Computational sciences for energy research: fourth call for PhD research projects open

The Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (FOM) has published the fourth and last call within the joint programme 'Computational sciences for energy research' (CSER) of Shell, NWO and FOM. Deadline for submitting proposals is April 13, 2015. The call is for approximately fifteen PhD research projects in the field of computational sciences, relevant to the energy-related themes within the top sectors Energy and Chemistry. The call is open for all areas. Research proposals in the areas of computational chemistry and materials science, multiphysics, big data, and computational geoscience are explicitly invited.

Applicants can apply for a budget of € 256,000. Additional budget may be requested for specific costs, such as computing. The additional budget has to be justified in the proposal. The duration of a project is four years.


Parallel to the call, the Shell Technology Centre Bangalore (STCB) in India will recruit about 30 talented researchers who are willing to do their PhD in the Netherlands and then to continue their career at Shell in Bangalore. The application process for PhD students will include various interviews at selected locations in India. A matchmaking process will be held in November 2015 to connect PhD candidates to selected projects and vice versa. A successful match will result in a granted research project, a signed employment contract between the PhD student and FOM, and a letter of intent from Shell for a job in Bangalore after completion of the PhD. The first PhD students will be able to start in the beginning of 2016.