Home / Opportunities / ZEST — European Doctoral Network on Zinc Energy Storage Technology, 15 PhD positions (MSCA Doctoral Network, Horizon Europe, Grant Agreement 101311374)
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ZEST — European Doctoral Network on Zinc Energy Storage Technology, 15 PhD positions (MSCA Doctoral Network, Horizon Europe, Grant Agreement 101311374)
15 fully-funded PhD positions across Europe in one EU Doctoral Network, all focused on zinc-based batteries — the sustainable alternative to lithium-ion. You join an international network of universities and industry partners with built-in mobility, training camps and secondments, on a real MSCA employment contract.
Why it is notable: Doctoral Networks (as opposed to COFUND programmes) hire through the network's own recruitment — most applicants only ever see university job boards and never find network-level calls. Zero aggregator coverage at research time.
nominal gross allowances (per the official Euraxess posting): living allowance ~€4,010/month, mobility allowance ~€710/month, family allowance ~€660/month where applicable
actual salaries differ depending on the country correction factor, national taxation, social security contributions and the rules of the recruiting organisation. Full social security
tuition and research costs covered. MSCA funding covers 36 months
additional funding may be available where more time is required to complete the doctorate
Eligibility criteria
Qualification Required
Masters/MPhilfor PhD
This scholarship is offered for PhD programs.
Who can apply
all nationalities (subject to EU entry regulations); must hold (or be close to completing) a Master's degree; must NOT already hold a doctoral degree at recruitment.
Experience
No experience required
Language Certificate
high level of English proficiency sufficient to participate fully in the research and training programme (per the official Euraxess posting; no specific test/certification named)
Other Certificates
Degree certificates & transcripts
Age Limit
No Age Limit
Check your eligibility
Run all three quick checks before reviewing your chosen course's full entry requirements.
1
Country checker
all nationalities (subject to EU entry regulations); must hold (or be close to completing) a Master's degree; must NOT already hold a doctoral degree at…
2
Last degree checker
Choose your highest completed qualification to see which degree level may fit.
3
Course checker
Pick a course to see whether it falls inside this scholarship's scope.
Complete all three checks
Your combined result will appear here.
Based on published eligibility — always confirm on the official page before applying.
Application essentials
Requirements
Review each requirement before you begin the application.
01
Language
high level of English proficiency sufficient to participate fully in the research and training programme (per the official Euraxess posting; no specific test/certification named)
02
Qualification
all nationalities (subject to EU entry regulations); must hold (or be close to completing) a Master's degree; must NOT already hold a doctoral degree at recruitment.
03
Documents
detailed Europass CV; motivation letter; transcripts from Bachelor's and Master's degrees (per the official Euraxess posting, verified 2026-10-15).
Document checklist
01detailed Europass CV
02motivation letter
03transcripts from Bachelor's and Master's degrees (per the official Euraxess posting, verified 2026-10-15).
Application fee
No fee — completely free
No separate scholarship application fee is published; confirm on the official page.
Visa, kept concise: Multi-country network: visa route depends on the recruiting organisation's country (student/researcher residence permits differ).
Application Procedure
4 steps — follow in order. Each stage prepares the next.
01
Read the 15 project descriptions on the
official ZEST recruitment platform (dn-zest.eu).
→
02
Prepare a detailed Europass CV
motivation letter, and transcripts from Bachelor's and Master's degrees (per the official Euraxess posting).
→
03
Apply electronically through the official ZEST recruitment platform —
candidates can apply for up to three Doctoral Candidate positions and must indicate their order of preference. Be prepared to provide information demonstrating the Doctoral Candidate definition, MSCA mobility r
↓
04
Shortlisted candidates may be invited to a
recruitment event and interview, including a scientific presentation and assessment related to the preferred project. Successful candidates are expected to begin their research during 2027.
Application milestones
15 Dec 2026
Application deadline
2026
Intake year
Ready to apply?
Continue on the official ZEST — European Doctoral Network on Zinc Energy Storage Technology, 15 PhD positions (MSCA Doctoral Network, Horizon Europe, Grant Agreement 101311374) platform.
15 Dec 2026 — (time zone not given on the official posting — apply well before; candidates are encouraged to apply early)
Who can apply?
all nationalities (subject to EU entry regulations); must hold (or be close to completing) a Master's degree; must NOT already hold a doctoral degree at recruitment.
What does the scholarship cover?
Fully funded: 36 months of MSCA funding — MSCA doctoral candidate employment contract; nominal gross allowances (per the official Euraxess posting): living allowance ~€4,010/month, mobility allowance ~€710/month, family allowance ~€660/month where applicable; actual salaries differ depending on the country correction factor, national taxation, social security contributions and the rules of the recruiting organisation. Full social security; tuition and research costs covered. MSCA funding covers 36 months
Where do I apply?
Through the official application portal linked in the Official links section on this page.
Need document or attestation help?
Detailed attestation guidance stays in Opplore's standalone Guides section, not inside this scholarship page.
Multiple countries