CNES – Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales Ph.D. Grants

CNES – Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (the French Space Agency) funds in 2024 about 100 Ph.D. students to work on preselected research projects. Applicants must connect to the CNES web site at the address given below to select the Ph.D. project(s) they are interested in and submit their application. In order to list all the Ph.D. projects opened this year select “Ph.D.” in the “Contracts” pull-down menu (or “Doctorat” in the “Contrats” menu on the French site). Do not submit spontaneous applications or apply for research projects other than those listed, these applications will not be accepted.

https://recrutement.cnes.fr/en/annonces (in English)

https://recrutement.cnes.fr/fr/annonces (in French)

Applicants are invited to contact the research directors listed in the proposals for further information on the research topic. 

For more information, you can visit https://cnes.fr/fr/theses-post-doctorats

For general inquiries, send an email to PhD@cnes.fr

Applications must be submitted in full on the CNES website before 14 March 2025 in order to be eligible. 

Applicants must obtain their Master 2 degree or equivalent diploma before the start of their work contract, usually around October 1st. The grantor will either be employed by CNES or the host research organization.

Each research project is funded half by CNES, half by a private or public partner. Candidates do not have to be concerned about who is funding the project, however, if a partner withdraws funding, the corresponding research project will be withdrawn and no grant will be offered.

CNES is an equal opportunity employer, candidates of all nationalities can apply as long as they hold the requisite diploma to enlist in a Ph.D. program in a French university. Knowledge of the French language is required for subjects posted in French, it is not required for subjects posted in English but encouraged. The selection process is based on excellence. Candidates will be notified of final selection results in early June 2025.