Fusion Science and Engineering - Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate – (Ph.D.)

Contents

The core objective of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate (EMJD) FUSION-DC is to fulfil the above stated needs in terms of qualified personnel for the fusion community so as to make fusion a reality and provide highly educated people.
FUSION-DC will offer to a select group of top doctoral students the means to accomplish their research and integrated research-driven doctoral training within an international consortium of institutions1 that are leading the interdisciplinary field of magnetic confinement fusion education and research (
Furthermore, a key element will be the harmonization of advanced fusion training and professional qualification in the European Research Area, totally in the spirit of the Bologna declaration, in order to strengthen the interaction and exchange of academic resources.
Consequently, the following concrete objectives of the FUSION-DC partnership have been established:

• To provide a sustainable, integrated and coordinated training at doctoral level in the framework of a worldwide network of excellence in nuclear fusion science and engineering.
• To provide ITER, W7-X and DEMO with well qualified scientists and engineers.
• of fusion research.
• To promote common education, worldwide interpersonal contacts, and a corporate spirit for collaborations between EU and non-EU scientists and engineers, such as necessary for the ITER project.
• To enhance the quality of European higher education in fusion through R&D training of all doctoral students (holding an Erasmus Mundus fellowship or not), thereby widening their perspective and personalising their career development.
• To supply the industry with internationally mobile future leaders who have experience with, and a positive attitude towards, top-level research.
• To increase the already existing interaction and establish a long-standing international collaboration in higher education and fusion R&D, with close connection between academic and research institutions (EU and non-EU), and between fundamental and applied physics and engineering, and responding to socio-economic needs.
• To enhance the international profile and visibility of European higher education: fusion research is well suited to the EHEA
• The education, training and doctoral research will focus on six physics and engineering fields (see annex FIE for the description of the fields) to provide the needed competences for the fusion programme, which together cover the current forefront of MCF research:
  
  • F1. Tokamak physics for ITER and beyond
  • F2. Technology for ITER and beyond
  • F3. Stellarator and reversed field pinch research and advanced concepts
  • F4. Plasma-wall interaction and material research
  • F5. Plasma theory and computational plasma physics F6. Diagnostics, plasma control and data analysis
  • F6. Diagnostics, plasma control and data analysis

• The six research fields (see Objectives) that will be covered by the FUSION-DC programme have been established to tackle the major remaining challenges for making fusion energy a reality:
• Reach the needed plasma temperature in a reliable and efficient way.
• Provide a high enough plasma pressure in order to achieve a sufficient reaction rate.
• Confine the plasma sufficiently so that energy production exceeds losses.
• Develop first wall materials that can sustain extreme temperatures as well as high fluxes of plasma and neutrals.
• Develop structural materials compatible with high neutron fluxes and a breeding blanket environment, while minimizing radioactive waste.
• Develop a safe and reliable fuel cycle.
• Develop diagnostic and control systems for reliable operation.

Funding details

There will also be grants for another 8 students from the partner institutes.
An Erasmus Mundus PhD grant is a grant lasting for 3 years (36 months). With the grant PhD candidates get an employment contract (including social security). The net monthly salary will be approximately 1400-1600 euro (depending on the country and institute where the candidate will be employed. Bruto salary is 2800EUR)
Next to the employment finances an Erasmus Mundus PhD grant also foresees in bench fee money of 600 euro per month (7200 per year). From this budget the following costs are paid:

• Yearly contribution to the FUSION-DC fund of 240 euro
• Costs of training course participation
• Costs related to research activities
• Participation costs of conferences
• Enrollment costs at universities
• Participation to the obligatory FUSION-DC annual meetings