TESS Mobility

The TESS international mobility scheme is open to all doctoral students registered for a PhD at one of the TESS member laboratories. These projects must be considered as a scientific bonus for the students during their thesis, with the aim of strengthening the TESS programme’s international visibility and broadening partnerships with local research laboratories in Toulouse.

2024 Application Schedule

• Applications open: 17 November 2023
• Deadline for applications: 17 January 2024
• Publishing of results: The week of 12 February 2024

Call for applications

Aim: To help doctoral students travel abroad, thereby fostering international partnerships for the doctoral student and long-term collaborations for the TESS programme

Context: Overseen by the University of Toulouse, the Toulouse Graduate School of Earth and Space Science (TESS) aims to be an international reference, training the next generation of scientists committed to the monitoring and management of global change or to major international astrophysics projects. Major research activities of the TESS consortium focus on:

1) Exploring our place in the universe,
2) Monitoring and understanding the Earth,
3) Forecasting and predicting future behaviour,
4) Addressing challenges related to natural resources and the environment.

The SDU2E Doctoral School covers these subject areas and doctoral students play a crucial role in the programme. Moreover, TESS has a strong international component and the TESS Mobility grant seeks to facilitate the international mobility of students.

Maximum funding available: The amount allocated to each student is at the sole discretion of the selection committee and takes into account the location and duration of the trip. Funding must be used for international mobility during the 2024 civil year.

Selection criteria: 

• Applicants must be registered for the 2023-2024 academic year at one of the TESS member laboratories
• Proposed mobility is to take place during the 2024 civil year (return date before 31 December 2024)
• Expected minimum stay of 2 months. It is however possible to propose multiple shorter trips of at least one month each.
• Preference will be given to first- and second-year doctoral students
• The grant is to be used for travel and lodging only (attendance of meetings or conferences is excluded)
• In the case of a cotutelle, the grant cannot be used to travel to the partner university

Expected structure of the application: The application contains two parts as indicated below. Kindly note that incomplete applications will not be considered.

• Firstly, applicants are to complete the online application form
• Secondly, applicants are to submit a single pdf signed by the doctoral student, thesis supervisor and the director of their research laboratory here
  
  The pdf should include:
  • The CV of the applicant
  • A brief description of the thesis project (1 page)
  • A detailed description of the impact of the TESS Mobility Grant on the doctoral project (1 page). Applicants should describe how their mobility is consistent with the objectives of TESS and argue how the grant will add value to their PhD project and the TESS programme.
  • A letter of invitation from the proposed host laboratory/institution
  • The amount and outline of funding requested. Please also stipulate if you have applied for co-funding elsewhere and whether or not the additional funding has been received.

The application should be written by the doctoral student and overseen by the thesis supervisor(s). While English is preferred, clarity of the project is essential and as such French applications will not be penalised.

Evaluation: The selection committee will pay particular attention to the following aspects:

• Structure and scientific objectives of the thesis project
• Added value expected as a result of TESS funding
• Justification of the funds requested

Payment:  Students will be in direct contact with the financial department of the Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées for management of the allocated funds.

Communication: TESS reserves the right to carry out any promotional activities related to the grant and its beneficiaries. The beneficiaries agree to participate in any communication and promotional activities related to the grant at the request of the Graduate School.

Mobility report

Results