15 PhD positions as part of the MSCA-DN REALISE "Bridging Igneous Petrology and Machine Learning for Science and Society"

Job description MSCA-DN - REALISE "Bridging Igneous Petrology and Machine Learning for Science and Society" will train 15 Doctoral Candidates at the interface of igneous petrology, volcanology, critical raw materials, and machine learning / AI. The network combines advanced petrological observations and multimodal analytical data with modern ML (including physics-informed and generative AI approaches) to improve: Volcanic hazard assessment and risk mitigation, and The understanding and exploration of critical raw materials in magmatic systems. Doctoral projects address magma lifecycle processes, multimodal data fusion, physics–ML hybrid modelling (from CFD to atomistic simulations), and AI-assisted hypothesis formulation. MSCA Doctoral Candidate eligibility criteria Applicants must comply with the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network eligibility rules, including: Applicants must not hold a PhD degree at the time of recruitment. At the time of recruitment, the applicant must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the host country for more than 12 months in the 36 months prior to the recruitment date. Other requirements Applicants must meet the doctoral admission requirements of the recruiting host institution. Excellent motivation for interdisciplinary research combining Earth Sciences and ML/AI is expected. Strong English communication skills are required. Overview of the Doctoral Candidate positions Each position is a fully funded 36-month PhD fellowship within the MSCA framework and includes international secondments, advanced training, and competitive employment conditions according to MSCA rules. First Call Application deadline: 31 March 2026 (Positions will remain open until filled) Remuneration: The remuneration is based on the MSCA-DN researcher allowances (Living allowance: 4,010 € (adjusted by country coefficient); mobility allowance: 710 €; family allowance: 660 € (if eligible). The exact gross salary differs depending on the country and host institution. Full details are provided in the detailed descriptions of each position on the project website or during the interview phase. Available positions: DC1 – Deciphering the genesis of critical ore deposits in the Bushveld Layered Intrusions Host/PhD: University of Perugia (Italy) | Supervisor: Prof. Maurizio Petrelli Secondments: BGR (Germany); UvA (Netherlands) DC2 – Pre-eruptive dynamics at Campi Flegrei: multimodal petrology + physics-informed AI Host/PhD: University of Perugia (Italy) | Supervisor: Prof. Maurizio Petrelli Secondments: KUL (Belgium); UL (Slovenia) DC3 – ML-assisted atomistic simulations: partitioning of critical raw elements in magmas Host/PhD: University of Perugia (Italy) | Supervisor: Prof. Maurizio Petrelli Secondments: IPGP (France); LUH (Germany) DC4 – Generative AI for super-resolution & artificial 3D tomography of crystal zoning Host/PhD: Leibniz University of Hannover (Germany) | Supervisor: Prof. Monika Sester Secondments: NU (UK); ELTE (Hungary) DC5 – Data-driven investigations of magma plumbing systems at active volcanoes Host/PhD: Leibniz University of Hannover (Germany) | Supervisor: Prof. François Holtz Secondments: KUL (Belgium); UvA (Netherlands) DC6 – Multi-phase ML thermo-chemo-barometry of volcano plumbing systems Host/PhD: KU Leuven (Belgium) | Supervisor: Prof. Olivier Namur Secondments: LUH (Germany); UNIPG (Italy) DC7 – AI-assisted mineralogical/textural characterization of LCT pegmatites Host/PhD: KU Leuven (Belgium) | Supervisor: Prof. Anouk Borst Secondments: BGR (Germany); UORL (France); LUH (Germany) DC8 – DeepEruptive: AI for eruptive parameter estimations (petrology + CFD + tephra maps) Host/PhD: Sorbonne University (France) | Supervisor: Prof. Paola Cinnella Secondments: INGV (Italy); Ainoudo (France) DC9 – Melt inclusions: ML analysis of hyperspectral data for magma reservoir conditions Host/PhD: Sorbonne University (France) | Supervisor: Dr.Hélène Balcone-Boissard Secondments: SOLEIL (France); KUL (Belgium) DC10 – ML-assisted multimodal workflows for sulfide accumulation processes in ore deposits Host/PhD: CNRS/University of Orleans (France) | Supervisor: Dr. Giada Iacono-Marziano Secondments: Teledyne Photon Machines; INFN (Italy) DC11 – AI-supported hypothesis formulation on metal-rich granites (critical metal prospectivity) Host/PhD: CNRS/University of Orleans (France) | Supervisor: Dr. Fabrice Gaillard Secondments: BRGM (France); UNIPG (Italy) DC12 – Petrological monitoring & eruptive style forecasting in open-vent volcanoes (Etna) Host/PhD: Eötvös Loránd University (Hungary) | Supervisor: Dr. Réka Lukács Secondments: UL (Slovenia); Italian Civil Protection Department (Italy) DC13 – ML for hypothesis formulation + trace-element thermodynamic insights in silicic systems Host/PhD: Eötvös Loránd University (Hungary) | Supervisor: Prof. András Lukács Secondments: UNIPG (Italy); KUL (Belgium) DC14 – DEGAS: ML-based atomistic simulations of volcanic degassing Host/PhD: Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (France) | Supervisor: Prof. Razvan Caracas Secondments: INFN (Italy); UORL (France) DC15 – Large Language Models for automated data explanations in petrology (incl. multimodal fusion) Host/PhD: University of Ljubljana (Slovenia) | Supervisor: Prof. Blaž Zupan Secondments: UNIPG (Italy); UvA (Netherlands) Required profile (general) We welcome applicants from Earth Sciences (petrology/volcanology/geochemistry/mineral resources), Computer/Data Science (ML/AI), or genuinely interdisciplinary backgrounds. Typical desirable skills (vary by DC): Igneous petrology, mineralogy, geochemistry, volcanology, thermodynamics, modelling; and/or ML/AI, data science, statistics, image analysis, scientific programming (Python/R/Julia), HPC; Strong motivation for interdisciplinary research and international collaboration; Good English communication skills. How to apply Apply via: instructions and links on www.realise-dn.eu