: November 30, 2025
- Eligibility: Open to all nationalities, but applicants must not have resided in Italy for more than 12 months in the last 3 years (MSCA mobility rule)
- Language: English (no Italian required)
- Official Sources:
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify, you must:
- Hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Geotechnics, Energy Engineering, or a closely related field
- Have no more than 4 years of full-time research experience (as of recruitment date)
- Demonstrate strong analytical, numerical, or experimental skills (e.g., in FEM, geothermal modeling, soil-structure interaction)
- Show commitment to interdisciplinary research and international mobility
- Comply with MSCA mobility rule: Not have lived or worked in Italy for more than 12 months in the 36 months prior to November 2025
Note: Shortlisted candidates will undergo a rigorous selection process including CV review, motivation assessment, and an online interview.
Research Focus at UniPg
Under the supervision of Prof. Diana Salciarini, your work will likely explore:
- Thermo-mechanical behavior of energy piles and diaphragm walls
- Coupled hydro-thermal-mechanical modeling of subsurface systems
- Life-cycle assessment of geostructural solutions
- Integration of energy geostructures into urban energy masterplans
You’ll also benefit from secondments at partner institutions (e.g., University of Edinburgh, Politecnico di Torino, NTNU Norway) and industry collaborators.
Why Join GENIUS?
- World-class training: Access to cutting-edge labs, field sites, and digital platforms
- Interdisciplinary network: Collaborate with 15 PhDs across 6 countries
- Career development: Workshops on innovation, entrepreneurship, science communication
- Real-world impact: Contribute directly to EU Green Deal and REPowerEU goals
- Generous benefits: Full salary, travel allowances, research budget, and family support
How to Apply
- Prepare your documents:
- CV (Europass or academic format)
- Master’s diploma and transcripts
- Motivation letter (max. 1 page)
- Contact details of 2 academic referees
- Brief research statement (optional but recommended)
- Submit via the GENIUS portal (link to be published on genius-dn.eu by September 2025)
- Meet the deadline: November 30, 2025, 23:59 CET
Tip: Follow the GENIUS LinkedIn page for application alerts and webinars.
Final Thoughts
This PhD scholarship is more than a degree,it’s a launchpad for a career at the forefront of sustainable infrastructure innovation. If you’re driven to turn the ground beneath our cities into a clean energy source, this is your moment. Apply by November 30, 2025, and become a pioneer in the energy transition and for our help contact us.
