Charm-EU Doctoral researcher summer school 2025

From June 23 to 27, 2025, the alliance of European universities Charm-EU is organizing its first summer school in Montpellier for doctoral researchers. The aim is to enable them to develop a transdisciplinary approach to complex challenges.

Acquiring a transdisciplinary approach is a key skill for tomorrow's young researchers. For its first summer school for doctoral researchers, the Charm-EU alliance has chosen the theme: " Developing Transdisciplinary Practice to tackle complex challenges". Knowing how to contextualize your research project and detail the concrete impact of the expected results is essential when designing a research project. However, many calls for projects encourage a collaborative approach involving several disciplines, as well as the presence of international partners.

This summer school offers participants the opportunity to develop a transdisciplinary research project under the guidance of experienced researchers. The program includes workshops with doctoral researchers disciplines and an international conference titled “Bridging minds, shaping futures: transdisciplinary research,” featuring nine internationally renowned scientists from European universities that are members of the Charm-EU alliance.

Who can participate?

• Open to all doctoral researchers universities that are members of the Charm-EU alliance.
• 25 doctoral researchers based on their applications (including 3 spots for doctoral researchers the University of Montpellier).
• online sessions accessible to a wider audience.
• No registration fee.

When?

• 2-hour online preparation sessions (20 hours of preparation in total; dates to be confirmed).
• Intensive in-person program from June 23 to 27, 2025.

program

Online Activities

Tuesday, June 10
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
First online session: Welcome session, “big ideas,” and challenges
Objectives:

• Introduce the summer school program
• Define the notion of "big ideas" and start identifying real-world challenges

Friday, June 13
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Second online session: Workshop – From Big Ideas to Research Questions
Objectives:

• Build interdisciplinary teams
• Define nexus over challenges
• Develop transdisciplinary research questions and hypotheses based on a real-life sustainability challenge

Wednesday, June 18
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Third online session: Preparing the transdisciplinary project
Objectives:

• Define onsite week themes topics and teams
• Present the project proposal template
• Start structuring the research project

Onsite activities

Monday, June 23 – Day 1
Location: Richter University Library

• 8:30 a.m. Orientation meeting (for supervisors only)
• 9:30–10:00 a.m. Welcome coffee
• 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Opening remarks and icebreaker activity
• 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Workshop on Intercultural Skills
• 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM Lunch break
• 1:30 PM – 4:00 PMWorld Caféon research challenges: a collaborative session aimed at refining research questions and the associated oral presentations
• 4:15–5:00 p.m. Team meeting with supervisors
• 6:00 p.m. Evening activity: Explore Montpellier using a geolocation app

Tuesday, June 24 – Day 2
Venue: Max Mousseron Amphitheater, École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Montpellier (ENSCM)
Lecture: Connecting Knowledge, Shaping the Future: Transdisciplinarity in Research (registration required)

• 9:00 a.m. Opening remarks
• 9:15 AM – 1:00 PM Morning session
• 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Lunch break
• 2:00 PM – 5:10 PM Afternoon session

Wednesday, June 25 – Day 3
Location: Richter University Library

• 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM Workshop: Examples of Successful Transdisciplinary Proposals
• 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM Lunch break
• 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM Teamwork with supervisors to finalize the research proposal
• 6:00 p.m. Evening activity: Cooking workshop

Thursday, June 26 – Day 4
Location: Richter University Library

• 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM Workshop: Teamwork with supervisors on the proposals
• 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM Lunch break
• 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM Workshop: How to Create an Effective Oral Presentation
• 3:30–4:30 p.m. Workshop: Presentation rehearsal with feedback from the mentors
• 5:00 p.m. Deadline for submitting final proposals

Friday, June 27 – Day 5
Location: Richter University Library

• 9:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. Project presentations: Each team will give an 8-minute pitch to a panel of judges. The winning team will receive support from project coordinators at three partner universities to help secure funding
• 11:50 a.m. Announcement of the results by the jury
• 12:30 p.m. Official closing of the program

Where?

University of Montpellier, France

How do I sign up?

Please email your resume and cover letter by March 28, 2025.