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 work on developing a transdisciplinary research project under the guidance of experienced researchers. The program includes workshops with doctoral researchers s from other 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 from universities that are members of the Charm-EU alliance.
• 25 doctoral researchers selected based on application materials (including 3 spots for students in the “ doctoral researchers ” program at 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 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
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 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
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 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
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 a.m. – 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 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch break
• 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.World Caféon research challenges: a collaborative session aimed at refining research questions and the associated oral presentations
• 4:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Team meeting with the supervisors
• 6:00 p.m. Evening activity: exploring 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 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Morning session
• 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Lunch break
• 2:00 p.m. – 5:10 p.m. Afternoon session

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

• 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Workshop: Examples of Successful Transdisciplinary Proposals
• 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch break
• 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Work in teams with the advisors to finalize the research proposal
• 6:00 p.m. Evening activity: Cooking workshop

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

• 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Workshop: Teamwork with the supervisors on the proposals
• 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch break
• 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Workshop: How to Create an Effective Oral Presentation
• 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Workshop: Rehearsal of presentations 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.